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

[my2wings]

@Fancychook. They are the most adorable photos!

And thank you @Bens- and @Fancychookl for the above info.... It's hard to determine what is just the product marketing BS and what actually happens in real life!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote: What happened to the limping hawk?
Perhaps you have an especially sappy duck, maybe he will never leave

!!!
What is Walt a mix of again? He sure look like a keeper

.

I have got two roosters now ( really pushing it ) so I am sort of reluctant to hatch any more chickens in case I get a real friendly rooster.
It's bad enough having 3 of Pew Pew's offspring and they are super friendly. I don't want to get rid of them

.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

@my2wings you are going to be looking at more than $150 for a 48 egg, full auto bator.
I got the King suro 20, 24 egg bator. @satay and @Ashburnham also have this bator and they really like it. Cost me $385, I think?? I will have to check.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Fancy, I really wish I could go back to using broody's to hatch the eggs but I am having such problems with mites, like they just won't go away!!!
I have just been incubating the eggs until they hatch then slip them under the broody.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Can't argue with those stats!

Next time we hatch (shh don't tell ALicia yet) will be with a broody I think, our last adopted birds are not very friendly though, maybe that's just them.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Fancy, I really wish I could go back to using broody's to hatch the eggs but I am having such problems with mites, like they just won't go away!!!
I have just been incubating the eggs until they hatch then slip them under the broody.

Lucas if you are using a commercial dust, you need to treat every 10 days until they are gone. The dust only kills live lice not their eggs, hence the follow up treatment.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Oh, I know the procedure. I have even used commercial building Lime ( not to good for me, let alone the chickens ) as a last resort and yet they continue to return.
I am not even sure what type of mite they are.lol.
I am going to go back to Pestene ( DE isn't that effective ) and then buy some coopex.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Oh, I know the procedure. I have even used commercial building Lime ( not to good for me, let alone the chickens ) as a last resort and yet they continue to return.
I am not even sure what type of mite they are.lol.
I am going to go back to Pestene ( DE isn't that effective ) and then buy some coopex.

I haven't heard any testimonials on DE from people that actually have a mite problem. I empty all the nest boxes, rake the floor and spray with coopex. Lock the chooks out for the day. Sprinkle yellow sulphur powder around the nest area, then return the already treated birds to the coop.

 

[satay]

Ok.... Incubators...!!!

Looking at getting an incubator.... e Maybe like a 48 egg sized one.... Maybe around the $100 ($150 max) price range.... Any recommendations? Any that I should particularly stay away from? (Newbie... Never hatched before )

I have seen lots on eBay.... One in particular I was looking at...a JN8-48.... Yellow lid with 4 viewing holes in the top, auto turning, etc... But it doesn't look as though you can set the humidity for like 'auto regulating the humidity' like you can with the temp controls. Is this a problem? I'm in SE QLD and humidity can rage wildly within the space of 24hrs let alone 21 days and I can't be sitting there monitoring it throughout the day.... So this is my biggest concern with a model like this... Is that a reasonable concern or am I being too over protective of the whole process? :/

Any suggestions please?

Thank you

They are awful things. I would not recommended the jn's at all. I would try a hovabator.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote: Yeah I guess I will just have to keep testing until I can find what is right me and my birds.