INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indy Edge]

Here is a review of a GQF 0470 Thermostat Controlled Radiant Heater that was requested. I've had the heater about a week now and really like it. It has a wafer thermostat control like the Hovabator incubators and a low voltage light to attract birds at night. The unit is well made in the USA and is 26 inches long and about 6 lbs in weight. The heating element is a metal rod running the length of the heater and no light bulbs are used . It does glow a little but nothing strong ( see photo ). One thing I don't like is the chains provided to hang the heater. They work but I would of liked to see a little beefier chains. The electrical cord is fairly long also so I didn't need to use a extension cord. I have the heater hung around 32 inches from the floor. I took some photos this afternoon when the outside temperature was 24 degrees. The outside temperature is from the wired probe I put under the heater and it also shows inside temperature of the coop. I really like this heater as a brooder or as a heater to raise the temperature a few degrees in a coop.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Mother2Hens

Yes...I made a batch of it last year and used it on.... myself! (And the other people around here.)

It's great for dry/chapped hands

 

[daskhan]

I'll try to keep the math simple here.  It can get complex.

But an order of 50 is not the sample size when that order includes various breeds.  Instead that order is a bunch of smaller samples ADDED together but all independent of each other.  It is that independence of each group that makes a low or high number of roos for the combined order still statistically irrelevant.  Meaning it was within the range of mathematically expected results for a luck of the draw from a 50/50 split pool.

For example lets say you ordered 10 breeds, 5 chickens of each breed, all straight run.  Then you have 10 tiny orders of 5.

Statistically a group of 5 is not large enough to expect half and half.  A group of 5 is not large enough to statistically draw any kind of conclusion about the group of chicks they came from, as much as we would like too.

Thank you for explaining the math.. Even though I already got it and didn't really ask for an explication the point is that they garrentee 1/4 of straight run to be male and I wouldn't even expect 5 out of 25 to be male but atleast 2... But if you garrentee and charge higher because of said garrentee you should be held countable when you fail do deliver what is agreed apone.. They messed up for one reason or another and have me a partial refund which I'm happy with. Everyone has different experiences with each hatchery all I'm saying is I had a partially bad experience and be careful

 

[chick rookie]

Not a good day—or year. I received a call from my Avian veterinarian who said that preliminary results on my recently deceased Screech (who he sent to Purdue) indicate Marek's, but more info will be coming. I guess that explains three chicken deaths in a month. I didn't expect that news because I hadn't seen any symptoms. I feel sick from the report, and I have to drive to Bloomington and back to get meds to my DD at IU.

@Leahs Mom ~ I agree about your "humane" comment! As you know, my coop is consistently 15 degrees higher than outdoor temps. Last year, I bought a 11 X 16 side mount sweeter heater ($95 plus shipping). I like that it is safe, but it does not emit the heat described on their site. I also use a traditional 250 watt infrared clamp lamp in which I use wire to hold all of the lamp components together and also to secure the clamp onto a coop beam. It's not a perfect solution, but there are risks and benefits to everything.

So sorry this is happening to you, I have my figures crossed that it is not Marek's.

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

That looks painful, poor Olaf. He will be ok, I have a old hen that only has 2 toes. I'm guessing that it was frostbite cause she came here like that. It dont stop her from scratching or anything else, I have had her for 3 years like that and don't really know how old she is but she still gives eggs once in a while too.

Wanted to let everyone know thats not on our Facebook BYC page. Many of us have met her personally and spoken with @minmin1258 . Cindy Is one of our honorary hoosiers, drove all the way from WV to attend out chickenfest in Liberty. Cindy jumped right in and helped us put out a huge feast! Her dog pal rode all the way out with her. I am saddened to report her husband lost his battle with cancer. Please, keep her in your thoughts.

So sorry to hear about her DH. I feel her pain. I lost my 1st DH to cancer. I don't know what I could do to help but please let her know my prayers are with her and her family.

 

[tmarsh83]

Stupid question time:

I see a lot of people use poop boards, and while that helps the bedding, it doesn't really seem to make less work.

In coop 2.0, i'm looking at using a ladder style roost bar system that will be hinged against one of the walls, so it can be swung up, for cleaning the coop. Is there a good reason that you couldn't put a backer board of a vinyl paneling on the bottom of the ladder roost that will catch the poop, but not "hold" it, and then attach, or have at the bottom of that board a section of gutter or something similar to act as a collector?

It would be easy enough to then remove the collection unit and add to a compost heap or other location?

Sorry for the simple minded question, just don't know why it wouldn't work.

 

[ellymayRans]

Silkies on Jimmy Kimmel tonight!

Awe i missed it!

 

[ellymayRans]

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

Awe poor guy! Ive got a girl in the garage losing a few. Over the years ive seen it, that bigger part is just what will be his nub, obviously the black end will just fall off. It doesn't look infected, frostbite isn't pretty for sure!

Some great recipes and input to help ease him. Big hugs to the sweetie.

 

[daskhan]

Stupid question time:

I see a lot of people use poop boards, and while that helps the bedding, it doesn't really seem to make less work.

In coop 2.0, i'm looking at using a ladder style roost bar system that will be hinged against one of the walls, so it can be swung up, for cleaning the coop. Is there a good reason that you couldn't put a backer board of a vinyl paneling on the bottom of the ladder roost that will catch the poop, but not "hold" it, and then attach, or have at the bottom of that board a section of gutter or something similar to act as a collector?

It would be easy enough to then remove the collection unit and add to a compost heap or other location?


Sorry for the simple minded question, just don't know why it wouldn't work.

That's a good question
I would say if they were to be standing on the vinyl it could be slippery but it's a good idea I've seen metal catch trays under the Roost that seem to work so why not vinyl

 

[tmarsh83]

That's a good question
I would say if they were to be standing on the vinyl it could be slippery but it's a good idea I've seen metal catch trays under the Roost that seem to work so why not vinyl

They wouldn't be standing on vinyl. It would be 2x4 "steps" on a ladder roost system, likely, using 2x6 for the side runners, with the roost poles attached at the top of the 6, so there is some gap between the bottom of the roost poles and the bottom of the 2x6. Then the vinyl sheet would be attached to the bottom of the 2x6 side runner. So you are looking at a poop slide with roosts running across it roughly, I would guess, 6" above the vinyl.

 

[daskhan]

Best I would say is try it if it works I'm stealing the idea if not then least you tried it I'm only worried about if they try to climb up it or stand on it they may slip but I've watched chickens slid on wood for fun so idk lol