California - Northern

[TheKeeper]

Dried meal worms are a big hit with the chickens. I got a sample bag from the feed store for a buck and I had them all eating out of my hand. Bwawk Bwawk is now recognized as the treat call. They come a running. (well they come a running when they hear my patio door open too)

Next project = meal worm farm

The live ones are more protein (I think).

 

[Audio51]

Quote:
Thanks! I was able to use all scrap wood except for the framing for the wire tops. It is also on wheels so I can move it around. Hardware can be pricey though!

 

[TheKeeper]

The Video is ready!

What a good Mom too.

Were those doves I heard flying in the background near the end of the video?
Do you keep them or are they wild?

 

[TheKeeper]

I had my very first zebra dove hatch a week ago.
Here it is, acting big & scary so I don't eat it (he, he).

I love how it puts its head feathers up like a mohawk.

Side view

 

[ronott1]

Were those doves I heard flying in the background near the end of the video?
Do you keep them or are they wild?

We have some of those invasive Doves in the area. They made a nest in the Plum tree last year.

The invasive Doves are between the size of a Pigeon and a native Dove.

 

[TheKeeper]

We have some of those invasive Doves in the area. They made a nest in the Plum tree last year.

The invasive Doves are between the size of a Pigeon and a native Dove.

They are commonly known as Eurasian Collared Doves (ECDs), scientifically known as Streptopelia decaocto.
They are taking over the mourning dove & white-wing dove territories because they are so vigorous. Fish & Game will let you hunt them during season too.

I believe that they will cross-breed with commonly-kept domestic doves, Ring Neck doves, streptopelia risoria, which are about 1/4 smaller & look very similar.
I had one escape (due to my error) earlier this year & he's come back with a friend (probably a girlfriend) to eat out my wildbird feeders & bathe in the birdbath. It's neat to see but I should figure out a way to recapture my dove. Usually they are hawk or owl prey with a day.

 

[caychris]

Meal worm and red worm bin are on my project list. I think they will come about after I clean out more of my garage to make room for the hydroponic lettuce grower.

I need to make some modifications to my Brooder setup too.The slide out floor isnt working as Id like (the shop vac to the rescue) Basically needs some side windows and a trough feeder system

The 4 seven week old buffs seem happy that the biggie ones are no longer in the box but they have now taken to perching on the feeder and knockng it over.

Ill need to do something different for the chicks that come home soon.

"Good hatch! Good hatch!"

 

[sewandgrow]

Ok going to ask the silly question again. Which Incubator should I get if Im only moderately serious about hatching eggs.

Ive seen a wide variety of price ranges. Ive also seen lots of people post about home made ones.

What about the Still Air models?

There is so much to digest in the BYC hatching eggs area I get lost.

After trying many different incubators my recommendation for the money would be the digital Hovabator Genesis with the Hygrometer readout. The temp was right one & the humidity not difficult to regulate. The Brinseas are fabulous but waaaaaaaaaaay pricey so took me a long while to purchase. I love the Octagon 20 Advance with the humidity module but again the cost. After buying the Ova 190 Brinsea if I had it to do over again I would use several smaller individual ones instead of the cabinet I bought just because I no longer care to hatch that many eggs at once. I like the control of the smaller individual ones. 4 Brinsea 20s would be perfect for my 4 brooders with the Eco glows in each, but the cost is prohibitive. I bought one this season & I have 1 R-Com 20 that is comparable, now I need 2 more & I am set.....LOL. The Brinsea mini is costly too if you get the digitl one with humidity module & it holds so few eggs. It's a big decision...Good luck

One by one is how I do it, but many of mine don't have wattles, so I have to open their beaks with my fingers.

Pictures here:
Please note that I was the one holding the bird and taking the pictures, please use both hands!

• Hold bird - I like to sit with my thighs parallel to the ground, feet firmly on ground and the bird in my lap. I hold it gently, but firmly and grab the head.

