Consolidated Kansas

[Ivywoods]

I've heard a lot of good reviews about the Brinsea. I've heard NOTHING good about the Little Giant. I wouldn't bother with it at all. I agree about the turner. I have done it both ways... with and without a turner, and I know I didn't turn them as often as I should have when I had to do it manually. Other things just get in the way.

I think I have more lined up to do tomorrow than I have time to do them. I need to run to Orscheln's for shavings and a few other things. I need to clean out the coop and all the pens. I want to put lights in all the individual pens with low watt bulbs, just for insurance on these cold winter nights. I think I will try to get a device (I can't remember what they are called) that turns the power on to things when the temp drops below a certain set point. I've got to get the light bulbs I need. I have to move some chicken pairs around.

Guess I better get to bed and get some sleep so I can get up and get this all done. G'night, folks.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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I think it's called a thermal cube? Or something like that. I have been reading up on incubators last night. I agree, I keep hearing about the wildly swinging air temps in the LG and how it's hard to adjust the temp. Brinsea reviews rave about how easy it is to keep the right temp. I just need something EASY and idiot proof, honestly. I don't want to be tearing my hair out. I'm still not settled, but I don't think I'll be getting the LG. Sigh.

 

[sharol]

Ivy,

It is a ThermoCube. YOu may have to order it from Amazon. Last year I got one from Orschlen's, and it was the on at 35 degrees, off at 45 degrees one. What you want is the on at 20 degrees, off at 30 degrees one (too bad there isn't one in the middle). They didn't have the cooler one last year in Topeka. I ordered one from Amazon (a 3rd party seller) and it was here in a week.

Sharol

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[chicken danz]

I got my thermocube from Cutlers. I know they had them at Bluestem in Emporia this week but they were double the price. I also got a couple that were much pricier that are called a LUX win100 programmable outlet thermostat from Amazon. Those suckers are ideal. You can program them to come on or shut off at any temps and they are also programmable by hour or day of the week. Of course I don't need the hour/day feature but they are very versatile. Only draw back is they must be used indoors.
Loralee I started out with two little giants. They, like all the others have the same needs. If you don't have a fan you are going to have varying temps. I installed fans in both of them, regulated the temp for about 6 hours and they hold steady at 99.5 degrees. Once you get the temp set never jack with it unless the room temperature changes drastically. I think a lot of the problems people have with temps are, they don't add water that is the right temperature. Cool water cools them down. Hot water heats them up. They open and close it which is going to change your temps and then it has to recover. Never rely on the little thermometers you get with small incubators. Spend $8 and buy a little BO digital one with humidity readings at Walmart. I use one in every one of my incubators large and small except the big one that has built in digital read outs.
It's 99% operator, and 10% machine. There are a couple little tricks you learn in time with small incubator.s When you add water or candle eggs, you take the lid off so temps fall. Put in water which is just slightly warmer than the temp you really want. It helps compensate for some of the heat loss and the two regulate together. I keep incubating humidity about 40% and hatching humidity about 60-70%.
I don't candle eggs until the last few days. That is just one more time opening an incubator. If one goes bad you will certainly be able to smell it and can cull it out. I suppose if you buy an incubator where everything is digitally mastered it is going to save you a little effort but even the best can't do the job they need to if you don't operate it right. I only use my little incubators for overflow in the spring but they they seem to function just fine.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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Good to know!! SO you don't candle at day 7 and all of that? You just stick them in and let it go until nearly the end? That might be a much smarter approach than what everyone else is doing on the board! (they candle several times during a hatch) That would certainly keep the temp around the same. Brilliant about the heated water off setting the cooler temps when you open the door. WOW- just a lot of hands on experience talking- love it! makes me feel like I could really use about anything. If I get an incubator, I will be sure to take your advice and buy the extra therm/humidity reader! I'm going to ask for the Brinsea for x-mas and if no one buys it for me, then I might just opt for a cheaper incubator with fan from Atwoods, and give it a shot! (or try to find a used on on eBay) This is going to be so much fun!!!!

 

[chicken danz]

The main reasons to candle are to make space for more eggs, to cull out bad ones, or I think more to satisfy curiosity. Anytime I do open an incubator for humidity or whatever I do a quick smell and look. If any eggs are oozing at all you can throw those out. If you smell one, identify it and throw it out. I used to have to check my eggs all the time just because the suspense was killing me. But I soon learned that was totally unnecessary and just caused a myriad of potential problems. I am sure people will disagree with me.
I guess the exception would be if you want to teach your kids about how the egg develops.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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I'm think I'm with you on just not worrying about them until much later to prevent hatching problems. Great ideas here.

So... my fingers and toes are FROZEN! Ugh. But I do have the roost and ladder DONE!! YAY!!! I need to put the dividers up in the coop and then crimp the line to the pop door and I'm done, done, done. OKay.... well, we still have no run. Sigh. But at least the babies can all go in the coop very soon. I need to go run into town and pick up hardware cloth to go over the windows and then I think I can safely say the inside is complete. I can't think of anything else needing to be done. Now we just need to work on the run. The siding is mostly done, too. Just a bit in the back to finish. I'll post pics when I get the dividers up here in a bit. I need a lot more hot tea before I'm going back out there, though! ha!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Okay, here's my progress report-- the outside is nearly done-- there is a board that needs to be put on the side of the box, but I'm figuring that one out..

Pictures show the nest dividers, and the ladder and then the roost. (the main roost runs the entire length of the coop) The ladder hooks onto the roost with hooks so I can remove it for easy cleaning in there. I didn't get the wire over the windows-- but when I do, those will be framed out on the inside too, so it all looks nice. So I guess I still have a few more things to do tomorrow. I'm so frozen, I can't go back out there. Plus, it's getting soooo dark out there! What is that about!?!

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, that looks great! What lucky chicks you have.

 

[chicken danz]

It's so awesome! You have made it such a show place. I'll bet your chicks use that ladder as a roost as well. My birds love ladders.
It sure is gloomy out. I made sure everyone was fed and taken care of today. I am so worried about my birds being taken care of while I am gone. I will be miserable if I come home and have lost some.
I still need to clean and finish laundry, pack a bag and get the rest of the stuff done before tomorrow morning.