Incubators Anonymous

[ki4got]

re: hatching in egg cartons... i prefer the paper/cardboard ones, because they can soak up some water to help with humidity if needed. i also treat them as disposable. if they get icky i just throw them away. i don't cut the sides or anything, but use the 30-egg trays, and cut one to fill the gaps on the sides. so i have when humidity's a big issue, i just squirt some water into one of the 'holes' and fill it about halfway... no more humidity problems until it dries out. takes a while too. the only time i'll lay one over is if i notice it's pipped on the small end... then i'll lay it on the floor of the hatcher and keep an eye on it.

 

[maryhysong]

loved the poem

well done, so happy the chicks survived!

question... I'm thinking of rearranging a few birds and would like to know what the chicks and grown offspring look like and any other info you are willing to share.... Golden Buff Orpington over Barred Rock, Lemon Cuckoo over Americana and Easter Eggers and/or Barred Rock. Thanks in advance for your info, help and time.

BO boy over BR girls; all hatchery stock out of 4 girls three are some variation of this one and the 4th has more nearly black on the back half, with only gold shafting and not the feather patterning.


six boys all some variation of silver barred.


this cross grows really fast; boys at 3 months processed at 2 1/2 pounds. First girl layed her first tiny pullet egg at 16 weeks. The girls are the sweetest things; was out in the pen trying to look at some of the other birds in there and one of the goldie girls kept hopping up on my shoulder, sitting on my feet, jumping up on the table and generally being a nuisance. I love the color patterning tho and have thought about crossing them with my black copper marans and my easter eggers to eventually arrive at a golden featherlegged olive egger.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:

 

[DMRippy]

Egg cartons for hatching.... I use styrofoam for ease of cleaning. I used to pop the bottom out but it does not help chicks that pip upside down.... they can still die....That is the biggest down side to the egg cartons.... but I had some die when I just laid them down too. I do check often for upside down pips. It happens almost every hatch for me but I hatch about 100 at a time too. I would love to find some small trays like I incubate in. I though about buying some and cutting them up to fit my baskets. they are easy to clean and have slits down the sides so there is a 50% chance they could still breath if the pip upside down.

 

[DMRippy]

I love the depth you have available to put those nice little individual hatching boxes in... !!! very nice!

Thanks! I got the box for free. Someone had some chicken stuff on freecycle and when we got there she was going to toss that box and another cedar box I have. I turned it into a hatcher quickly and used it on my first hatch.

I would like to make something more useful to me with drawers. I thought about a chest of drawer, but I have decided it needs to be solid would and not that cardboard stuff they are made out of now. I am still thinking about that one... I have some 4 x 8 sheets of stuff they make closets shelves out of (pressed wood stuff but covered in that slick plastic like stuff) As long as I caulked all the seams really well I think that would work. But we are not carpenters. I think the drawers would be better than opening the WHOLE hatcher to check on chicks. I could make it so the back part of the drawer almost sealed when I had it opened so as not to effect the humidity or temp much.

If I get time to make it I will post some pictures.

 

[Runawaylobster]

You have chickens laying eggs? Then put a half dozen or more under her, replacements from your own folks is good resourcing!!!!

OK.... I finally felt guilty so I gave her some eggs, she was still sitting on the golf balls, even though i had consistenlty shooed her off... I also found she has a buddy
now, one of my cochins sitting on the other side.. i gave her some eggs too!!!

I must be crazy...

 

[Costa Rica Art]

OK.... I finally felt guilty so I gave her some eggs, she was still sitting on the golf balls, even though i had consistenlty shooed her off... I also found she has a buddy
now, one of my cochins sitting on the other side.. i gave her some eggs too!!!

I must be crazy...

No way are you crazy, I think it just survival instinct coming thru.

Actually I have found that these hens/chicks give me lots of choices. My guard dog got 2 of my meat chicks yesterday, he is being offered up for a chicken deity offering tomorrow.

It seems like there is always something going on that crates the need for replacements. Not only that but I have a farmer that stops by 3 times a week with two liters of raw milk which I make raw milk yogurt from. We had one young rooster that was being a problem with our hens so he was bagged up and given to the milkman. A few days later when he dropped off two liters of milk he also handed me perhaps a pint of awesome cream.

That was not planned it is just sharing like the folks around me do. Should someone have the need for a couple of hens we always have pullets starting to lay eggs that are given freely. What cost me a small amount of feed is sure worth it when you see the smiles that are given in appreciation. Those same folks have friends and relatives that sometimes end up with way too many fruits or veggies which are shared with us. It may only be a small amount but it is done out of the heart not the pocketbook and it is good stuff not what you see in Wal-Mart. Besides all that it is a riot having those little ones chasing each other over table scraps.

Oh, it is great to watch that ol' mama hens strut around the yard with her chicks.

Our cats have learned to stay away from those chicks. I was out watering just a little while ago and being followed by 4 or 5 of the young chicks getting the bugs I knock loose. When we remodeled our home I had chain link fencing put around the back yard with the bottom set in cement as I wanted to be able to let chickens free range in the yard, it was so worth it. They are protected and repay with awesome eggs and many, many chuckles.

 

[gladahmae]

So. I just re-counted and it looks like Thursday should be hatch day. That means it's day 19. Should probably get next-weeks eggs moved over to the other bator and get some egg cartons trimmed up!

 

[maryhysong]

Thanks! I got the box for free. Someone had some chicken stuff on freecycle and when we got there she was going to toss that box and another cedar box I have. I turned it into a hatcher quickly and used it on my first hatch.

I would like to make something more useful to me with drawers. I thought about a chest of drawer, but I have decided it needs to be solid would and not that cardboard stuff they are made out of now. I am still thinking about that one... I have some 4 x 8 sheets of stuff they make closets shelves out of (pressed wood stuff but covered in that slick plastic like stuff) As long as I caulked all the seams really well I think that would work. But we are not carpenters. I think the drawers would be better than opening the WHOLE hatcher to check on chicks. I could make it so the back part of the drawer almost sealed when I had it opened so as not to effect the humidity or temp much.

If I get time to make it I will post some pictures.

A sturdy old wooden dresser, take out the top drawer and put heating element and fan at the back, with a vent hole. Replace that drawer with a shelf for water pans, leaving a couple inches in the front for the air to circulate down. In the front add a couple more vent holes, put little covers on them like the old redwoods have so you can adjust air flow.

Take the other drawers and reinforce them and replace the bottoms with fine wire mesh. Possibly cut holes in the drawer front and cover with pane of glass, you could use some molding and silicone to seal them in.

In this instance I would use removeable hatching baskets or bags, so I could divide things up as I needed. You might add some styrofoam to the outside of the case for insulation.

The directions for my redwood says put fresh eggs in top tray and move down a slot each week, then hatch on the bottom. Because there is 1-2 degrees difference between the top and bottom and they don't need the extra heat for hatching.

Just an idea that came to me when you mentioned a dresser.

 

[insanity]

Well I just got in more eggs to hatch.Jersey Giants,EE,Olive eggers, and silked Americana. They all look good except they are kinda/pretty dirty. What would be the best way to clean them off without hurting them? Or should I just leave it alone.