Going into Lock-Down ~ Round #2

[shelleyd2008]

Pine pellets really help but they don't start stinking too bad until they are around 2 weeks old. Then it's like an every day cleaning and the stink is still there...I think at that point the birds are just emanating the smell

 

[swheat]

Ahhh, My oldest are 8 day old today...Hopefully I will have them out by the time they reach 2 weeks. Especially if this warm weather keeps up. The a&m are amazing fast growers...seems they are growing at a rate 4-5 times faster than my bobs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

You should be able to move them out soon. I usually move them to a cage inside the barn (out of the rain and etc.) when they are between 2 and 3 weeks old this time of year. In the cooler months (Sept. - Nov.) I wait until they are about 5 or 6 weeks old. Needless to say, I don't hatch many late in the year

 

[swheat]

That is good to know. Normally I don't have room in the incubator to hatch anything extra like purchased eggs, but my chickens have really slowed down in the egg department so I thought if I wanted to hatch anything new(like the quail) I had better do it now. One reason why purchased so many eggs. Once they start laying again I won't have any room for anything else. Guess I will have to plug up some of those hova-bators I have sitting in the barn. So I guess I have a good start in quail. I wonder if I might be able to double stack on top of my pheasant\\bantam egg tray(on the top turning tray) and just not put quail eggs in the 2 outside rows of the quail tray...hmmm I will have to investigate and see if there is enough room.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I have 2 hovabator genesis's. I use one for hatching and one for incubating. This summer I decided to take the turner out of my incubator and put the eggs in cartons so I would have more room. I just tilted the whole incubator instead. I rarely had quail eggs on their own, usually they (and the smaller bantam eggs) were set in between the bigger eggs (duck, LF, etc.). So I don't see why it wouldn't work.

There are only a few quail eggs in this pic but you can see my 'system'

ETA: Looks like guinea eggs were also set 'on top' of the other eggs...forgot about doing that....good thing it has a fan

 

[Tikkajazz94]

Congrats on your huge hatch!!!

 

[swheat]

Quote:
Thank you !! I am quail happy !

 

[Tikkajazz94]

Quote:
Thank you !! I am quail happy !

You should be

 

[C&Rman]

Yes congrats! That is a good hatch rate! I am quail happy too

My eggs haven't even hatched yet and I am already thinking I need a bigger bator. I want one of them cabinets but they are so darn expensive, but I plan on keeping all the quail I hatch so... I will definatly have to invest in a cabinet, if my wife doesn't divorce me first

 

[swheat]

Quote:
I have 2 hovabator genesis's. I use one for hatching and one for incubating. This summer I decided to take the turner out of my incubator and put the eggs in cartons so I would have more room. I just tilted the whole incubator instead. I rarely had quail eggs on their own, usually they (and the smaller bantam eggs) were set in between the bigger eggs (duck, LF, etc.). So I don't see why it wouldn't work.

There are only a few quail eggs in this pic but you can see my 'system'

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq337/shelleyd2008/eggs/DSC00840.jpg


ETA: Looks like guinea eggs were also set 'on top' of the other eggs...forgot about doing that....good thing it has a fan

LOL...now that is DOUBLE STACKING

Here is my hatcher...Large Upright Freezer converted to hatcher or incubator if I hand turn eggs but I am not much into that.. I only use it when thing around here get into full swing and I am needing incubator space. I'll transfer eggs from incubator due to hatch to the hatcher on 17-18th day and so I can get a quicker turn around in the incubators. I have about $100 in it, work great until outside temps reach 92 degrees, them the fan motor generates enough heat alone to cook all eggs(did that once~ Lost over 200 eggs due to hatch the next day..but they didn't like the 113 degrees for extended period of time...I lost them all.