INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

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mlm Mike said:
be nice and tell her happy birthday
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OK, I'm way behind, but I needed to share my scary experience.

I haven't felt well this week, and my sleep schedule is all whacked out. I fell asleep after gathering eggs this evening at about 6pm. I was out cold, and I just woke up at 11:30pm, disoriented. I wondered, did I get up to lock up the chickens? I was pretty sure I had, but I decided I should probably double check, just in case.

I had not.

Coop 1: Sorority house (POL pullets plus Goodwin)
Six of the sorority girls were roosting on top of the shade shelter with Goodwin, and one was roosting balanced on a fence post. I moved them all into their coop one by one and locked them up. Too dark for a head count, I'll need to check in the morning if anyone is missing, but there were no feathers/bodies anywhere.

Coop 2: Cream Legbars
All on roost in coop. Locked up

Coop 3: Naked Necks
Automatic door - thank goodness

Coop 4: Frat house (the four growout cockerels)
Reminder - this is what the layout looks like for these coops (but with bedding):


I approached (was wearing red headlamp), and something scampered out of their paddock (climbing the fence). My stomach dropped. I looked in the coop and mercifully, there were four sleeping cockerels on their roost. However, terrifyingly, there were also three sets of eyes on the bottom level. It was a group of three baby raccoons eating their food. I freaked out, but so did the babies. They ran in the back corner and froze, so I ran to find a bedding rake and managed to get them out. I looked over the cockerels again, and yes, they really looked ok. Then locked them up.

Coop 5: Tank and the Speckled girls
Miraculously, nothing in their coop or nest boxes, all ok on roosts. Locked them up.

Cycled back around to the Sorority house coop to make sure nothing was locked in there with them. All good.

Morals of the story:

1) @ChickenCanoe is always right - there are always armies of night time critters outside. (I never doubted this, but confirmed.)
2) Even if you think you locked up, unless you're sure, go check anyway. If it crosses your mind that you didn't, then check.
3) Set an alarm if you take a nap

I really need to go back to sleep, but that was a terrifying near miss. Well, now we know what's getting into the paddocks at night (as if there was any doubt).

- Ant Farm
 
Fire Ant Farm said:
OK, I'm way behind, but I needed to share my scary experience. I haven't felt well this week, and my sleep schedule is all whacked out. I fell asleep after gathering eggs this evening at about 6pm. I was out cold, and I just woke up at 11:30pm, disoriented. I wondered, did I get up to lock up the chickens? I was pretty sure I had, but I decided I should probably double check, just in case. I had not. Coop 1: Sorority house (POL pullets plus Goodwin) Six of the sorority girls were roosting on top of the shade shelter with Goodwin, and one was roosting balanced on a fence post. I moved them all into their coop one by one and locked them up. Too dark for a head count, I'll need to check in the morning if anyone is missing, but there were no feathers/bodies anywhere. Coop 2: Cream Legbars All on roost in coop. Locked up Coop 3: Naked Necks Automatic door - thank goodness Coop 4: Frat house (the four growout cockerels) Reminder - this is what the layout looks like for these coops (but with bedding): I approached (was wearing red headlamp), and something scampered out of their paddock (climbing the fence). My stomach dropped. I looked in the coop and mercifully, there were four sleeping cockerels on their roost. However, terrifyingly, there were also three sets of eyes on the bottom level. It was a group of three baby raccoons eating their food. I freaked out, but so did the babies. They ran in the back corner and froze, so I ran to find a bedding rake and managed to get them out. I looked over the cockerels again, and yes, they really looked ok. Then locked them up. Coop 5: Tank and the Speckled girls Miraculously, nothing in their coop or nest boxes, all ok on roosts. Locked them up. Cycled back around to the Sorority house coop to make sure nothing was locked in there with them. All good. Morals of the story: 1) @ChickenCanoe is always right - there are always armies of night time critters outside. (I never doubted this, but confirmed.) 2) Even if you think you locked up, unless you're sure, go check anyway. If it crosses your mind that you didn't, then check. 3) Set an alarm if you take a nap I really need to go back to sleep, but that was a terrifying near miss. Well, now we know what's getting into the paddocks at night (as if there was any doubt). - Ant Farm
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I think that you had a visit from the only vegan racoon on this planet! :lau They preferred dry chicken feed over a nice juicy cockerels? Stupid them and lucky you! :lol:
 
MotorcycleChick said:
...

