BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

I had to cut my plastic canvas to go almost all the way up to the top of the incubator to keep them from crawling over.

Plastic canvas....that's ingenious!

 

[hellbender]

This is just off the wall...because of something I saw ....somewhere else.....

 

[dfr1973]

I'm not laughing I intend to hen-hatch exclusively. We lose power several times a year....

M

Same here. No backup generator as of yet.

 

[gjensen]

I have come to enjoy hen hatching. I see doing both moving forward. I only wish the broody hens had an on and off switch.

The discussion on marking chicks etc. was good. There is a lot of ways to do it. I like toe punching because of how fast and easy it is. I can go through a lot of birds fast. We can re-punch any that begins to fill back in. I have never had to re punch one a third time. Rarely a second.

Concerning keeping the chicks separated at hatch, I made some hardware cloth baskets with hardware cloth tops. I prefer wire baskets with tops. Some purchase suet baskets. I have seen good deals out of season.

 

[gjensen]

This is just off the wall...because of something I saw ....somewhere else.....

And in 2015 we still fall for this.

 

[gjensen]

I throw the feet into a ziplock bag and into the freezer. Then I pull them out for the dogs. They can be dehydrated too. They keep their teeth nice and white.

This is a good idea. Is there a risk of choking with large dogs?

 

[neopolitancrazy]

OK, laugh if you must.  I've always hen hatched--until now.  I bought an incubator to really crank up production and I'm on my first whack.  That being said, I would like to erect a barrier for egg separation, but I'm worried out of what?  Don't want any bacterial problems!  What are you using in your incubator?

Also, I have heard of folks putting the eggs in hollowed out egg cartons at lockdown to keep newly hatched chicks from flipping eggs.  Anyone do this confidently?

Plastic canvas held together with little zip ties, easily disinfected.
Also trimmed styrofoam egg cartons, also easily disinfected.

 

[southernmomma]

Quote:
So hearing and seeing are two different things? A visual barrier is enough?

M

 

[gevshiba]

This is a good idea. Is there a risk of choking with large dogs?

My biggest dog is a 35lb, 20.5" mix, so medium size. She has no problems with chicken or turkey feet. I give her dehydrated duck feet too, and they are pretty small. It probably depends on if the dog is a chewer or a gulper. One of my Shibas tries to swallow everything.

 

[gevshiba]

My dogs are fed very well...I'd venture as well as anyone's, with respect to nutrition and "eat-ability"...

The chicken feet belong to ME!!! lolol

I've never had chicken feet. I never even knew people ate them until recently. I'm not saying I wouldn't try it, but I'm not saying I would!