Incubators Anonymous

[feedman77]

My incubating has been delt a blow by broody hens was planning to set eggs this weekend when I found out that the hens are against me so I am searching for something to set this weekend. My have to buy a box of golf balls!!!!!!

Your hens couldn't let you have all the fun.

That broody virus is bad this year. Started out with 1 hen that caught it. Then I rapid succession 4 more have it.

Good luck if you find some golf balls to hatch. Be interested to see what those turn out looking like.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Under the incubator and hatcher rules/definitions I am now down to one incubator though....

I will be down to 0 incubators after this weekend. For the first time, I need to hatch in my cabinet. I have just over 100 eggs due this weekend and I need to seperate a bunch of them so I know what they are at hatch lol. Should be interesting! It's going to be so hard not being able to open the cabinet or check on their progress since there's no window.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Your hens couldn't let you have all the fun.

That broody virus is bad this year. Started out with 1 hen that caught it. Then I rapid succession 4 more have it.

Good luck if you find some golf balls to hatch. Be interested to see what those turn out looking like.

The broody virus really is bad this year! Pebbles finally officially snapped out of it since she started laying again though she does like to linger in the box and keep that egg warm. In the chicken coop, I had 3 girls go broody. 2 on the same day, 1 two days later. They all have 4 eggs due to hatch on the same day. Should be interesting. I'm hoping they all get along and do a good job since they're all first timers. I have 1 CCL hen that gets that broody look and attitude if she happens to find one of their nests while they're out eating. These girls drive me crazy!

 

[BrieCheese23]

I've definitely caught that bug. Knew I shouldn't work at a daycare xD

I currently have twenty-seven chicks, nine quail, and nine ducklings ranging from a day old to two weeks old. My mother so happened to find beer Easter egger's first egg from this spring, and another...and another today or tomorrow. Well I couldn't justify running my incubator for three eggs... So now I have seventy-five quail eggs and forty-eight more chicken eggs of various breeds on the way...

I swear I don't know how they got here Dad... For the record I'm 25.

Now I'm faced with the dilemma of what to use for a hatcher. I mean it's likely going to be a staggered hatch and my plan of using incubator number two as my hatcher for this "small" clutch just isn't going to work xD The quails are arriving first and I don't know if I want shipped eggs to sit that long waiting for the rest. I'm considering turning a plastic Tupperware bin into a hatcher with the usual brooder bulb on top of a a bit of wire with water or wet wash cloths under the eggs (as in set the eggs right on the cloth. Option number two is a still air hovabator. Opinions?

 

[duluthralphie]

I will be down to 0 incubators after this weekend. For the first time, I need to hatch in my cabinet. I have just over 100 eggs due this weekend and I need to seperate a bunch of them so I know what they are at hatch lol. Should be interesting! It's going to be so hard not being able to open the cabinet or check on their progress since there's no window.

100 chicks at one time is way too many!

I have learned this in the last 3 days. I have chicks everywhere (and poults) I am becoming confused as to who is whom and which is what.
Never again!

 

[shawn54]

This messes with all my plans going to search all local farmers to beg for eggs like a junky!!!!!

 

[R2elk]

100 chicks at one time is way too many!

I have learned this in the last 3 days. I have chicks everywhere (and poults) I am becoming confused as to who is whom and which is what.
Never again!

I use different colors of fingernail polish to differentiate between varieties that look similar or just have different parents.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I use different colors of fingernail polish to differentiate between varieties that look similar or just have different parents.

I use those little bracelet bands to mark mine. I used to use nail polish but it seems to fade off too quick lol

 

[duluthralphie]

I keep mine is separate pens, but I am running out of pens.

 

[R2elk]

I use those little bracelet bands to mark mine. I used to use nail polish but it seems to fade off too quick lol

I tried that but the fingernail polish works better for me. If I put the fingernail polish on the top of the head it lasts good for approximately 1 month. With the growth rates I get, I would have to change bands weekly. Also with the bands I have to catch the individual chicks to see what band it has on where I can just look at them to see the polish on their heads. Unlike you, the only times that I handle chicks is when moving them from the hatcher to the brooder, transferring them to buyers and when moving them from the brooder to the holding pen.