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

[Fred's Hens]

Vickie

Here it is, the end of November, and all we can think about is breeding season!!!

Eight weeks and counting down.

 

[unkadan]

Vickie

Here it is, the end of November, and all we can think about is breeding season!!!

Eight weeks and counting down.

I agree Fred, I was really excited yesterday when I got my first pullet egg from one of the Wheaton Amerauacana's I hatched last spring,,plans to breed them in Feb,
a couple of things I didn't see mentioned about the styro incubators,,,don't open the top during use any more than is absolutely necessary,,,a good friend and infamous "hatcher" in WI teaches ppl to tape the 2 halves together to help with humidity and to make you "think" b4 you open to mess with the eggs

 

[Sally8]

Yes, the foam isn't really the issue, although some folks don't like cleaning foam incubators.  The issue is on the $44 LG type versions is that there is no turner, no fan, and less than stellar controls for temp.  The better GQF or Hovabator versions?  Yup.  People like them a lot.  These run more like $130+ as I've priced them.  Not bad for what you get.

I guess my point is simple.  Research incubators.  Do your homework.  Get something that works well, or why bother with the thing.  When you've got valuable chicks to hatch, it's no time for messing around.

I agree with all you. We hatch for fun, to have a few chickens for meat (doesn't matter what kind really) really like the different colored eggs. If I were into serious breeding, I wouldn't be using this incubator. But I'm not. Only got back into hatching for my grandchildren. I honestly had no troubles with humidity. 16 percent most of the way. My 2nd hatching didn't count because of the power outage. It was challenging but I'll do it again only no brooders in the bathroom. I do have a roo, he came from Fla as a special gift and 4 ladies of Black Copper Marans all from a very fine linage, the rest are EE's. Not much money tied up. Only enjoyment. I do appreciate all the experience you can pass on. At my age I can't afford the time to make the mistakes myself!
I forgot to say, no deformities or deaths. I'm not advising people to go this route, I was just remarking on how well dry hatching has worked for me. Thanks.

 

[MagicChicken]

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.

x2. One can only hope!

 

[bruceh]

the thing with feed is the FDA has once again stepped in . most milling places can not add animal products to their feed anymore.

 

[bruceh]

Vickie

Here it is, the end of November, and all we can think about is breeding season!!!

Eight weeks and counting down.

i am glad. i have some nice birds i want to breed. however i don't breed in the spring. however this when i look hard at my potential hens. so far i have maybe 4 hens i a watching hard. out of those 4 the best 2 will make the final cut.. will see.

remember fred no pinched tails.

 

[bruceh]

Fred,

I spent years running 2 Sportsmen GQF Incubators. One as an incubator, and 1 as a hatcher. Now I do much smaller hatches and I love my little foam GQF incubators. Temp control, fan, and turners. What's not to like for not much $ ?? I have 2. One is an incubator, and one is a hatcher with no turner. Getting 96% hatches.

i going to upgrade my 1502 . so big of an incubator for a small amount of eggs. i do around 24 eggs

 

[galanie]

the thing with feed is the FDA has once again stepped in . most milling places can not add animal products to their feed anymore.

Ok THAT is short sighted and a misinformed decision by the FDA. Sure, ruminants shouldn't have that in their feed. But they failed to notice that poultry feed is mixed there too, and poultry are omnivores. I mean if you want to mess up, go ahead. But if you really and truly want a mess, just get the gov't involved!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I haven't seen the elimination of animal products in feed yet. That said, it is getting harder to find in the retail sector. There? The Vegetarian propaganda rules the day, I'm afraid.

Our local mills still have meat and meat by-products listed. Prince Feeds still have meat and bone. I've paid close attention to this for years and I've come to an opinion, formed not through scientific research, but just in observation of our own flocks, that the amount of protein is important, but the type of protein is also critical.

 

[galanie]

I haven't seen the elimination of animal products in feed yet.  That said, it is getting harder to find in the retail sector.  There?  The Vegetarian propaganda rules the day, I'm afraid.

Our local mills still have meat and meat by-products listed.  Prince Feeds still have meat and bone.  I've paid close attention to this for years and I've come to an opinion, formed not through scientific research, but just in observation of our own flocks, that the amount of protein is important, but the type of protein is also critical.

Often, scientific research overlooks things. I feel that observation and learning from those that observe is more important than the scientific "reasons" something must be true.

Case in point: That homogenization doesn't change milk. Observation showed that it does, in this way: People that were "lactose intolerant" when drinking homogenized milk were not when drinking raw milk. Some scientist finally went back to look and then found that the process removed the enzymes in milk that break down lactose. They overlooked that before because they considered it unimportant and only went back when they finally listened to those that observed the difference.

Science has incidentally shown that w/out meat, it is very difficult to provide everything an omnivore needs. Especially with birds. Vets tell me even to give my cockatiels some chicken from time to time. Cheese also. But cockatiel food still doesn't have animal by products in it. I guess people would think that is too yucky. They do eat bugs though. I had one that adored mealworms even.