Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[hillfloweranch]

Oz keep me posted on your time frame for your next trip so I can get those eggs shipped to you...also text me your address so I can have her send them directly to you.

 

[ozexpat]

Oz keep me posted on your time frame for your next trip so I can get those eggs shipped to you...also text me your address so I can have her send them directly to you.

i am so bummed you arent coming today

 

[ozexpat]

6am update

20 hatched 3 pip 1 zip

 

[CayuseRanch]

I forgot, how many in lockdown?

 

[ozexpat]

I forgot, how many in lockdown?

27 went into lockdown

12MD update
24 hatch
3 Zipping

So there you go.Its almost as if I made this up. I have actually driven poor Bernie crazy with updates for the last month as I plotted the hatches.There is both an art and science to hatching. As this is the 11th hatch since Jan 28, we are mastering both aspects.

100% will be great. Here is hoping.

ETA - 34 were set. 7 were culled at 10 days. Most of these eggs are pullets first few eggs.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

mesmerizing........ I want baby chicks!!

(none of my possible 3 broodies, are even thinking about setting yet

)

 

[ozexpat]

I am going to have to threaten our coturnix with photos of pan roasted quail if they dont start laying soon. They will be 8 weeks on tuesday.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I am going to have to threaten our coturnix with photos of pan roasted quail if they dont start laying soon. They will be 8 weeks on tuesday.

ours started a tad later than what I was told, how do you have them set up for laying?

 

[Tomtommom]

I'm amazed anything can lay at 8 weeks. Wow.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I am so exited about our build Friday eve and Sat I have to share with you all, pray you dont mind oz, since your egg trays have made my brain think out of the box and into the cooler!

So please dont quote this and take up oz's thread!

Say Hello to half of my weekend! Hubs and I have had a very busy weekend, more time fine tuning our new incubator so it has perfection in temps top to bottom, but brainstorm has turned out amazing!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/861788/gigantic-cabinet-cooler-incubator-how-we-did-it-and-test-run-ready-set-go


I figured everyone may want to see if it works or not.... started a thread

Gigantic Cabinet COOLER INCUBATOR w/semi auto turning

I took images all the way through this project even the fine tuning to get no variance top to bottom so I will create a Thread with how we did everything later on when I get all the stuff organized.


150 qt Coleman Xtreme insulated Cooler as big as I could find, $67. free shipping I think its just about 4' long
Dual Fan $17.00 for set of Four(used two), use old power inverter thingers I had, Two 90 Watt Lights in ceramics $1.97 each, single Wafer Thermostat $22., rear Air duct.cost of styrofoam? I had it leftover, foil tape $3.00 have half left over. Three of those egg trays you suggested out of the six in the lot $21. for lot of 6, 3 rods for the trays $1.95 each., Handle $1.97, plexi $1.98 x 2, shelf we had left over from our reno, and a pc of thin cabinet back for the lower shelf, and a tad of caulk and gasket sealant we had on hand. clevis pins were $1.25 ea. x3 and flat pc alum for turning was a buck or two. and one 2x3 lumber $2.97


est $132.00 cost
























Here is hubs showing off his handywork of my GENIUS! HOWEVER I did get yelled at because I put the "darn thermometer" in his way for when he took the tray out!
Has some tweaking needs done, but Its awesome!!





Check out this vid of my fine tuning temps so top to bottom are identical, MIND you I messed with a taped piece of cardboard in the bottom and re-sized the return duct opening numerous times and the depth of the bottom shelf to get the temps the same. It wasn't an easy feat and my bum hurts from sitting in the kids little chair watching the thing and making minor adjustments! HA HA HA

This vid is before I added the permanent backer board shelf at the bottom as I was adjusting for perfection. I could technically include a hatcher in the bottom or another egg rack, but I dont want to hatch in it, but it has plenty room for additions stuff, also if you note the cut outs in the side of the cooler, you can easily take out the racks and turn this quickly into a multi level hatcher, we may do another for a hatcher and find plastic tubs to fit in the slits.