There is not an incubator out there that you should completely trust the included thermometer or hydrometer. You should always have extras in there.
Here is why.
...
You can buy several models from any store including Walmart. I believe a lot of us keep a bunch of the fish tank thermometers on hand.
...
Click to expand...
Truer words were never spoken about not being able to trust thermos and hygros regardless of source.

I must say this though, about having a bunch of thermometers. I have gone that route far too long.
I wasted a lot of money on both types of junk meters.
It wasn't till I bit the bullet and bought 2 guaranteed accurate thermometers (for slightly more money per) that my hatches started being more reliable.
I'm probably in the extreme minority on this next point but I don't even use a hygrometer. I weigh eggs and adjust humidity accordingly. I start with a little water and if they aren't losing enough weight, I don't add any more water till day 19. If they are losing too much weight (which isn't very often) I add water.

Fire Ant Farm said:
OK, I'm way behind, but I needed to share my scary experience.

I haven't felt well this week, and my sleep schedule is all whacked out. I fell asleep after gathering eggs this evening at about 6pm. I was out cold, and I just woke up at 11:30pm, disoriented. I wondered, did I get up to lock up the chickens? I was pretty sure I had, but I decided I should probably double check, just in case.

I had not.

Coop 1: Sorority house (POL pullets plus Goodwin)
Six of the sorority girls were roosting on top of the shade shelter with Goodwin, and one was roosting balanced on a fence post. I moved them all into their coop one by one and locked them up. Too dark for a head count, I'll need to check in the morning if anyone is missing, but there were no feathers/bodies anywhere.

Coop 2: Cream Legbars
All on roost in coop. Locked up

Coop 3: Naked Necks
Automatic door - thank goodness

Coop 4: Frat house (the four growout cockerels)
Reminder - this is what the layout looks like for these coops (but with bedding):
I approached (was wearing red headlamp), and something scampered out of their paddock (climbing the fence). My stomach dropped. I looked in the coop and mercifully, there were four sleeping cockerels on their roost. However, terrifyingly, there were also three sets of eyes on the bottom level. It was a group of three baby raccoons eating their food. I freaked out, but so did the babies. They ran in the back corner and froze, so I ran to find a bedding rake and managed to get them out. I looked over the cockerels again, and yes, they really looked ok. Then locked them up.

Coop 5: Tank and the Speckled girls
Miraculously, nothing in their coop or nest boxes, all ok on roosts. Locked them up.

Cycled back around to the Sorority house coop to make sure nothing was locked in there with them. All good.

Morals of the story:

1) @ChickenCanoe is always right - there are always armies of night time critters outside. (I never doubted this, but confirmed.)
2) Even if you think you locked up, unless you're sure, go check anyway. If it crosses your mind that you didn't, then check.
3) Set an alarm if you take a nap

I really need to go back to sleep, but that was a terrifying near miss. Well, now we know what's getting into the paddocks at night (as if there was any doubt).

- Ant Farm
Click to expand...
I've had that scare before. I had a similar one tonight.
I locked the main coop and the chick coop stays locked. 2 cockerels were outside so I didn't lock the adolescent coop hoping they would make their way back in. Then a few hours later, I remembered and panicked. The other birds were all safe in there but the cockerels never returned. I imagine they'll come back in the morning. I know they're safer in the woods on their own than in a coop where they're sitting ducks with no exit.

Akrnaf2 said:
Hayyyy I have no buddy to call my .....
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Good morning/afternoon.
 
Good morning everyone.
I sure hope the birthday discussion in June was not another 'joke'.
Now that I have read last night disregard this.
 
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