Anyone else setting eggs today - 1/31?

[jenanneray]

I had a broody hen hatch one chick in may of last year, and we had no place to put her away from the other chickens, so hubby built a huge brooder box. I can now, very easily, fill it completely, in about 6 weeks. I do sell alot of my chicks, so it doesn't stay full, but usually keep a few to gradually replace my current layers. I just have to decide what chicks I want to keep, which is hard, because they're all so stinking cute!

I want some turkeys!!! We normally fry them for thanksgiving and christmas, so I was thinking that I could raise 5 to 8 broad breasted whites, starting in july, for said holidays. The current arguement is that I will need a new housing section for the turkeys away from the chickens, and DH doesnt really want to do it. Hes thinking it will cost some major bucks (hes still taking about the cost of the chicken's coop), but I think I can find some free stuff to build something for them.

And I'm not done picking out chickens. I want some blue egg layers, maybe some silkies, something with a tophat because I think they look hilarious, and a bantam rooster, just so he can crow that tiny high-pitched crow, which amuses me for some reason.
Good thing I have an incubator, right??


No chicken math problems here, Ive got this all under control.

 

[jenanneray]

How is everyone looking for lockdown on friday/saturday?

 

[thebanthams]

I am going to lockdown this saturday. This will be my third try and last time. I cannot handled the stress watching the temperature all the time. My last two failed during lockdown. Not sure if humidty was too high 80 % . Both times died during lockdown. this time I will not put too much water. will try 60 %. I am using little giant air.

 

[jenanneray]

Try opening a vent plug. See if that helps to control humidity during lockdown. I've heard the lg bators can be difficult sometimes, I think there's a thread listing some LG hints. I hope everything goes much better and you have some little fuzzies!

 

[SIMZ]

I don't know, Jenanneray - for a minute I thought maybe we're the same person or something.

It sounds like my husband and it sounds like me -- right down to the little bantam rooster's crow. We fell in love with a little OEGB at our fair last summer. By the time we finally decided to get him and name him "Rocky", he was gone. I always fight with myself when I see them for sale because I still want that little big-mouthed rooster. But then I'd need hens for him......and probably another coop....you know the rest.

I'm going to lockdown sometime tomorrow. I'm a little nervous - especially about the humidity. This is only my second hatch and my first didn't go so well. Only 5 out of 12 hatched - a few that didn't hatch seemed to be fully developed, so I know I'm not out of the woods yet. I'll be glad when it's over!

 

[dreamer5577]

I'm going into lockdown tomorrow night. All seems to be going well. I experimented with getting to humidity higher today and it worked. still a little nervous though. I don't know if I'll get it to stay up in the 60s. And I'm especially worried because I am working this weekend. OF ALL WEEKENDS! Figures. So hopefully I'll get a system of some sort figured out before tomorrow night.

 

[SIMZ]

I hope you're getting it all figured out in time for the weekend!

 

[jenanneray]

I took mine out of the turner this afternoon. I have a humidifier set up on the room because my hatches always seem to run slightly dry, and have water added. I'm hoping for the best (all 26 hatch), but trying to be prepared for the worst(we won't go there.....)

On a side note, did a fertility check on some recent eggs (read....ate, and they were wonderful ) from my hens, and 6 out of 6 were all fertile. Hopefully that means the hatch I have scheduled to start on the 28th will go well.

Good luck and happy hatching to everyone!

 

[dreamer5577]

I think I have a system down! I candled just before lockdown and it seems I've lost another little guy. :'( So I'm down to 2.

Good luck to everyone!

 

[SIMZ]

OH, no! I'm so sorry Dreamer. Hoping for the best with your other two.

I locked mine down last night. Can't wait to hear from everyone when they start hatching!