• Open mouth and wait for bird to relax.

• Insert syringe - I like to insert from left to right, across the tongue, behind the trachea, into the oesophagus. Again, wait for the bird to relax.

• Give wormer

• Repeat in ten days.

-Kathy

Thank you Kathy............you are such a great resource for all of us.

Male or female?

Pullet.................for my guess

Well...it seems my hatching season is winding down for the year. I am down ot only one incubator running right now and it is on lockdown. It is full of Mottled Ameraucana Project eggs and Guinea eggs. I am kind of ambivialnt about it. I think with the heat getting ready to hit I am leaning toard being relieved. I got the brooder box finished and the meaties are in it, along with the Grocery Store chicks. They are so happy to be out of the stock tank. They have more than twice as much room nowo don;t have to moved them back and forth between the tank and a smaller tub each night so they will fit in a secure place. The brooder box has wire tops that lock. I made so can separate into 2 halves for storage. I want to make it so it would fold up, but couldn't get the hinges to work right for that.


I used Window Sash Latches to hold the 2 halves together.


The center cross support here will lift out to add a divider. I haven't built that yet though.
I don't think I will need it this season, but will next.

Vicki, what a nice job you've done. Isn't it rewarding? I still have my divider stashed away but didn't use it this season. I use a hanging feeder because they kept filling that one up with shavings until I hung it on chains to elevate it. I use a cut down 5 gallon bucket with 4 nipples on it that I attach in a corner with a couple of cleats scabbed onto the inside of the corner to rest the bucket on & screwed the bucket into the wood on two sides of the top. I am able to fill it with a hose through the hardware cloth. When the chicks first go in I put some garden stepping stones under the bucket for them to walk up under it to get to the water. They learn so fast.
The hardware really does add to the cost. A $20 recycled peach bin ends up costing me about $60 and change by the time it is finished. I get a lot of use of them though & store them on their sides out behind the chicken carport when not in use.

Next project = meal worm farm

The live ones are more protein (I think).

Yeah.................... for side projects. They keep life interesting. I am waiting for my European night crawlers I ordered for my worm towers & worm bin now. I tried the meal worms & may again they weren't very time consuming & very interesting to watch the beetles & worms.

Quote:

Meal worm and red worm bin are on my project list. I think they will come about after I clean out more of my garage to make room for the hydroponic lettuce grower.

I need to make some modifications to my Brooder setup too.The slide out floor isnt working as Id like (the shop vac to the rescue) Basically needs some side windows and a trough feeder system

The 4 seven week old buffs seem happy that the biggie ones are no longer in the box but they have now taken to perching on the feeder and knockng it over.

Ill need to do something different for the chicks that come home soon.

"Good hatch! Good hatch!"

I am hoping for a good hatch for you Chris. I candled yesterday & there are several Dellies still in. You should get several CLB too.
I used to have red wigglers by the thousands. I am trying night crawlers this time for our fishing. I couldn't believe what they wanted for 15 mini night crawlers at the bail shop....LOL I will grow my own thank you................

 

[ronott1]

They are commonly known as Eurasian Collared Doves (ECDs), scientifically known as Streptopelia decaocto.
They are taking over the mourning dove & white-wing dove territories because they are so vigorous. Fish & Game will let you hunt them during season too.

I believe that they will cross-breed with commonly-kept domestic doves, Ring Neck doves, streptopelia risoria, which are about 1/4 smaller & look very similar.
I had one escape (due to my error) earlier this year & he's come back with a friend (probably a girlfriend) to eat out my wildbird feeders & bathe in the birdbath. It's neat to see but I should figure out a way to recapture my dove. Usually they are hawk or owl prey with a day.

Doves are very Tasty. I can't shoot them in town though....

 

[SpringPeeper]

I had my very first zebra dove hatch a week ago.
Here it is, acting big & scary so I don't eat it (he, he).

I love how it puts its head feathers up like a mohawk.

Side view

Cute!