Colorado

[coop410silkies]

My bator is an old wine refigerator and quite large. I made it last spring. It hold temp and humidity very well. I think because of its size. The air pockets are normal from what i have read. I have 12 or 13 days before hatch time. Then another 7 for the second batch.
This home made bator can hatch out 168 eggs at a time if need be.

Wow, how many of which breeds are you hatching? If I remember right, you have great hatches. Do you ever hatch other peoples' eggs for them? Do you hatch as a hobby, or are your chooks a business?

On a totally different and unrelated page, here is a pic of my lame rooster and big dog (her big tail, at least) taking a time out by my feet.

 

[Latestarter]

Started up a new batch of FF late last week. Just started using it yesterday. It is so nice to not have them wasting 1/2 their food (dry) scattering it all over the floor! They seem pretty happy to be having FF again... They're eating basically everything I put out for them, unlike the dry which they mostly wasted or left. Maybe I can get these old biddies fattened back up.

 

[coop410silkies]

Started up a new batch of FF late last week. Just started using it yesterday. It is so nice to not have them wasting 1/2 their food (dry) scattering it all over the floor! They seem pretty happy to be having FF again... They're eating basically everything I put out for them, unlike the dry which they mostly wasted or left. Maybe I can get these old biddies fattened back up.

I understand about the wasted feed. I made a bunch of those "$5 no-waste" feeders and they work well for the hens and Silkies, but the large-combed roosters hate them; when I'm being nice, I feed them in shallow pans. When I get disgusted with the waste, I don't feed anybody anything again until everything's gone. Sometimes they have to forage. The roosters hop on top of the feeders and knock them over - they can attract more hens with the feed scattered all over, I'm sure, but I think I can fix this system. I used to think the tipped buckets were just accidental collateral damage, but I've seen these guys in action and know better now. And they seem so dumb. Yeah, I never see ANY FF left over or wasted.

How are your roll out nest boxes performing?!

 

[samsr]

@ MountainManfowl. I know you said Silly but I have a new coaching rooster about 6 months old. If your interested let me know or if you know anybody that is interested let me know I'm living Colorado Springs

I can get some pics whe and if i get home tonight. Everything is against me at the moment.

 

[samsr]

Wow, how many of which breeds are you hatching? If I remember right, you have great hatches. Do you ever hatch other peoples' eggs for them? Do you hatch as a hobby, or are your chooks a business?

On a totally different and unrelated page, here is a pic of my lame rooster and big dog (her big tail, at least) taking a time out by my feet.

Most of what i hatch are my own farm mutts. They do lay a lot of eggs though. My fertility rate isnt as good asbit should be right now though. My neighbor has two of my roos. I candled last night. 21 out of 34 are fertle on this batch. Wont know about the second batch until this weekend.
I really just like to hatch eggs. Really doesnt matter whos. I will put in 8 to 10 goose eggs in a couple days. This time i know which are toulouse and which ones are a mix. They are laying in different spots this year.
If you would like me to hatch some silkies for you i would be glad too. A couple of the chicks may not make it back to you though. Lol. My kids love the little guys.

 

[coop410silkies]

Most of what i hatch are my own farm mutts. They do lay a lot of eggs though. My fertility rate isnt as good asbit should be right now though. My neighbor has two of my roos. I candled last night. 21 out of 34 are fertle on this batch. Wont know about the second batch until this weekend.
I really just like to hatch eggs. Really doesnt matter whos. I will put in 8 to 10 goose eggs in a couple days. This time i know which are toulouse and which ones are a mix. They are laying in different spots this year.
If you would like me to hatch some silkies for you i would be glad too. A couple of the chicks may not make it back to you though. Lol. My kids love the little guys.

I like hatching eggs, too; what really lights my fire, is building the incubator to hatch them in. Call me an addict. Don't dare get started on it this spring as I have so many other things that NEED doing last spring. I am of course envious of you and covet your incubator.

Mmmm, it is generous of you to offer to hatch some chicks for me, but alas, I have too many birds as it is. When I can see the bottom of my to-do list I may reconsider. Have you ever hatched ducks? Shipped eggs? I have so many roosters, it's hard to tell if I got a fertility problem; my real problem is with the older hens whose chicks I want. Good luck with your hatch(es).

 

[COChix]

Our big boy Rocco, he is almost two and now that he has only 3 hens to protect he has come fierce and more aggressive. He is rather big this late winter.

And some chicken funnies, figured the timing was appropriate.

 

[samsr]

I like hatching eggs, too; what really lights my fire, is building the incubator to hatch them in. Call me an addict. Don't dare get started on it this spring as I have so many other things that NEED doing last spring. I am of course envious of you and covet your incubator.

Mmmm, it is generous of you to offer to hatch some chicks for me, but alas, I have too many birds as it is. When I can see the bottom of my to-do list I may reconsider. Have you ever hatched ducks? Shipped eggs? I have so many roosters, it's hard to tell if I got a fertility problem; my real problem is with the older hens whose chicks I want. Good luck with your hatch(es).

This was the second of three that i have made. My original one is a smaller unit. It only holds one turner. The larger ones hold three to four turners. They look quite impressive when they are full. The third bator got all the improvements fron what i learned on the first two. It wirks really well.
My neighbor hatches duck eggs. Cant be any harder than goose eggs. They are a challenge.

 

[coop410silkies]

Our big boy Rocco, he is almost two and now that he has only 3 hens to protect he has come fierce and more aggressive. He is rather big this late winter.

And some chicken funnies, figured the timing was appropriate.

Wow, Rocco is a HUNK! Too bad his disposition went to pot. At one time I would have kissed his little hunky bottom goodbye, but nowadays I'm leaning towards rehabilitation, lucky for my Roos. Everyone is going nuts with all this sunshine.

Your funnies are just too funny.

m

 

[jmdes]

thanks for the replies. I did not explain it well, I meant 3-5 days from lockdown (18th day).

the hatching is going so well that I will probably pull the fluffies out at 24 hours from first hatchling. I was thinking 24 hrs maximum in the incubator. Does that sound better? I figure they are going to be THIRSTY pretty quickly.

Of the 21 eggs, 15 are hatched, 6 eggs are in progress. Maybe only 2 of them don't have pips yet. It's hard to tell. Whew, it's been quite a day for me as a first time newbie hatching eggs.