Illinois...

[Molpet]

The cups were pretty long. I think it would be doable, but of course I would like to see it in action first.

Somebody on some thread, maybe Kiki's balut thread, said that the duck water didn't work for them. I don't remember the reasons...it was last summer post.

 

[Molpet]

More than anything I think I'd like a midget white turkey. But I can't justify getting one, I'm not a big turkey eater.

Does your neighbor still have a turkey? I have 2 from her still and a bunch of descendants.... If you want eggs let me know.

 

[Justso]

I need to place mine too. Would love if you would be able to pick up. Will keep you posted.

Now I need all y'alls advice on your best treatments for lice and mites. I found lice last Sunday and upon reexamining today, also found mites. I treated all 20 chickens last Sunday evening with DE while inside the coop. So all the bedding and pretty much everything, myself included, looked like a snowman by the time I was done. So everyday I clean up in the coop, I keep stirring up the dust. I figured this would help kill whatever is in the cracks and crannies and then I could clean out the coop completely in a week or two because the dust is hard on everyones lungs, although they really haven't seemed too bothered by it. I could be seeing what has hatched since then, or it just may not be working. The chicken chick says it's just not a helpful product and suggest using Elector esp which is poultry vet reccommend and can be used on bedding as well. One treatment. But the stuff on Amazon is 139 bucks and who knows when I would actually get it. I don't think that is an "essential" item. What have you guys used that works well? There's no telling how long I've had them. I have a double white recessive that has had a naked butt for over a year. I had checked for mites way back, but never found anything. She still has a naked butt. The only reason I found this is because Lacey and one of my chocolates refused to go out in the morning. I checked for any mating wounds on their sides, but all I found were bald spot on their lower rears. You can't even see it with all their butt fluff. Didn't see anything. Checked last week and just barely saw a lice scrambling. My egg production has been down for about a month now, so I'm guessing it's been bad for at least a month. It's just the orps. Spitzies don't seem to have any nor do the little ones in the garage. I'm open to suggestions. I'm going off shopping today.I need to do a reno on the serama coop. Broody mamas giving scratching lessons has destroyed the plastic flooring and I need to come up with a solution. My dad and I think we've got one, but I need to go get some wood. Also need to see what the grocery stores don't have. I'll have my phone on me, so any responses will come through. I have a new TSC just down the road.......I will not walk out with baby chicks. I promise.

I'm a naysayer on DE, I don't believe it has any properties that would get rid of an infestation

If it means the life and health of my chickens I'll go for using sevin dust. Understanding that it's very dangerous for bees and such, I'm always very careful and use it inside my garage. I then empty the coop house of all bedding and take it away from the house, use seven on surfaces in there and restock the bedding.

 

[Justso]

Does your neighbor still have a turkey? I have 2 from her still and a bunch of descendants.... If you want eggs let me know.

She processed them all and decided not to get anymore, they ended up killing two of her chickens by sitting on them and smothering at night.
I'll let her know you still have some of hers, she'll be tickled!

 

[Justso]

I am going to order an incubator. My 10 year old is missing school and friends so I was hoping to find something we can both do together and what is more fun than baby chicks. My rooster is close to a year old and I have 13 hens so I hope the eggs will be fertile. I have no brooder hens so that is not an option. Does anyone have suggestions for a good incubator that will hold approximately 12 large eggs? I plan on ordering on line. Thanks in advance for all suggestions I have never hatched before.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

 

[Justso]

I've heard diatomaceous earth keeps out lice and mites?

I'm no expert but again I don't believe it. I would love to see some kind of scientific proof that it does work. I do know that it can be very dangerous, even food grade! If anyone can find us scientific proof it would be you I think.

 

[Faraday40]

Does your neighbor still have a turkey? I have 2 from her still and a bunch of descendants.... If you want eggs let me know.

@Justso

... and if you want poults, I'll hatch 'em for you !!!
(I love hatching.... just can't keep that many or I'll be living in the coop.)

 

[homeschoolin momma]

@Faraday40 I just saw that incubator you got at tsc.....I was drooling.

 

[bellaisa]

Brinseas have the best reputation.... but also the highest price tag.

I just bought this one because it had such great reviews:
[URL][URL][URL][URL]https://www.ama...=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]
I'm collecting eggs to try it out, so I'll post my progress here.

I also like this one (maybe even a bit more) but it's too pricey for me right now.
https://incubatorwarehouse.com/incuview-advanced-combo-kit.html
The most economical incubators are still the Hovabators / GQF. They hold a lot of eggs and can often be found used / cheap on Craigslist. They are also very easy to keep working. (I have one from early 1990s that was my sister's. She found it in her attic about 6-7 years ago and it worked! I added a computer fan and had to replace the thermostat wafer 2 years ago. Avoid other "look alike" Styrofoam incubators. Many of those only work for a couple hatches before something goes wrong. Very sad if you accidentally "cook" or kill your chicks. The biggest downside is that Styrofoam doesn't clean as easily as the plastic models.

BTW- I'm not a farm or business - just an incubation addict. LOL I hatch a lot of eggs in our local schools and that's why I have used so many incubators. My son did a 4H project last year testing out some of the incubators used at the different schools. Surprisingly, my home-made manual cooler-incubator had the best hatch rate and the Brinsea Octagon Advanced came in second. The Incu-view came in a very close 3rd (but I think the teacher may have opened the lid a bit too often during hatch, so a couple chicks got shrink wrapped.) 4th place was the Hovabator Genesis with 80% hatch. (Still 80% hatch isn't considered bad.)
View attachment 2057843

Brinseas have the best reputation.... but also the highest price tag.

I just bought this one because it had such great reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0793HHZ1L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I'm collecting eggs to try it out, so I'll post my progress here.

I also like this one (maybe even a bit more) but it's too pricey for me right now.
https://incubatorwarehouse.com/incuview-advanced-combo-kit.html
The most economical incubators are still the Hovabators / GQF. They hold a lot of eggs and can often be found used / cheap on Craigslist. They are also very easy to keep working. (I have one from early 1990s that was my sister's. She found it in her attic about 6-7 years ago and it worked! I added a computer fan and had to replace the thermostat wafer 2 years ago. Avoid other "look alike" Styrofoam incubators. Many of those only work for a couple hatches before something goes wrong. Very sad if you accidentally "cook" or kill your chicks. The biggest downside is that Styrofoam doesn't clean as easily as the plastic models.

BTW- I'm not a farm or business - just an incubation addict. LOL I hatch a lot of eggs in our local schools and that's why I have used so many incubators. My son did a 4H project last year testing out some of the incubators used at the different schools. Surprisingly, my home-made manual cooler-incubator had the best hatch rate and the Brinsea Octagon Advanced came in second. The Incu-view came in a very close 3rd (but I think the teacher may have opened the lid a bit too often during hatch, so a couple chicks got shrink wrapped.) 4th place was the Hovabator Genesis with 80% hatch. (Still 80% hatch isn't considered bad.)
View attachment 2057843

Thank you very much for the advice. We went ahead and purchased the Harris farms nurture right 360. I am excited with all the bad news out there I wanted a project to help get mine and my daughter mind on something else.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Thank you very much for the advice. We went ahead and purchased the Harris farms nurture right 360. I am excited with all the bad news out there I wanted a project to help get mine and my daughter mind on something else.

From looking at it, I think you'll be pleased. Please keep us informed on how it goes!