Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[vehve]

@appps follow the weight loss, that's a better tell than whatever readings you're getting. As long as the weight has gone down about 12-13% on day 18 (correct me if I'm remembering wrong), you'll be fine.

 

[CB and CG]

Hi Appps, throughout incubation I keep the temperature at 37.2 (a little on the cool side however the chicks have a better chance of surviving bator temp fluctuations at a lower temp than at the maximum temp of 37.7) however it works well for me.I also keep humidity at 45% for the first 18 days and then 55% at lockdown and this also works well. I think as long as the temp stays within a suitable range and the humidity stays around the 45% mark you should be fine. Just make sure you don't raise the humidity too high at lockdown as this is a common cause of DIS at lockdown. Early deaths are usually due to temp problems and lockdown deaths are usually due to humidity. Can't beat a good mother hen in my opinion. I have a R-Com 20 however I still prefer using a broody...even though that both the hen and my incubator tend to get used equally (a broody can only hatch so many chicks ;P )

 

[zoii]

Just thought I would give you an update . My rooster has found a new home . Now ive got to look into getting some more chickens as ive only got a brown chicken left on her own

 

[appps]

@appps
 follow the weight loss, that's a better tell than whatever readings you're getting. As long as the weight has gone down about 12-13% on day 18 (correct me if I'm remembering wrong), you'll be fine.

I never thought to measure them at the start :-(

Hi Appps, throughout incubation I keep the temperature at 37.2 (a little on the cool side however the chicks have a better chance of surviving bator temp fluctuations at a lower temp than at the maximum temp of 37.7) however it works well for me.I also keep humidity at 45% for the first 18 days and then 55% at lockdown and this also works well. I think as long as the temp stays within a suitable range and the humidity stays around the 45% mark you should be fine. Just make sure you don't raise the humidity too high at lockdown as this is a common cause of DIS at lockdown. Early deaths are usually due to temp problems and lockdown deaths are usually due to humidity. Can't beat a good mother hen in my opinion. I have a R-Com 20 however I still prefer using a broody...even though that both the hen and my incubator tend to get used equally (a broody can only hatch so many chicks ;P )

That's exactly why I'm trying to learn to use an incubator, penny hasn't got a big enough butt lol and I just couldn't throw those three didn't fit out!. Thanks for the help!

 

[zoii]

Thank you all for all of the info . Im ganna look into some more chickens so cupcake has some friends

 

[cwrite]

Just thought I would give you an update . My rooster has found a new home . Now ive got to look into getting some more chickens as ive only got a brown chicken left on her own

Brown leghorns are so pretty. Have you thought about what breed you want? An ancona would be a pretty match for her. The slight breeds have really grown on me.

Vehve, is it autumn where you are? Don't forget to bag up some of those leaves. : ) We collected a heap of apple leaves which are much larger than lilly pillies & I thought it would take ages for my chooks to break them down. Nope. A week later they were gone & the chickens loved scratching through the bigger leaves. They didn't work in the coop - went wet & mouldy - but have worked fantastically in the run. I've been digging some of the black gold out for my summer veggies.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Just thought I would give you an update . My rooster has found a new home . Now ive got to look into getting some more chickens as ive only got a brown chicken left on her own

That's good to hear. Hope you can find your little brown chicken a friend .

 

[vehve]

@cwrite Yeah, fall is upon us. Our maples haven't dropped their leaves yet, but I intend to bag up some them once they do. I just have to figure out a way to dry them first. But my plan is to use them in the run. I still need to get some corrugated plastic up around the run too to keep the snow out.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Brown leghorns are so pretty.  Have you thought about what breed you want?  An ancona would be a pretty match for her.  The slight breeds have really grown on me. 

Vehve, is it autumn where you are?  Don't forget to bag up some of those leaves.  : )  We collected a heap of apple leaves which are much larger than lilly pillies & I thought it would take ages for my chooks to break them down.  Nope.  A week later they were gone & the chickens loved scratching through the bigger leaves.  They didn't work in the coop - went wet & mouldy - but have worked fantastically in the run.  I've been digging some of the black gold out for my summer veggies.

I put a bale of hay in each run , cut the string and let the chickens do the rest. They have a ball scratching and picking through it for seeds until it is completely broken down. Depends how much hay is where you are , but for me it's good cheap entertainment . I also give them all the weeds from the garden beds.

 

[appps]

I put a bale of hay in each run , cut the string and let the chickens do the rest. They have a ball scratching and picking through it for seeds until it is completely broken down. Depends how much hay is where you are , but for me it's good cheap entertainment . I also give them all the weeds from the garden beds.

That's a good idea. Think I'll try that!