Halloween/Thanksgiving Hatch-a-Long 2019

[Pennys Mama]

So I have in 8 ft tall fence that's 7,000 sq ft where my layers and ducks are. I wanted to keep them safe because we use them for eggs for eating plus fertile eggs to hatch our meat chickens.

I didn't want to put this new flock in that fenced in area because I have two Jersey Giant roosters that will most likely kill another rooster. That's why I was thinking about letting this new flock I want to create work outside the fenced in area... If that makes any sense.

I was going to put a coop out in the yard with about a 4-ft fence just so that they can fly in there if they have to away from dogs or what not. I guess we could do another large area that's fenced in for a new flock. I don't know what to do lol I just know I want another flock so I can have different meat bird varieties when I incubate eggs.

Decisions decisions, right? So many options of birds!!!
I just heard chirping coming from my bator!!! Lots of wobbling too, no pips yet that I see....

 

[BullChick]

I'm in the country in an agricultural zone. I think chickens are better than hearing all the other neighbors dogs bark. Someone 20 acres away has hunting dogs, they're so loud.

So you can imagine my surprise that I own and love my beagle. He will get noisy when his pack is in (they typically bring 12+), but is okay otherwise. It only took a few nights to get him to stop baying his alerts. If he barks, there’s a reason.

I'm not too familiar on quail since I don't own any. I want to get some though. I'm not sure about the housing they need and such so I have lots of research to do.

Quail are like any living thing. Everyone thinks they know how you should raise them. Just remember they are cold hardy and quick. Mine are happy as can be on the ground, and I don’t have to clean up after them. I have a dozen in two of those TSC prefabs that are about 2’ x 6’. They have big things in there, or I’d have them in only one.

I wanted to get guard geese, but everyone says they're mean. I don't want anything that's meaner than a rooster! I have two roosters already that I keep my eye on. So far they know I'm boss.

I want to create another flock that's free range, but not sure if the neighbors dog would kill them. I guess only way to know it to try.

Get turkeys. They will alert you, and scare most strange dogs away.

 

[Pennys Mama]

So you can imagine my surprise that I own and love my beagle. He will get noisy when his pack is in (they typically bring 12+), but is okay otherwise. It only took a few nights to get him to stop baying his alerts. If he barks, there’s a reason.

Quail are like any living thing. Everyone thinks they know how you should raise them. Just remember they are cold hardy and quick. Mine are happy as can be on the ground, and I don’t have to clean up after them. I have a dozen in two of those TSC prefabs that are about 2’ x 6’. They have big things in there, or I’d have them in only one.
Get turkeys. They will alert you, and scare most strange dogs away.

Can you post pictures of your tsc hutches/coops?
I want mine to be able to be on the ground, that would be nice. I looked at a few of those cops last week actually.
I want some of the white turkeys, and collar them so they shouldn't be mistaken for Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[BullChick]

They will fall apart quickly, so I suggest at least adding additional shingles or tar paper to the roof.

 

[Pennys Mama]

Oh, you've got the 2 side by side, right? 12 in each side or 12 in the entire unit?

 

[BullChick]

That is an old picture. They are end to end with the end doors open against each other. I open one side door to feed them, and go around to the other side to do water. They pretty much live in the food side, and hang around the water cooler.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I had a TSC prefab coop for a while, maybe 3x3 for my chickens, but it was so small and I hated it and we eventually built one. It was falling apart even after just a few years haha even after the first year it had some issues but by the third oh boy lol we took off the bottom run as best we could (part of the bottom fencing supports the coop) and put it inside a chain link dog kennel. It was alright but I don’t think I’d buy one again. For quail though it would probably work. We also put a roof over ours which I think helped.

 

[BullChick]

One of the penguins just hatched!

 

[muddy75]

Maybe your success rate will be higher since so many are your own fresh eggs. My coturnix were mail order. I ordered 25, got 30, only had room for 25 in my turner, had to turn the other 5 by hand. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for at least 50%. If you notice I've been using an inexpensive bator.View attachment 1934597 View attachment 1934598 View attachment 1934599

sometimes if you leave out the dividers, you can fit more in the j12...you can also put 2-3 on the end of the turner and it will partially turn them for you.....I also tend to rotate my eggs to different positions throughout hatch to help ensure even temps and even turning......those tips may help for next hatch......once you candle and pull the clears, they usually line up in the dividers better. at hatch i keep sponge under vent hole so i can more easily add water as needed to keep r/h stable.

 

[Pennys Mama]

sometimes if you leave out the dividers, you can fit more in the j12...you can also put 2-3 on the end of the turner and it will partially turn them for you.....I also tend to rotate my eggs to different positions throughout hatch to help ensure even temps and even turning......those tips may help for next hatch......once you candle and pull the clears, they usually line up in the dividers better. at hatch i keep sponge under vent hole so i can more easily add water as needed to keep r/h stable.

I did that "end of the turner" technique, it helped me turn the 5 that wouldn't fit!!! I love all the tips that y'all pass out!