Incubators Anonymous

[QuackerJackFarms]

Quote:
I love this site too. FINALLY people who "get" my love of poultry. This is the place to be for information!

As my husband says, "Are you talking to the chicken people again?"

 

[Garrisonkidsduo2]

Quote:
THe details are in the going! I read for months--like 6 months--how to incubate and decided it was too risky, then found a page that gave the how-to's and gave me courage. A very emotional month ensued, with late night readings and viewing eggs with a flashlight. Totally nutty.

THen built my own incubator and started buying eggs within driving distance. All because of BYC !

I know what you mean. We are trying to go as natural as possible and feed our kids healthy stuff. But this year has been really hard and people telling me to just buy an incubator with the turning trays, but when you have had car trouble, house trouble, and just plain old trouble you can't afford to just buy anything. I did make my incubator after about 3 weeks of looking at homemade incubators, and watching youtube videos on it. The one I made works don't get me wrong but the other two I made after it work so much better. I may not have the turning trays but that is okay I will turn them by hand. We bought chickens and pigs and turkeys and when my husband said he wanted ducks to I talked to the neighbor about maybe incubating eggs until my chickens laid. Now my husband is telling everyone what I am doing and now everyone wants baby ducks and baby chickens. We live in the country so we pretty much just have free range birds. Now my husband is telling me that if the 2 ducks live and make it out of the shell next Monday I am keeping three turkeys to try and hatch eggs out next year. This was not my plan but since everyone around here said I couldn't raise them I love the idea. I love it when people say I can't do something and I turn around and do it any way. But now that we know we have two chicks my husband has been watching the incubator for the last 24 hours waiting to see if they hatch. Now he is telling me that both chicks and both ducks have to make it in order for the turkeys to live, I don't think he will go that far. As for me talking to chicken people my husband looks over my shoulder and reads right along with me so he is also a chicken person. LOL

 

[Arielle]

Garrisonkiddos2: Yup, you're hooked!! Money is scarce for many people. If you are able to utilize the land you have, it can provide many food items.

I don't use a turner either. By hand or tip incubator.

On another note: I picked up my 2 BO roosters so I can make more BO. And Beth G kindly gave me a BR hen. We were talking sexlinks and we think BO on BR might work.If anyone has any knowledge on this , I would love to hear it. SO I'm gathering breedign stock for incubating. ANd DH didn't say too much --I said I had paid for them weeks ago--which was true.!!!!

 

[CapricornFarm]

The entertainment value alone from chickens is priceless. We don't waste any leftovers any more, the chickens get them and love every bite. Next summer I am going to plant a lot of corn to feed them as well. I am planning to build an incubator , I need another cabinet for spring . Hatch on!

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Hey, I'm excited to inform you all that ducky number one of the two "stragler" eggs I put in, is breaking into the air cell right now. I hope this little guy hatches.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Well, it's about time . At least the other one will have a buddy. I had one quail hatch out today, poor little bugger. If no more hatch tomorrow I will have to put a chick in with him. Also had 6 chicks hatch, mostly EE. I am trying to finish the insulated room in the barn. I have a four compartment brooder in there , a built in, and one free standing brooder. I am putting in a sink with a drain and sadly no running water planned yet. I can hardly wait to move the chicks out of the garage . I set a batch of quail eggs today that my birds laid, so hopefully they will hatch.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Well good luck to the quail! My grandpa raised quail. In fact, I have his old quail brooder I turned into my duck house. I'm sentimental like that.

These 2 eggs that are due today are the 2 I put in a week later than the first batch because I thought they were done laying. I'm happy to report that both of these 2 eggs have broken through the air cell and are working on their first pip. I am watching the humidity BIG TIME. Keeping it at 70. If these hatch I will have confirmation that my problem was in fact the humidity.

Also little beaker has been lonely, so I put a mirror in there with him. I've never seen a happier duck! He sits there a stares at himself ALL day long. (He's in my living room right now.)

Keep us posted on your quail!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I got 8 quail eggs yesterday. DH says what are you going to do with quail eggs? This from the guy who thought chicken eggs would not sell. Now I can't keep up with demand. I might have to buy more chickens!:-D Of course, I am going to sell quail eggs for hatching and chicks. Hoping to make the chickens pay for their own feed. I find the quail quite amazing. They lay eggs at 6 weeks of age! And they are very tame and friendly. Coturnix come in a bunch of different colors too. Don't require a lot of space either. Y'all need some:-D

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Quote:
I would love some! However, I have no where to put them! I can't keep up with the demand for eggs either! I have people ordering them 5 dozen at a time. My BIL is moving though and I'm getting his 6 laying pullets so, I will be able to keep up then!

Still no progress on these 2 duck eggs.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I can send you a pic of the duplex quail pen I built. I plan to have about 15 quail in each side. With the big feeder I built and a big hanging waterer, all I do most days is pick up eggs from them Send me your email if you want pics. I took pics as I built it. 4'x8' footprint. I love it.