Icelandic Chickens

[The Sheriff]

She was stepping on then over them to get to where she wanted on the roost. When a little cockerel didn't cooperate, she grabbed him by the comb and sent him flying! I think she will be just fine though. She only takes on the punks who hatched after her.

 

[Happy Chooks]

She's just letting them know their place!

. She's a princess.

My light brahma was nicknamed the princess because she won't let any other chicken in the coop while she's laying her egg. And God forbid someone is in HER nesting box.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
I did not know that there were problems with the Brinsea incubators? have always heard praises for them. Could you let me know the problems with them. I have an old fashioned bator that I have to turn myself, I do it 5 times a day I have always had great hatches with it. I got it years ago to hatch parrot eggs so it is very accuate in temp and humidity. have used it 5 times on chooks eggs with great results. I was thinking on getting a updated bator but maybe just stay with this one?

Talk about an ancient incubator, I inherited a Farm Master (solid redwood) from FiL he used for his emus....ancient!!
Some older breeders swear by them, I have not used it.
I use a cabinet gQf, has a 5 gallon water feed to the tray inside with a little float on it..LOVE IT!!!!
Holds a million eggs, so thing can (and have) gotten out of control

I have a second gQf incubator/brooder...so that is used for lockdown.
Makes multiple hatches easy.....

Things can get out of control in a short amount of time with this incubator.
I love it!!

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:

I have one bird like that too!
She will actually go in the occupied nestbox and sit ON the trespasser!

 

[Chickielady]

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A very good friend here on BYC recently lost an entire set in a big brinsea, the arm that drives the egg turner, busted somehow, and the cog went around anyway, and then the arm stuck & pole vaulted the rack which popped the lid off..and it sat that way all night, shrink wrapped them all...she is WA4-HPoultryMom.
The eggs I think, were all Lav Orps

 

[The Sheriff]

Well, out of 48 eggs I set I have a total of 22 developing. The overall fertility rate was 58% but I don't know how many of those would have developed had they been incubating at the right temp! So right now they are all in the Brinsea ECO with some marked with x's and the others with A's. The X's are much farther along so I don't know how many, if any I will be able to ship. My customer just lives three or so hours away so I may ask if she will meet me halfway to pick the chicks up instead of shipping. That way the slower ones can go too. I think I will take the top off the Brinsea and ship it to repair and get an estimate for getting it fixed. I don't want to have to buy another incubator right now. I also don't want to mess up when I start hatching my Isbars and Legbars.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have to say, I have been pretty darn lucky with hatching. I got my Sportsman from an ad I found on Craigslist. It was hardly used at all. I can't remember for sure, but I think I paid around $300. for it, and all the accessories. I use it to incubate. It has 3 rows, each holds nearly a hundred. My routine is that I usually set one row a week (on Sunday or Monday), on the top row. Each week I move the top row down one. On day 18 I move that row (bottom row) into my HovaBator Genesis incubators. I like those for hatching, as I can see in the picture window. Every once in awhile, I move the wet chicks into one of my Brinsea bators, to dry and fluff. I call that the "recovery room." I do not like the Brinsea models and that is all I use them for.

 

[Jake Levi]

If, I was to go larger it would be with the GQF cabinet models, but I think a couple more of their smaller models with turners will do it for a year or three. That would be a LOT of chicks. I think this year I will be fine with the incubator and hatcher that I have. With backup thermometers. If, I sell any chickens it will be pick up or started trios and pairs only.

Interesting thread on Feeds and Feeding on the Heritage Feeds for Heritage Breeds thread with posts from Chooks Chick and her feed mix, a lot of thought has gone into it, check it out. I am not at all happy with the commercial mixes available here in NE Wa and am going to the Spokane area in a couple of weeks and check out custom mix prices there. I can store 500 lbs now and would gladly add enough more to 800 lbs.

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

 

[NotAFarm]

I have an old Farm Master incubator that I got from a man I met at our Purina Poultry Workshop in March of this year. It's close to 40 years old but holds temps and humidity great. I love it........except it does not have auto turners. I don't plan on needing it next year......lots of broodies here!!


Here is the Kella pic of the week.....her with Audun......I call it " The Look" >>>>>

 

[Jake Levi]

Kella sure looks like two of my younger girls !! I am hoping for great things from them this year.

Mary I sure hope things go well for your Isbars and Legbars !! That would be a tragedy !! You dont need anymore !!

Is Mattie coming tomorrow??

Our 3" of snow yesterday is settling down now, and best is I see that its also sliding off the shed roof !

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