Danz, incubators really are simple. I look at the expensive big ones and I think I could buy a cheap new refrigerator and make one for less money. I say I, but I have a crew to work together here. We didn't get to building another one today, but I do have the temp stable so I'm going to hatch these as is and make some adjustments later. We don't have the window in, that's going to kill me. I can see through the crack in the lid though if they are in the right spot. We are using an old cooler. Our neighbor gave it to me to build a watering system, it had obvious damage on the outside where the shell was peeling and cracking away. After I scrubbed it I found a small crack on the inside. I'm guessing the outside cracked from water freezing and expanding between the layers. It doesn't matter for this though, I like the double lid so I can open just one side if need to peek. I've already got chicks pipped in there, wasn't expecting hatch until Thursday. Mine are always always early.
My 11 yo is a girl. She's just so inbetween being a girl and a teen. Thanks for checking on those cars for me, I appreciate it. I was hoping the more stores that were checked for them the better my chances of finding just the cars.
Trish, I'm cracking up with your ax murderers. If only they knew.
My EE's foot seems to be doing better, she's walking on it but with a struggle. I'm glad she's up. It's a miracle. I was so scared this was it for her. I still have the one that has the bad eye, she's still smaller than the others but it doesn't seem to bother her at all. They all have different coloring. How would I get an EE roo? If I breed EEs then what do you get? Their colors would have to get weird. Daniel our big roo is looking older nowadays. Remember we removed his spurs a while back? His spurs seem to be shrinking now and more rounded. His legs look all bumpy and yucky now too. What's up with that? We still aren't getting many eggs, about 4 per day. We've caught 2 right after laying and marked them with a zip tie. We also tried the food coloring thing but we only had 5 colors to work with so either it didn't work or we happened to mark 5 that weren't laying. I know some are still molting, but if we are to a point that they're just getting too old to lay maybe it's time to refresh most of the flock. I should have new pullets ready to go soon. I'm loving the orpingtons too. Those little girls, when I go in to feed them will just follow me right back out. I always squat down to talk to them when they follow me. Toby isn't so sure of me as the girls are. My dh and I were out talking about what we need next, we decided on building another 3 pens. One for the pullets for sale, one for the barred rocks, and another just so I can separate them out at times. Like to see who's laying and who's not. The orpingtons look really happy in their pen, they still have some green grass in there and they aren't too crowded at all. There are 5 pullets and Toby. The layer coop looks way too crowded to me. They moved their fence over and all of the grass is already gone. I've got some young roos in there too, but they'll gradually come out of there. I just wish I knew how to better tell who's laying and who's not.
Lizzy, your eggs should really be fine especially since it's cool/cold out. I would be more hesitant in the summer. I don't wash eggs I inucbate. I don't wash eggs I leave out. I wash eggs I give to others because I think they expect clean eggs and my parents would freak if I gave them dirty eggs, I'm just sure of it.
Part of it is just getting over what I'm used to, and I'm not there yet. I used to wash them all no matter what so I guess I'm doing better. BUT, even if I leave the eggs out and don't wash them while they're sitting there, I still wash them before I crack them. I'm scared I'm putting germs from the outside into the egg that we are eating. I could probably deal with it if I knew I was going to cook the egg through in something, but I would have to talk myself through it. It could just be a matter of habit too. What about fried eggs where you leave the yolk uncooked? I probably worry too much.
