Illinois...

[Junibutt]

Trouble Update:
Our little Sebright "Trouble" is trained to come & land on my arm on command. (Or at least when I call AND have my treat pail.) She's a great flyer, fast, & impossible to catch if she decides to be. That's why I started working with her about 1-2 weeks ago. At first she merely hopped onto my hand from the roost. With 3-5 min per day, she will now fly up to 10 feet to reach me. She'll also fly down out of a tree or up from the ground. DD has mostly been working with her Dominique, "Bubbles," but she plays with Trouble too. DD can get Trouble to fly 3-4ft & land on her arm.

So far the only drawback is that Trouble follows me everywhere. Sometimes when I reach out to grab something I get a sebright on my arm. (But, she only gets rewarded when I call her 1st.) Of course before training she sometimes would try to land on my back, head, shoulder, etc. I have a strong swatting reflex when something is coming at me. The training helps us both build trust & teaches Trouble a more appropriate place to land.

I tried to get a pic of Trouble in flight. Lighting wasn't very good today but here are some action shots.

Mid-flight

Just before landing.
See how she sticks her feet out forward to grab hold of my arm? All I see are CLAWS coming at me. It's a trust exercise for both of us.



BTW- Trouble laid 4 eggs in 7 days. Now there are enough eggs for our family, so we don't have to fight over who gets to eat her cute little eggs. Of course, we'll still have to eat some orpington eggs if we want to make it a meal. DH calls Trouble our useless chicken. She hatched July 1st & just started laying a week ago. The eggs are pretty tiny. Oh well. I'm having fun with her.

This pic is being featured as picture of the week on the main page. Congrats @Faraday40

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Congrats @Faraday40 !!!

 

[Junibutt]

Today is Day 19 for my test hatch and had power outage for about 2 and 1/2 hrs. I first placed the incubator on top of the hot water pipes and covered with blankets. It caused humidity to go up the roof. Then I started calling friends if someone would possibly be home early so I can move them to their place. Finally found someone and in my rush did not place anything inside the incubator to keep the eggs from rolling. By the time I got there, DW called that the power is back. I think in my haste and panic, I have done more damage to the eggs transporting back and forth than the power outage would have done.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Today is Day 19 for my test hatch and had power outage for about 2 and 1/2 hrs. I first placed the incubator on top of the hot water pipes and covered with blankets. It caused humidity to go up the roof. Then I started calling friends if someone would possibly be home early so I can move them to their place. Finally found someone and in my rush did not place anything inside the incubator to keep the eggs from rolling. By the time I got there, DW called that the power is back. I think in my haste and panic, I have done more damage to the eggs transporting back and forth than the power outage would have done.

You never know, at least you only have a couple of days to wait and find out. Hopefully they will be ok.

 

[MeepBeep]

[COLOR=333333]Today is Day 19 for my test hatch and had power outage for about 2 and 1/2 hrs. I first placed the incubator on top of the hot water pipes and covered with blankets. It caused humidity to go up the roof. Then I started calling friends if someone would possibly be home early so I can move them to their place. Finally found someone and in my rush did not place anything inside the incubator to keep the eggs from rolling. By the time I got there, DW called that the power is back. I think in my haste and panic, I have done more damage to the eggs transporting back and forth than the power outage would have done.[/COLOR]

2.5 hours is nothing in the grand scheme especially inside an incubator that is insulating... There are times my incubator is easily open for an hour while I candle and monitor progress of developing eggs, and that is an open incubator, with no ill effects... The actual overall internal egg temp drop was probably less then a broody bird getting off a next to go get some food and water on an 70-80° day..

As you said the transporting them might have caused more damage, but honestly if you have ever watched the way broody birds handle, roll and knock eggs around I'm doubting you did much damage unless you really roughed them up...

My advice for the future is to invest in a small power converter, ones that can power a small incubator can be had for about $30, then power is only the nearest car or car battery away...

With a 20% off coupon you can get this one for $21, most small incubators are only 60-200 watts total if that, so this is plenty good... Most of the small foam incubators are surprisingly under 50 watts, even with the fan and turner...

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...nuous-800-watt-peak-power-inverter-66814.html

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks everybody. I was surprised & honored my pic was chosen.

 

[NotAFarm]

Thanks everybody. I was surprised & honored my pic was chosen.

Well deserved!!

You should make it your avatar.....at least for a while!

 

[Junibutt]

2.5 hours is nothing in the grand scheme especially inside an incubator that is insulating... There are times my incubator is easily open for an hour while I candle and monitor progress of developing eggs, and that is an open incubator, with no ill effects... The actual overall internal egg temp drop was probably less then a broody bird getting off a next to go get some food and water on an 70-80° day..

As you said the transporting them might have caused more damage, but honestly if you have ever watched the way broody birds handle, roll and knock eggs around I'm doubting you did much damage unless you really roughed them up...

My advice for the future is to invest in a small power converter, ones that can power a small incubator can be had for about $30, then power is only the nearest car or car battery away...

With a 20% off coupon you can get this one for $21, most small incubators are only 60-200 watts total if that, so this is plenty good... Most of the small foam incubators are surprisingly under 50 watts, even with the fan and turner...

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...nuous-800-watt-peak-power-inverter-66814.html

Thanks! Now that I think of, I probably have 1 converter sitting around somewhere in my basement.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Feeling a little sad. Just sold Thor, Crazy toes and Sophia. Going to miss Thor horribly, maybe these Girl Scout Samoas will make me feel better.

 

[chickendreams24]

I'm sorry I know it's hard but I'm glad you got to know them and found them a good home. Sending hugs your way.