Idaho?

[pawtraitart]

Yeah, our Idaho people are asleep again.

 

[Daloorashens]

I know.... like Michelle said earlier... probably out enjoying the summer, especially since it hasn't been quite as hot lately...

We have fires outside of Blackfoot over here.. the smoke is filling the sky... had a little ash fall on us tonite while we watched the kiddos ride bikes... yikes!!!

Still waiting very impatiently for my blue orp and Marans BSL to start laying... I'm starting to wonder if they are and are eating their eggs, haha.. just kidding, that would be terrible! Sheesh, silly girls! They really look like they are ready... They're probably like a watched pot, just won't boil while you're sitting there... Maybe it's time to get a web cam and spy on them=)

Oh... btw... what kind of incubators do ya'll use??

 

[pawtraitart]

I use the Genesis 1588 for chicken and quail eggs. For ducks, I pray for a broody.

 

[Daloorashens]

Genesis 1588, got it, I'm doing some searches and stuff because I officially asked for one for Christmas=)

Went to Cal Ranch today and successfully resisted buying any chicks=) (yes, pats on the back welcome), although, interestingly enough.. the only ones I was really tempted by was the bantams... and a little bit the silver wyandottes, and a little bit the BSL's =)

Michelle, still working on making a trip over to see you=)

 

[pawtraitart]

I like the Genesis incubator. It's relatively stable, especially if you put it in a closet or cabinet so the air around it is constant. When I hatch early in the season, I put it in a cabinet that has a 75 watt light bulb in it to keep the temperature steady. It also helps to have some pans of water in there for humidity. If the incubator is pulling in stable air that's not too dry, it works really well.

 

[SusanRenee]

I keep eyeballing the Genesis too.... I need autoturn also, I in no way trust myself to remember to turn eggs.

I succumbed this weekend, I got a pair of BCMs. Man, is this new boy loud! Didn't increase the coop load much, since I sent my RIR roo home with her! But now I have my Marans need solved. Only prob is he's not getting along at all with my Ameraucana roo, who I've figured out isn't doing the deed at all. Might have to move him out.... He's not giving up the fight and getting beat to all heck. I was hoping I'd be ok since he's usually so darn passive, couldn't care less about his roosterly duties... He's seperated in a dog crate in view of everythign right now, we're going to try a reintroduce this afternoon and see what happens. I've done a bit of research and hopefully second time might have more success. Anyone got suggestions?

 

[pawtraitart]

If they are both mature....it won't be easy. Juvenile males can sometimes integrate into an established flock but it's not always possible adding a mature roo into another mature roo's territory. The best way to add a new male is to add a few half grown birds into the flock. The new birds will stick together and will integrate as they grow up.

 

[Daloorashens]

Thanks for the info on the Genesis... when you say cabinet, you're talking about something that doesn't need to be opened often, right?? Does it need to be big? Would a big box work too??

The roosters, I've never tried putting full grown roosters together... Before when I had them, they always grew up together, and even then would fight sometimes... Mature roosters might be kind of hard to integrate... they might have to see each other for several days/week, and even then might still fight, maybe you could try taking out the original rooster, or moving them to a different spot so it's not like 'his' territory...

 

[pawtraitart]

A box should work. You can then adjust how much air gets into it.

 

[Kekko]

Genesis 1588, got it, I'm doing some searches and stuff because I officially asked for one for Christmas=)

I mostly use GQF cabinet incubators. Some of the older ones 1566's designed for Rhea & Emus. I prefer them over the 1500 series for what I do. I have updated them with newer electronics and rebuilt them to meet my own needs. I also have (mostly for back up & overflow) a 1590 Hova Bator and two years ago I picked up a 1588 Genesis. Wow those Genesis are "Plug & Play machines"! Incubator Warehouse is only a few miles from where I live and I have done a lot of business back & forth with them. This year they wanted some Turkey eggs and young Turkeys. I did some trading with them and picked up another 1588 Genesis with the newer electronics (built in Temp. & Hum. gauges). I just set some eggs about a week ago to try it out but it looks like it's going to be a great unit! I use auto turners on everything! Don’t have the time to turn hundreds of eggs daily.

The secret to good Incubating is a controlled environment. My incubating room is a well insulated (was a walk-in cold room) I keep this room at 70 degrees and I run a humidifier to maintain 50% humidity in the room. With the table top incubators (1590 & 1588s) I do not have to use any water in them and they will maintain about a 34-40% humidity inside them. They have to work very little to maintain the proper temperatures because there is no temperature flocculation in the room.

I do all my hatching in GQF Hatchers so there is no mess in the incubators!