Icelandic Chickens

[Chickielady]

Mary does that incubator have a fan?
And heat elements up in the lid like a little giant?

If so (no fan & heat elements in the lid) be careful each egg is not too close to the element...the incubator is designed for chicken eggs & Emus may be tall enough to get too much heat on the top if they are too close to the element..
Crap, I probably got you all stressed out now....sorry.
But keep them away from the element!

Keeping fingers crossed for 50 days may be difficult, but I will try!!!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Well, I just got back from 3 hour drive to pick up 4 Icelandics-1 pullet, 3 roos from the same lady the I got the other Icelandics from. But much closer! I will post pictures later.

 

[The Sheriff]

Chickielady yes the eggs are going to be very close to the heating element and there is no fan. I am having a mad scientist day and trying to figure out how to use the top part only of my Brinsea Advance to turn my small wooden brooder into an incubator. I cut foam to fit inside on the walls and bottom. It has a wire floor and pull out cleaning tray. I lined the tray with Styrofoam and the eggs will set on the wire. If this works it will take care of temperature (with fan) and humidity because I have a humidity pump that goes with it. Right now I am just trying to see what it does with temp. Right now it is higher than where I need it so I am going to the vent holes which should help. It is holding at 98.8 but I need it to be 97.5.

This would be the general idea. Here is the inside with the Brinsea top in place and three ostrich eggs

Outside with the top weighted down with books.

 

[Chickielady]

I did kind of that thing with a little giant, and DH added a computer fan inside...but the element could not tolerate anything less than an outside temp of 72 degrees.
If outside temps dropped, it could not keep up to 99.6 inside.
Just wasn't bif enough.
What I did, was bought a gQf brooder dual-element replacement, wafer & all, and DH screwed it onto an old metal TV tray, he built a box under it w/door, etc and it works fantatstic as a hatching incubator.
I will send links...
really, why buy the whole gQf cabinet incubator (plus shipping!) when you can buy the element & wafer, and put it in your own box??

 

[Chickielady]

here it is, although I got mine for $75.
Anyways, shop around, it may still be out there at a lower price.

http://www.randallburkey.com/250-Watt-Replacement-Brooder-Heater/productinfo/0537R/

Hovabator fan kit:

http://www.randallburkey.com/Turbo-fan-Kit-For-Hova-Bator/productinfo/2364/

You can get computer fans at Radio shack, how we did it.
Note, fans hang down & large chicks in the little giant-styrofoam type incubators can have their heads shaved....

The biggest reason Dad used the big ol' farm Master (besides it's reliability & great humidity..was that it was BIG.
he hand turned..most old breeders swear by it.
But the biggest issue is: BIG
When these Emu chicks zip, the egg is all over the place like bowling balls rolling around (he has told me) and he used to sit & watch them in a brinsnea..until he noticed one plop out & knocked the lid right off.
They are big babies & need 3X the room of their egg when they plop out.
Their egg shell will still be in there too, along with the other eggs, so taking a newly hatched chick out to make more room is not a good idea in case of shrink wrapping (I think)
So, when setting Emu eggs, he would space them way far apart...about 10" all around each egg.
Just sayin'.....so maybe look for a bigger bator & switch them out...
Want Dad's phone # ??
If so, PM me.

 

[The Sheriff]

I think I am good. The temp is holding perfectly steady at 97.7. The Brinsea is digital and it responds to changes in the ambient temp. I am about to hook up the humidity pump and see how it goes.

 

[Jake Levi]

Mary that is a very interesting unit, when are you going to put them into production ???

Very well made, I wish I was as talented a wood worker as you are !

Any new Isbar pics?

Life is good, and better with Icelandic Chickens and Pack Goats !

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
I didn't make the brooder Jake, I bought it a year ago on eBay. I just lined it with Styrofoam. But I am pretty handy with the power tools. Haven't been out with the camera today. I want to say it's too cold but that would somehow not seem right, given the weather of you and some others. So I'll just say I haven't been out much today. It 47 degrees here and windy.

I didn't get the eggs today. Maybe they will be here Monday. I have asked for a tracking number but haven't gotten it yet.

Mary

 

[kathyinmo]

Beautiful day here today, except for the wind off and on. I took pictures. I won't bore you with them. I know you have all seen all my Icelandics, and probably get tired of looking at the same ones over and over.

Anyway, I am just so surprised, still, how Kola is changing colors! Honestly, by the time she is finished with this transformation, I think she will be mottled or turn blue! Sheeesh! From all black to this......

Ohhhhh, and here is my Bitsy..... Tyler has changed his name to Harley.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
Oh I hope it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The entire country is going to be holding it's breath!!!!!!!!!!!

MASS hysteria!!!!!!!!!!!!