Arizona Chickens

[budkingston]

If you are going to use a camera and keep the shutter open for a long time, make sure that you use a tripod.

My best hatches surround the idea that I don't fool with the eggs that much. Granted, I have had only 2, but the first hatch I was screwing with the eggs, candling, checking the temp 3-5 times a day, etc. I had a 12/18 My second hatch, I set it and forget it, pretty much checked temps once a day. Had 11/12, and the one never even took off, probably not fertile.

This hatch, I have a bunch of green eggs that I can't candle anyway, so it is set and forget. I check the temps and humidity and it is good, once a day or every other day.

 

[Sock Puppet]

My Experiment

Well, Im collecting eggs from my Bantam cochin to set under my cochin who went broody this week. Actually I keep finding the eggs under her, she keeps stealing them from the other nest box

Once I collect all the eggs I will then set them under the broody. All the eggs are marked in the order that they are being layed. The very first one might have gotten to cold, but we will see. this is AZ so

We will see what happens. Im going to let nature take its coarse on this one because they are pullet eggs (although she will be a year next month, she just started laying, and they are fertile)

Once I place the eggs under her, I will not bother the eggs or the hen. Well, unless she keeps stealing the laying eggs.

I love experiments and this is going to be interesting.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[gckiddhouse]

I LOVED hatching with a broody!!!! That's the best way, I think. You will love watching the whole thing! And the rooster's behavior is fun to see, too. They will protect those babies!! Our rooster turned on us and we eventually had to put him down, but it was still really cool to see him be a good dad! Watching the hen teach the little ones was the coolest! Family dust bathing was hilarious. And they integrated into the flock at 3 weeks.
I especially loved not having to have a brooder!
Have fun with that!!

Keep us posted!

 

[Sock Puppet]

Quote:
I will keep everyone posted. My little girls are soo excited. Yep, cant wait to see what happens. The funniest thing is going to be that the broody is LF and the eggs are from a bantam.

The size difference is goign to be HuGe!

 

[cluckin_crazy]

Brrr... it's chilly and windy today!! I was going to clean out the coop, but I'd rather have some hot tea by the fire pit!!

Still waiting on my little lazies to provide me with some breakfast... maybe next weekend.

I went out to mix up the compost this morning and something caught my eye. I usually see a random sprout in there, but this time there was a whole cherry tomato that was sprouting!! Too bad it's a hybrid, so I can't plant it. Got all my heirlooms started last weekend though. Trying out some new stuff this year - My tomato basket should be about as colorful as my egg basket!!

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Okay - for all you experienced desert dwelling chick hatchers - what humidity do you use in your incubators for days 1-18 and then 19-21? How do you keep the humidity high in the last few days? What do you measure the humidity with?

I've been trying to keep mine at 30-35 (on day 15 now), but have to work at keeping the humidity above 30 degrees. I currently have a large tupperware dish at the bottom (measures 6" x 10") that is always filled with water AND a small bowl in there that I add water to PLUS I constantly run a room humidifier in the room that the incubator is in. I would think the humidity would be higher than 30-32 (which is where it's been lately) with all that water around. In fact, it shows 30 degrees now and it's even raining outside. Am I allowing too much ventilation? You can see my BYC page for incubator set-up, but it doesn't show the 2nd bowl of water.

I have been using two brand new hydrogemeters (acurite & springfield) and even though the temps vary between them, the humidity readings have always been within a degree of each other. Since they show the same humidity readings, I have been assuming they are accurate. Last night, I used a BYC suggestion of testing the accuracy by putting 1/2 cup of salt into a 1/2 cup of water (in a mug) and then placing the mug and the hydrogemeter into a large ziploc plastic bag. Supposedly the humidity should measure 75 after 12 hours. My springfield is only measuring 60 degrees after 11 hours. Is this test not accurate or are my humidity measurers 15 points off!

 

[gckiddhouse]

Planting the garden is on our list, too. We had houses a few chickens in there this fall, so it should be good and fertilized. Just waiting for the time. Would have attempted today except for this rain

Didn't know it was coming.

Maybe we'll take down the Christmas tree today. How pathetic!!

AZDC- we found out that the industry standard for hygrometers is +/- 10 percentage points!!! Yeah!

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
We started our spring garden this week. I usually have a fall garden, but never go to it last year. I'm bummed that it's raining - I was planning to finish it today.

 

[Mahonri]

It was a cloud burst here for a while.

My garden is really coming up.
I cut and ate some broccoli from it this week. Lettuce is looking good. Some of the peas are blossoming. Beets, corn and peas are coming up great.

 

[redrocketrooster]

Oh man! Im so jealous! We can't have a garden due to the crazy mutts. I wish right?
It sounds like a great project and penny saver too. Like fruits of labor.

Has anyone been growing out of the ordinary plants or have any fun projects to share?