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

[Akrnaf2]

How do you feel about providing consistent daily light period year round and the possible need for a hen's oviduct to take an annual rest?

Way do you think that that the domestic hen needs any rest?
Its lay almost 15 times more then it's wild ancestor.

 

[BantyChooks]

I just remembered something! How would you like to be snuggled up to the nice warm motor in the back of the 'fridge on Abi's sun porch right about now?

Very much!

 

[kwhites634]

Very much!

You're welcome to come here to thaw out for a while. Sitting here in the deer blind with the propane heater keeping the temperature @ 66* F right now. Coat's thrown over the back of the extra chair...plenty of room for two. Plenty of sunshine & zero white stuff.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Happy and merry Christmas to all of you!
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Way do you think that that the domestic hen needs any rest?
Its lay almost 15 times more then it's wild ancestor.

I'm not sure. Do you think a Leghorn can continue to lay 350 eggs a year for 6 years without a break?
Just curious. I'm at about 39 degrees N. latitude now. The farthest north I've lived was 50 and the closest I've lived to the equator was at about 10 N.

 

[daxigait]

@ChickenCanoe so how much do you sell your Hatching eggs for? Or do you ever sell one of your old hens? I love your dark eggs.

You're right. On a related tangent, I've seen some really interesting things with a friend's coop that have made me wonder if the ventilation should-do's are different up here. I don't doubt they are helpful guidelines when you frequently go between above and below freezing, it makes logical sense then, but I can't shake this little doubt in my head that's telling me to go experiment with some things. Being me, I can't just say "it's good enough" and continue on as is, so I am going to try a new thing every year... and probably fail spectacularly in the process. I'm going to be getting maybe 20 Leghorns next year, so they'll be part of my tests.

One thing that took me an extraordinarily long time to realize is that even the peeps on here that say they have cold weather rarely have it to the length and extent that I do. Things are different, and there's not very much solid data that can be applied.The more southwestern places have very cold dips, but from what I understand, it warms up a lot in between. The sustained cold really makes things different.

I'd also like to know if there are any other factors that have an impact on how much frostbite happens. What I would be overjoyed to see is a study with everything from temperature to barometric pressure measured and night-by-night photos of the combs affected by the conditions.

I will be anxious to follow and see what you find out. The one thing I learned is never build your Roost in the higher part of a building if you have a slanted shedfor loafing shed type building especially if you're in my part of the country where the temperatures can go from 70 to -5 in a few hours or just a more normal say 40-45 degree day and then down into the teens at night. it's the temperature fluctuations in the humidity and the change that have affected my bird's the most. And by putting the roost up in the higher point is putting them there in bed condensation essentially even with the ventilation in the eaves. But I am definitely a beginner and have less ventilation than they probably say you should but my birds don't stay in the coop all the time.

 

[daxigait]

It is the constant temperature fluctuations here in the Midwest they get us and make us sick. When I grew up up north it would just get cold and stay cool then you acclimatized at least his people. here it is very difficult for people and even like my goats the constant up-and-down temperature changes make it difficult to acclimatize at all. especially if we have a big drop followed by or including wet weather whether it be snow ice or rain followed by snow or ice. That's what seems to make everybody sick

 

[Akrnaf2]

I'm not sure. Do you think a Leghorn can continue to lay 350 eggs a year for 6 years without a break?
Just curious. I'm at about 39 degrees N. latitude now. The farthest north I've lived was 50 and the closest I've lived to the equator was at about 10 N.

Not for 6 years , the oocytes are numbered. I think that the photoperioda is an important factor but not the only one, temp, food intake, stress etc are also important and I have found that they regulate they laying even that the photodiode is equal all year long, the benefit is the LIGHT MOLT, there is no evolutionary logic to a homeothermic criter to loose most of its protective cover just before winter, with its cold temp and low food source. Make an experiment with one of your flocks andsee for yourself , you will not hurt them.

 

[BantyChooks]

You're welcome to come here to thaw out for a while. Sitting here in the deer blind with the propane heater keeping the temperature @ 66* F right now. Coat's thrown over the back of the extra chair...plenty of room for two. Plenty of sunshine & zero white stuff.

I tried to come, but the sled dogs got stuck in a bank.

I will be anxious to follow and see what you find out. The one thing I learned is never build your Roost in the higher part of a building if you have a slanted shedfor loafing shed type building especially if you're in my part of the country where the temperatures can go from 70 to -5 in a few hours or just a more normal say 40-45 degree day and then down into the teens at night. it's the temperature fluctuations in the humidity and the change that have affected my bird's the most. And by putting the roost up in the higher point is putting them there in bed condensation essentially even with the ventilation in the eaves. But I am definitely a beginner and have less ventilation than they probably say you should but my birds don't stay in the coop all the time.

70 to -5! No thank you; you can keep all of that nasty fluctuation stuff. Must be really hard on the critters.

 

[BantyChooks]

Also, I don't remember where I stashed the link, but I found a study on people that showed that vaseline doesn't help prevent frostbite---it makes your skin feel warmer. I think it said it actually increases the risk. Might be worth looking up, if any of you have time to kill.