Australorp

[Jackandwhitey]

Just hatched 16 Australorp chicks in my new Hovabator on April 3. It worked very well, kept the temperature and humidity even.

 

[noahsmom]

Just hatched 16 Australorp chicks in my new Hovabator on April 3. It worked very well, kept the temperature and humidity even.

AWESOME! Australorps are such pretty chickens, for the longest while I was calling them Australops (reminding myself of some sort of lop eared rabbit breed lol). I had my first hatching experience with me new hovabator with my first hatching eggs and everything went good. The digital thermometer/hygro didn't always read perfect, but it was usually with in a few degrees but I just put other instruments in there to measure temp/humidity and everything was fine. My ONLY problem was I believe I opened the bator to much allowing the humidity and temp to drop to quickly, but wont make that mistake again. 16 is a GREAT number, have fun with them!

 

[Jackandwhitey]

Kelly,
Thank you for your reply. I also found that the Georgia Quail Farm hygrometer/thermometer didn't seem accurate for the temperature. A thermometer came with the incubator and I relied on it. I didn't open much. The windows in the top were good to see the eggs and the thermometer/hygrometer.

The chicks have found a home already. I live in an Amish community and an Amish took them home. I wasn't really ready for them yet and thought I may hatch some more. I would like to sell some, but don't know where to start. I have 6 Australorp hens and one rooster. I am getting some Black Copper Marans, Rumpless Araucanas, and 4 Olive Eggers this summer.

I do think the Australorp is the perfect chicken. They layed 6 eggs right through the winter. They are friendly and calm. The rooster is a pet. The chickens and my big Australian shepherd get alone great. They seem to have bonded when the chicks were just a day old. He watched out for them.
Peggy