Candeling and hatching diary.

[mortie]

If I only have a few hatch I will use one I already have maybe. Otherwise my appliance box will work.

 

[lazy gardener]

Mortie: I laugh in your general direction. May I quote you next spring... when you fire up your incubator again? I think you just said something like, "A cardboard box will do for a brooder, because I'm only going to do it once." Yes, a cardboard box will be just fine, the ultimate disposable, burnable, compostable brooder... but, you will be doing it again. It's addictive. That incubator will be calling your name next spring!!!

 

[pinusresinosa]

Mortie: I laugh in your general direction. May I quote you next spring... when you fire up your incubator again? I think you just said something like, "A cardboard box will do for a brooder, because I'm only going to do it once." Yes, a cardboard box will be just fine, the ultimate disposable, burnable, compostable brooder... but, you will be doing it again. It's addictive. That incubator will be calling your name next spring!!!

Yup.

 

[mortie]

It isn't even my incubator lol. I borrowed it. If any chicks ever hatch here again it will be under a broody.

 

[lazy gardener]

SASimpson77. I don't have any pictures right now, but I used 2 x 2 lumber, and made a basic box. Then I painted it, and used fender washers and screws to attach the 2' wide 1/2" hardware cloth. It has 2 doors on the top, with a 2' wide section in the middle that provides stability. There are 2 horizontal cross pieces on the bottom as well to keep it from bowing out on the bottom. One end has a 2' x3' plywood floor that is removeable, so I can close this end in to provide a sleep area for the chicks when they move outside, while leaving a 4' x 3' area open for playing in the grass. Don't buy hardware cloth at your local Lowe's or Home Depot. They only sell it in 5' lengths, and charge way too much for it. You can go on line and buy it much cheaper, in a larger roll. If I were to build it again, I think I'd make the top out of plywood, with a bit of an overhang to repel rain, and provide shade.

 

[pinusresinosa]

It isn't even my incubator lol. I borrowed it lol

Well then, I daresay you're hardly "official". You're not in the club until you've at least got a small incubator of your own...

 

[lazy gardener]

I beg to disagree! Once bitten by the hatching bug, he will do What. Ever. It. Takes. To. Hatch. Again. Besides, there are plenty of enablers on this site who will verbally assist him to make a new bator.

 

[lazy gardener]

I beg to disagree! Once bitten by the hatching bug, he will do What. Ever. It. Takes. To. Hatch. Again. Besides, there are plenty of enablers on this site who will verbally assist him to make a new bator. However... the broody experience... That's a force to be reckoned with. Mortie, even if you do have a broody, she may not be compliant when you want her to. And if she does choose to set... you really should have an incubator handy just in case she gets tired of the job before it's finished...

 

[pinusresinosa]

We will see. I am skeptical that he's got what it takes to be in this club.

 

[lazy gardener]

Time will tell. I'm very patient.