California - Northern

[chiqita]

The Dickey has a rail option, so it will hatch Geese and Emus too!

Do you want me to hatch you some emus?

Bad enabler no cookies for you! My incubator would handle emus, But mario CAN NOT HAVE THEM!

 

[ronott1]

Quote: BT Corn! It's a GMO and they have found out that the BT left after processing causes the digestive system to allow too much in, so basically it messes up metabolism....for Humans...so I would assume it messes up the chicken and other animals too. Non GMO(more likely with Organic) is fine for chickens.

BT(Bacillus Thurenger) kills bugs by stopping them from feeding.

I do not intend to be super negative about this. It is something we should be aware of. I have modified my thoughts on this and actually will give them some soy and corn now. I try to use Organic Chicken Wheat or Oats instead though. I am trying to give them a three part rotation, one with Soy, one with Oats or wheat and one with Non Soy Non Corn. It seems to work since my Hens are very healthy and the eggs are amazing!

I know we are all doing the best for our chickens. Economics and availability plays a large part in all of this too! Chicken feed is so expensive.....

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Thank You for the egg color information. It all makes sense, so I guess the thing to figure out is if you want the birds to look different or not.

I like the way they look.

 

[juststruttin]

Thank You for the egg color information. It all makes sense, so I guess the thing to figure out is if you want the birds to look different or not.

I like the way they look.

I like the way they look too. Funny thing, the two cl X cp pullets I kept look almost identical to the purebred CLs. I had to wait til they laid eggs before I was 100% positive they were not pure. My CL X CP rooster does not look like a purebred CL, looks more like a Crele Pen rooster. I am interested to find out how the next generation will look.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I am going to get a new incubator in February and I am trying to decide between the Dickey or the Brinsea Octagon 40 Advance. They will both cost about the same. The Dickey holds a lot of eggs, which could be a problem for someone that is limited to City Chicken rules. The Brinsea has a daily cooling cycle that may help with hatching the Penes and the Marans though.

Any thoughts? Anyone here?

I have the Brinsea Octagon 40 Advance. It's super easy for foolproof hatching. I never trust any thermometer though other than my Spot Check thermometer, so I use that with it. (I just stick it through the vent opening) I have the auto turner also, and it works wonderfully. Chicks fluff up really quickly in it with the fan. I do not have the humidity pump, though I have used Mary's. It drove my husband bonkers as it's really loud when it pushes more water in. He literally put a box over it to muffle the sound.

I incubate the first 18 days without any water in it. Then at lockdown, add some water to get the humidity up and that's it. Simple.

 

[Happy Chooks]

The Dickey has a rail option, so it will hatch Geese and Emus too!

Do you want me to hatch you some emus?

Emu eggs fit in a hovabator too.

You really want a 55 day incubation Ron? They are super cute though.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Thank You!

Now I an not sure again about which to get....Does yours have the cool down cycle?

Quote: I would only hatch them if someone wanted them

Chiqita says Mario can't have them, so probably won't do it!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Thank You!

Now I an not sure again about which to get....Does yours have the cool down cycle?

If it does, I've never found it.

I set the temperature to where the Spot check says it is, then I never touch it again. It maintains that temperature well, even through storms. (my hovabator requires tweeking when the temperature changes drastically)

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Thank You!

Now I an not sure again about which to get....Does yours have the cool down cycle?

If it does, I've never found it.

I set the temperature to where the Spot check says it is, then I never touch it again. It maintains that temperature well, even through storms. (my hovabator requires tweeking when the temperature changes drastically)
The cool down cycle was a new feature for the 2012 model.

I don't know if it makes any difference though.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Then no, mine doesn't have it. I bought mine off of Mary when she bought her Brinsea Cabinet incubator.