5Sons Coop
Songster
Who would do something like that?
Do collards grow in snow banks?
Same here. I look around at all I've taken on and just think how stupid I am.
She posted a picture of it. It is big enough with enough ventilation but if anything, the heat lamps are too high for chicks that age. Especially if they were wet.
In the picture, they were all crowded under one of the lamps.
I do that in one building. The brooder house, which too often ends up being a growout house and then henhouse.
I have it split into 3 sections and the side where baby chicks are started, has a sheet of 3/4" plywood on the concrete for added insulation from the cold concrete in winter.
This is in a building though. Outside, in the places I have concrete, I cover it with straw.
It's just when men are jerks that it becomes a problem.
Sounds a lot like me.
I rarely have success assisting either. If they make it out the almost always have curled toes and end up needing to be culled.
My rebuild of my big cabinet has been on hold way too long.
IMHO, a lot of people put all the blame on themselves or their equipment - which in most cases may be true because we are relying on mechanical or hand turning, thermometers, hygrometers and thermostats the could easily be off. A hen doesn't have any of those issues.
But sometimes, I think we should examine with greater scrutiny what happens for the month or so before incubation starts.
Depending on time of year, has the rooster been adequately photostimulated?
What is the rooster to hen ratio? What is the age of the rooster? Is he overweight?
Are the breeders in optimal health with no sign of disease?
Are we collecting eggs from young pullets or aged hens?
Are we using a breeder ration and/or supplementing vitamins/minerals/amino acids to increase hatchability rather than just a regular layer or all-flock feed?
Are we overfeeding treats and scratch, thereby screwing up the optimal nutrition that is necessary for high hatch rates?
Have the roosters been eating layer feed for any significant length of time which affects sperm motility?
Are we maintaining nests in meticulously clean conditions? Do we make plans for rainy weather when hens tend to track bacteria ridden mud into the nests?
Are we collecting eggs promptly with clean hands/gloves and collection materials?
Are we moving those eggs out of the sun and placing them in a cool humid space (approx. 60F)?
Are we turning them regularly during storage or storing them small end up?
Are we storing eggs too long and/or in the wrong conditions?
Do we warm the eggs gradually before setting to prevent condensation?
Are we disinfecting the incubator before setting?
From the moment a hen lays an egg, there is nothing we can do to improve hatchability, we can only try to prevent decreasing hatchability.
I have 2 brand new saddles someone gave me that I've never used. I should have but I seem to wait till the damage is already done. I'm getting my rooster numbers down now so not much of a problem.
OH I missed that pic. Thought I was caught up on read back, must have missed a page.
) to get some Maranas eggs for hutching AND THE DON'T COME!!! I was educted that promises and obligations should be kept!! I guess not everyone is.......
