Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Leahs Mom]

I think I posted this in the wrong place before so I'm re-posting here.

have an broody/incubating question.

I have an 8 mo old that looks like she may be trying out the broody road. I will thoroughly test her by removing her from the nest box for several days in a row, etc. If she appears to hang in there, I am looking at getting some fertilized eggs and letting her give it a shot.

Now.... I'm thinking I'd like to have a backup plan in case I have eggs and she deserts. I do not own an incubator. I have looked at some youtube videos of home made incubators using cooler, light bulb, thermometer/hygrometer, but I wonder about how reliable these are.

Any thoughts for a backup? Anyone tried a homemade one? How did it work for you? (I have an idea that they're pretty lame...)

 

[Miss Lydia]

I woke up in a cold sweat! Bad dream! I was checking my chickens feet and saw little lice around thier feet! Got up to let them out this AM and had to check feet.... No lice, You guys are killing me!!

Even though have had to treat for mites just in the last couple of months all one has to do is scratch and I'm fluffing up the butt feather looking for anything crawling.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I think I posted this in the wrong place before so I'm re-posting here.

have an broody/incubating question.

I have an 8 mo old that looks like she may be trying out the broody road. I will thoroughly test her by removing her from the nest box for several days in a row, etc. If she appears to hang in there, I am looking at getting some fertilized eggs and letting her give it a shot.

Now.... I'm thinking I'd like to have a backup plan in case I have eggs and she deserts. I do not own an incubator. I have looked at some youtube videos of home made incubators using cooler, light bulb, thermometer/hygrometer, but I wonder about how reliable these are.

Any thoughts for a backup? Anyone tried a homemade one? How did it work for you? (I have an idea that they're pretty lame...)

Inexpensive, foam incubators are as cheap as $45 at TSC and similar places. However, the features are pretty poor. No fan typically. Regulation of temp and humidity on these cheap boxes is pretty poor. You'd be better off spending the money for a better machine. The little Eco from Brinsea can be purchase using a special code and when on sale at Brinsea's website for around $80.

 

[Miss Lydia]

chickens..... and as found out a few years back....ducks love to eat all kinds of critters and go after some pretty large rodents, snakes etc. This is a very large Shamo female with a rat....not a mouse.......didn't take her long to devour it. The rat was alive when they met up. I post this picture in the threads that claim chickens should only eat twigs and nuts.



Walt

What a pic, I have never seen one of mine with a rat, 10" copper head and voles yes. and one of my Muscovy ducks with a frog in her mouth. yuck.

 

[Mountain Momma]

Very thoughtful!! As a young mother with children, I think that it is amazing to find someone who is so considerate!! You are a gem!!

Mrsamplias and Maven. I agree that you are more considerate, compassionate and comprimising than i will ever be.
I still want my kids here with me on all holidays and if it stresses them out then so be it.
My position is that if their sig other loves them enough that I will invite them too then this will be no problem. If they dont love them enough then there might be a little heat and tension. Either way I am fairly certain my kids will be here with or without sig others. And if they have kids they will be here too. Sig others can do whatever. My kids understand how important it is to me, and by proxy to them and anyone in their lives will have to understand it too. Otherwise its a red flag. If they hook up with some fly by night rebel without a cause and even try me on for not being with the family on a holiday then look out. That is not marriage material in my book. The bar has to be high in this house. If I relent then the slippery slope has begun and I wont have that. Besides, where are all these young people going for the holidays? To the uncomprimising mommas house!
L

 

[normanack]

chickens..... and as found out a few years back....ducks love to eat all kinds of critters and go after some pretty large rodents, snakes etc. This is a very large Shamo female with a rat....not a mouse.......didn't take her long to devour it. The rat was alive when they met up. I post this picture in the threads that claim chickens should only eat twigs and nuts.



Walt

I was gnashing my teeth at the feed store today. The brand they carry says quite proudly on the front that it has only vegetable protein. That is so NOT a selling point for an omnivore's diet. I'd be quite happy to see "ground whole rats" in the list of ingredients.

 

[Sally8]

Inexpensive, foam incubators are as cheap as $45 at TSC and similar places.  However, the features are pretty poor.  No fan typically.   Regulation of temp and humidity on these cheap boxes is pretty poor.  You'd be better off spending the money for a better machine.  The little Eco from Brinsea can be purchase using a special code and when on sale at Brinsea's website for around $80.

I'll 2nd this. I have a Little Giant Still Air Incubator. The only kind I've ever used. But the temp fluctuates terribly. I use the dry hatch, so I pay no attention to humidity. We heat with wood and work all day so our house temp changes and causes the incubator temp to change. Because I do little hatching, I'll stick with what I have but it's a lot of work. If you can afford it, go for the better. You won't regret it.

 

[Sally8]

Sometimes your straw comes with mites. Check it before you use it or bring it home.  Mice carry it also. Keep your rodents out of the coop by covering your feeds and feeding outside. You can also use electronic deterrent's. Ammonia and urine keeps not only coons and possums out of the coops, it helps to keep mice out. Re-soak those tennis balls in Ammonia just before the weather turns cold.

Are you kidding me? Why haven't we used this before? Certainly worth a try. Hoefully I can keep the dog away as he loves to play catch!

 

[Sally8]

What a pic, I have never seen one of mine with a rat, 10" copper head and voles yes. and one of my Muscovy ducks with a frog in her mouth. yuck. 

I've read several posts about chickens killing venomous snakes. Are they immune?

 

[stonykill]

I'll 2nd this. I have a Little Giant Still Air Incubator. The only kind I've ever used. But the temp fluctuates terribly. I use the dry hatch, so I pay no attention to humidity. We heat with wood and work all day so our house temp changes and causes the incubator temp to change. Because I do little hatching, I'll stick with what I have but it's a lot of work. If you can afford it, go for the better. You won't regret it.

I built a simple plywood box to put mine in. Minimizes the temp fluctuations. Plus I put it in a room where the door can always be closed so it isn't affected by the wood heat. I've heard of other putting theirs in the closet for the same reason. But seriously putting it in a plywood box helps a lot.