EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Razadia]

My chicks are always the wildest chicks anyone could imagine.

Mine usually are. The ducks are zooming around now that they have more room. And the turkey. I'm in love with this turkey.

 

[kwhites634]

I went ahead and ordered more eggs. I desperately need to get a new coop built if I am going to keep more chickens, though. When I had my husband build the one we have now, I told him that I wanted it large enough for 50 chickens-- I said something around 10x20 feet. But he had a friend help him build it, and this friend is one of those people convinced they are an expert in everything. My husband was raised in a culture that respects the opinions of men more than women ( ) so when this guy told my husband that we only need half that amount of space for that many chickens, that's who my husband listened to. The coop is 10x8. It's gotten to the point that I've started investing in some power tools and education, in order to be able to do some projects myself. But I'm not sure I can build a big ol' coop on my own. I wouldn't know where to even start!

Start from the ground & work your way up!
Seriously, I'd start with the ground it's going to sit on & determine the diminsions you want. Level the ground, or pour a level concrete pad, or put the coop up on piers, depending on whether you want a walk-in coop or not (which I'd suggest for 50+ birds). Then build your walls on the flat, level pad or floor & stand them up, tie them together, & install the roof of your choice.

Youtube is your friend...plenty of shed-building tutorioles there, which is essentially what you're building; same principles either way.

With a little patience & extra labor you can build a pretty nice coop using dismantled pallets, which can usually be had for free.

 

[Razadia]

I can't upload at all now. I hate my phone sometimes.

I'm reasonably sure one of my gold faced chicks is a Spitz.

 

[BullChick]

As long as it doesn’t spit in your face.

 

[Razadia]

I just turned my eggs and they're cold. Temp is 80. I'm pretty sure it's because I turned my ceiling fan off. I hope that's why. I can't replace the thermostat right now, so I'm really, really hoping that's not what's wrong. I would really hate to lose this batch. Every single egg is developing.

 

[BullChick]

Great that they are all developing.
Is the incubator completely closed? Does it have a cycle that cools the eggs down once a day? I know they exist. It’s supposed to mimic the hen getting up to tend to her needs.

 

[BullChick]

Goodnight, Raz.

 

[Razadia]

Great that they are all developing.
Is the incubator completely closed? Does it have a cycle that cools the eggs down once a day? I know they exist. It’s supposed to mimic the hen getting up to tend to her needs.

No, it's just a basic Hovabator. It's back up to temp now, so maybe everything will turn out ok.

Goodnight, Raz.

Night BC.

 

[Aidanhall92]

How are your babies? How many Pekin do you have?

Yeah they are great! I have 4. All very friendly and healthy, im very lucky

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I just turned my eggs and they're cold. Temp is 80. I'm pretty sure it's because I turned my ceiling fan off. I hope that's why. I can't replace the thermostat right now, so I'm really, really hoping that's not what's wrong. I would really hate to lose this batch. Every single egg is developing.

What day were they on?

No, it's just a basic Hovabator. It's back up to temp now, so maybe everything will turn out ok.

Night BC.

Probably they'll be OK. While you want the internal egg temp to be at 99.5F, periodical cooling for up to a half hour shouldn't hurt. Internal embryo temp will lag way behind ambient temperature. Just stay away from too hot. Over 104 for any length of time, especially in the early stages is a death sentence.