Hatch-Along - Setting eggs this weekend (Jan5/6) WHOS WITH ME!

[lori stetson]

Try a kitchen store. My candy thermometer has a great range (not all of them do).

 

[LuvMyRoo]

The only potential problem I see with using old furniture as a brooder is the cleaning. Those chicks get really messy, especially as they get bigger, and the easier your brooder is to clean, the less time you have to put them somewhere else while you clean it. I use a giant dog crate as a brooder. I line the sides with cardboard stripes, they can't fly out of the top, and I can rest the heat lamp on top of the metal wire. I like being able to see through the side of the cage...good for chick-watching. At cleaning time, I take it outside, dump the shavings into the compost, rinse it with the hose, and put down fresh shavings. It takes less than 5 minutes. I keep my chicks in the laundry room. They do have a smell, not a strong smell, and it's not bad if you clean often, but it's not something I'd want in my living room.

Love this- chicks look like they dig it too

 

[SilkieSensation]

Whoo hoo thanks for sharing Puglady- what a little cutie!!

I am also hatching BCM's. I am on Day 3 and just plugged in the turner a few hours ago. The temp has been a steady 100' for days now, and just as others commented, within 2 hours of turning, it rose to 102. Back down to 100 now, but watch the temps when you start to turn.

Thanks Silkie! I have hardware cloth to make a top. I was more worried about it getting too stuffy in there since all three sides are solid??

Just watch your chicks. They will tell you if they are too hot or too cold. Cold chicks huddle together in a pile for warmth. Lower your light closer to them. If they are scattered as far from the light as they can get they are too hot. Raise the light up. If they are running around or lounging everywhere comfortably then temps are perfect.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I use an old bird cage with the wire bottom & droppings pan for a brooder after the 1st couple days (especially for ducklings). This keeps babies out of the mess & the floor nice & dry. All I have to do is empty the pan every couple of days. I set the light right on top & point it down. There is even a small roost in there a couple inches off the bottom so chicks can move themselves closer to the heat if they want. If it gets too cold I just tie feed bags or cardboard around 3 sides & drape a towel over top & sides leaving a space around the lamp with nothing touching it. I have found this works really well for chicks over a week old & ducklings over 24 hours old. I have an old wooden toybox I use for chicks under a week old & a plastic dresser drawer for hatchling ducks. The plastic drawer also works well for quail for a couple weeks & then they go in the toybox brooder or the birdcage depending on where there is space for them at that point.

 

[LuvMyRoo]

Searching CL and Freecycle for an old bird cage now, thanks

 

[SilkieSensation]

Searching CL and Freecycle for an old bird cage now, thanks

I love my birdcage brooder. I really want a couple more.

 

[lucyharper123]

so just put eggs in the bator their silkies i know its fertilized but why can't i see veins only a dot ? yet their 4 days old?is it too early?

 

[nakanich]

If you just put the eggs in the bator you won't see anything for at least 3 or 4 days (with a good candler) no matter how old they are.

 

[nakanich]

If you just put the eggs in the bator you won't see anything for at least 3 or 4 days (with a good candler) no matter how old they are.

 

[nakanich]

Sorry didn't mean to double post.