Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

IVY, I got my Brinsea Octagon directly from Brinsea USA also. You should get one while it's on sale if you're thinking of getting one, they're regularly $149 without the turner. I went ahead & got the turner when I got mine because I couldn't see me using it without it. I'll want to see how I like it & then may want another one in addition, we'll see how it goes. I want to get a digital thermometer with the humidity reading also before I use it so I can regulate it better. It only comes with a regular thermometer.

 

[chicken danz]

Ivy there are air holes in the top of the styro and of course it comes with those little red plugs which I removed. I don't think you need any more air especially if you have a fan. The fan keeps the heat even as well so you don't end up with hot and cold spots. If you like I'll take a picture of my makeshift fan set up later.
I went out and got the birds fed and watered. Now I can't get warm! I can't stress enough how much I hate this weather. The yard looks like a lake after not a drop all summer.
Hawkeye my DH bought me a pair of muck boots a few years ago. I didn't honestly appreciate them. But the last two winters I've worn them non stop out feeding and stuff. They are heavy but my feet stay warm and dry even in the coldest weather with just a pair of socks on. My granddaughter wears a pair to go work in the stables in Colorado and swears by them too. Like today mine were covered in mud and chicken poo and I hit them with the hose before I took them off. I just leave them at the back door. They are sure worth the money. I bought a pair of more fashionable shoe boots to wear but comfort and warmth in those don't compare. My boots are a bit big but that leaves me room for extra heavy socks if I want, and I tuck my jeans down in them and keep them clean and dry.
OK, while I was outside I got to thinking about viral infections. Seems to me any thing that works well for the human immune system should help the birds. I'm thinking maybe I should start supplementing feed and water with things like olive leaf extract, vitamin C, zink, L lysine etc. What do you think? Would it help?

 

[chicken danz]

Ivy here is my home installed fan. Excuse the electrical tape I need to replace that so it isn't hanging loose. The front of the computer fan was open so I just cut a piece of hardware cloth and ran the screws through it before I put the nuts on to make sure the chicks couldn't get in the fan.

On the top side you can see how I mounted it from the outside. I used some 8-32 by 1 1/2 machine bolts and screws to mount it. That could be changed depending on the size the holes are in your fan. The larger washer was placed where it is to keep it from rattling against the plastic window. The noise bugged me.

 

[Ivywoods]

I think that would be the most economical way for me to go. I would be crazy to buy another incubator at this point. I have this one, I might as well use it. DH said he threw all the old computer fans away.

Wouldn't you know.

We are headed to St. Joseph on Friday and one of our stops will be at a computer repair shop. Maybe I can sweet talk them out of an old fan.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I'm kind of excited about Yoda-- my "It" silkie that I could not figure out the gender on. Back when I first got Yoda, she had a lot of new pinfeathers coming in that looked like they might be the start of streamers. However, then the rest of her crest has filled in too- and those long feathers have been hidden by the rest coming in all over. Yoda is 5 months old now, and still no comb. I posted her picture on the silkie thread to see what they thought--boy or girl. Everyone says girl and SilverSilkie who is practically an expert on color genetics says she is a hen based on the bit of red on her chest saying: e+/e+ based hens only have that coloring. I'm just going to go with it! Don't know what all that means! LOL! Here is Yoda's pictures: (anyway, excited because I'll have one more layer!!)

 

[Hawkeye95]

This means more eggs to go in my incubator!! hehee!!! Now they just need to grow and mature.

 

[chicken danz]

Yep she definitely looks like a girl to me.
Ivy if you can't find a computer fan, places like radio shack sell some and I'm sure the computer stores have replacements. I found some on line when I was looking in the $5 range. Just have to be sure they operate on 110AC. Lots of them operate on a dc current which would work as well but you'd have to have a transformer to get the right current. The one I got measures 3" x 3" by 1.5" which is just about the same size as the little giant one. If you found a 1 inch thick one that would be even better. You can wire it directly to the wires that go to the thermostat but I just put a separate cord on mine and made a small indention in the styrofoam for the cord to go through so the lid shut tight.

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, what a cutie! Awww that makes me want some Silkies every time I see a picture of one, especially a cute one like that.

IVY, you can find computer fans really cheap on eBay, gobs of them. That's where I always find my computer parts because the shops here never seem to have what I need at the time.

 

[Trish44]

Well I found out today that my GP puppies sure are sensitive. I got after them for getting in the chicken coop & eating my chicken feed & they were mad at me pretty much the rest of the afternoon. I went out & tried to give Jasmine a pig's ear to chew on because I gave one to Lily & she wanted to take it away & Jasmine wouldn't come near me. She just ran the other way & even ran through the fence into the neighbor's field, which didn't make me happy because I don't want them over there. She came back a few minutes later, but it took me awhile to get her to come to me & get the pig's ear. I'll be glad when they get big enough that they can't get through that pop door any more to the chicken coop.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
I'm glad she came back and got her pig ear. But I'd have been annoyed with her running off, too. After I yell NO at one of my dogs, they slink off into their kennels or under the table. Which is fine by me. They usually get in trouble for chewing on a toy a kid left out. Dogs are smart-- they KNOW what is theirs and what isn't. Maybe they will get the hint that the chicken food isnt' theirs.

My dogs don't learn, though. They'll be good for a while and then the next thing I know, they have chewed up a puzzle that my son put together on the floor. I hope Jasmine is over it today when you're out there.