California - Northern

[chiqita]

Incubator question again. I think I've decided on the Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance - digital menu driven incubator, and last minute pros or cons on this unit? My question is, do I need the humidity pump or anything else like a rack, which evidently doesn't come with it? I read in a review that it doesn't come with a rack which I thought was odd. I asked about the seconds and they told me they rarely have those but this unit is on special plus they gave me a code for another 10%, although I think I can get it for about $20 cheaper on Amazon with free shipping. Still trying to decide I want to make sure I order everything so I can get hatching right away! EEEEEEEEEEKKKK, I'm SO excited!

Brinsea is excellent. Don't know about the pump, but the less you have to fuss the better IMO. I am excited for you too!

Question about a broodies. Betty took care of the 4 chicks very well for 2 days and 1 night so far. Keeping them warm and safe. I moved her and the chicks to a crate and they are locked in for now. I wanted to keep her locked in for a day- mostly for the chicks but she wanted to keeping going back to the lay box she had been sitting in for 34 days. I added 3 more chicks and she adopted them too. She is up to 7 chicks. if she keeps taking them- how many chicks can I safely add for her to adopt? Betty is half Black English Orp and half FBCM. So she is not tiny.

The question will be if they will take her. If they get older then a week they may or may not accept betty. She should be big enough for 8-10 easy. Personaly I get better survival rates if I make the broodie take all bantie or all LF. Sometimes the banties cant keep up or get crushed by the larger chicks when they are together. The mother sees chicks ok and thinks it is fine, but the banties are behind and get cold faster. The LF wont want to get warm so the mother wont sit for the small cold chicks. While if its all banties they all get warm and cold at about the same speed.

 

[zooweemama]

Brinsea is excellent. Don't know about the pump, but the less you have to fuss the better IMO. I am excited for you too!
The question will be if they will take her. If they get older then a week they may or may not accept betty. She should be big enough for 8-10 easy. Personaly I get better survival rates if I make the broodie take all bantie or all LF. Sometimes the banties cant keep up or get crushed by the larger chicks when they are together. The mother sees chicks ok and thinks it is fine, but the banties are behind and get cold faster. The LF wont want to get warm so the mother wont sit for the small cold chicks. While if its all banties they all get warm and cold at about the same speed.

I only have LF so no worries there. I check on her frequently. I will give her 3 more and brood the rest myself. If I see any of the chicks not accepting her I will remove them.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Quote:
Thanks! Yes, they gave me the code when I asked if they had any discounted units and told me it was also on sale (which I had already seen). So maybe the units on Amazon are less because they don't include the metal rails and foam inserts.

So do I really need the humidity pump for our area or is it a must to make it a "set it and forget it" incubator?

 

[Happy Chooks]

When is a good time to add vitamin to baby chicks water? Or you dont ?

All of my chicks go on vitamin water from hatch to 2 weeks of age. Then I switch to plain water.

A little more cuteness !

Stop! I want that bottom one!

Congrats to all of you with new chicks! Love the baby goats, also, especially the Nubian looking ones. Triplets are really a wonderful surprise!

I have an enclosed 16 x 20 building that I use as a farrowing barn. I cleaned it out, yesterday, after moving the pigs outdoors. It occurred to me that it might make a good space to brood chicks, until they get big enough to range outside.

There is already a heat lamp in there. I could add more. The floor is concrete. I was wondering if I could use that aluminum insulation, that someone mentioned on here, to enclose a small area? Put shavings right on top of the concrete. Would that be too cold for chicks? The sow would push all the straw aside to lay on the bare concrete, while her piglets huddled in the pile of straw under the light. I think she did this because the concrete was cold.

I could also move the large metal stock tank in there, as a brooder. What is the best base material for a brooder, under shavings? What should be avoided? Newspaper is too slippery, correct?

I've brooded chicks many times, but always started out in plastic tubs with paper towels. I'm trying to think larger scale now, something easy to clean.

I'm looking at this big empty space and considering options. Any ideas?

I put shavings down, then paper towels on top. After a week, I just remove the paper towels.



Amy - linoleum works great in the coops. It's easy to clean with a big plastic feed shovel, and when you really want to clean, you can just sweep it out.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Thanks! Yes, they gave me the code when I asked if they had any discounted units and told me it was also on sale (which I had already seen). So maybe the units on Amazon are less because they don't include the metal rails and foam inserts.

So do I really need the humidity pump for our area or is it a must to make it a "set it and forget it" incubator?

It depends on if you are dry incubating. I filled up the water tank two hatches ago and have not touched it since. It is about half empty now so I suppose I will have to fill it up sometime in the next couple of weeks or so.

 

[zooweemama]

All of my chicks go on vitamin water from hatch to 2 weeks of age. Then I switch to plain water.
Stop! I want that bottom one!
I put shavings down, then paper towels on top. After a week, I just remove the paper towels.



Amy - linoleum works great in the coops. It's easy to clean with a big plastic feed shovel, and when you really want to clean, you can just sweep it out.

Thanks! I think lino would really just be a great way to go!

 

[zooweemama]

Betty has 10 chicks under her. She is so funny. She has all 10 tucked under her. I keep giving and she keeps taking. It's really cute. If I sit long enough I can see little heads peep out. I will attach a pic in a minute. You can't see the chicks but you can check my broody bin set up and tell me if it looks ok?

 

[zooweemama]

Food, water, enclosed privacy and bedding ... Does this look adequate?

 

[zooweemama]

Food, water, enclosed privacy and bedding ... Does this look adequate?

There is water in the bowl- I was coming out to top it off.

 

[zooweemama]

Anyone here use Poultry Protector with any success? Just read about it today...