INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[leslea]

The things I love about it are the energy savings and the fact that I don't have to worry about a fire accidentally getting started. It basically allows them to press against it for heat, but doesn't put heat "off" if like a regular heat lamp. They figured it out pretty quickly. The drawback is that since it doesn't "put off" heat, it doesn't heat the rest of the box. The first night the room was too cold and they wouldn't leave the eco-glow to eat or drink. I had to crank my heat to get the room warmer and they have been fine since the room hit 70 degrees. Their room is in the back of the house, and it tends to be a colder room so I have the rest of the house at 80 degrees to keep that one room warm enough. I will be glad once I can pump the heat back down to a reasonable level. I figure I can lower it a few degrees a week so it will only be a problem the first couple weeks. Overall I would recommend it, but it would not be big enough for 20 chicks like they claim. At night they all slept under there and i think 8 or 10 would max the space out.

We are getting our chicks in May and I plan on brooding them in our mudroom, which doesn't have heat or A/C. I wonder if I should go ahead and splurge for an EcoGlow. It sounds like it might work out great for the warm weather.

And thanks for the info on how the window is working out. I've been planning on using a cardboard box inside of a dog crate, but I have a feeling we might get lonely for the chicks and end up moving them into our family room on the hearth, otherwise I will be in that mudroom 24/7. Now I'm def. thinking of cutting a window and using a little wire to keep the babies in!

 

[leslea]

Here is momma Snow and one of her babies.

So sweet!

 

[ChickCrazed]

We are getting our chicks in May and I plan on brooding them in our mudroom, which doesn't have heat or A/C. I wonder if I should go ahead and splurge for an EcoGlow. It sounds like it might work out great for the warm weather.

And thanks for the info on how the window is working out. I've been planning on using a cardboard box inside of a dog crate, but I have a feeling we might get lonely for the chicks and end up moving them into our family room on the hearth, otherwise I will be in that mudroom 24/7. Now I'm def. thinking of cutting a window and using a little wire to keep the babies in!

I was originally going to keep them in my mudroom or spare bathroom, but neither have windows and i wanted them to get natural light. So into the office they went! It won't be as easy to clean if they get messy (carpet and furniture), but my house wasn't built for livestock so there was no perfect location! I considered a box as well, it would have been easy to cut and attach multiples together as they grew, but I worried about my dogs accidentally getting into that room. I wanted something sturdier that would buy the chicks some time if that happened. I am working really hard to be good about closing that room off! I trust my dogs 0%.

 

[kabhyper1]

Okay so today is day 21 for our eggs. The four hatched yesterday and there are two under her still. Snow has been eating and drinking but no poops and I don't want her to get off the nest since those eggs are still under her. Will she be okay not pooping for another day?

 

[minmin1258]

Rw

Yep...those are the kind I got at Tractor Supply for similar price. I haven't used any. I keep wondering how hard it will be to cut them off when they need to be removed. One of our WONDERFUL IN people sent me some of 3 different kinds of bands to try out and see what kind I like! Got them this morning [quote url="[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6127174/[/URL]"] Lastly, here are the zip ties I bought from lowes to use on subadults and adults until I get numbered bands.

$3 a bag for 100 ties. I didn't think that was too bad. [/quo Ewwwwww those are what I need!!! Hmmmm now I'm going g t have t make ANOTHER trip to Clarksburg...Thanks a lot!! Lol

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

The things I love about it are the energy savings and the fact that I don't have to worry about a fire accidentally getting started.  It basically allows them to press against it for heat, but doesn't put heat "off" if like a regular heat lamp.  They figured it out pretty quickly.  The drawback is that since it doesn't "put off" heat, it doesn't heat the rest of the box.  The first night the room was too cold and they wouldn't leave the eco-glow to eat or drink.  I had to crank my heat to get the room warmer and they have been fine since the room hit 70 degrees.  Their room is in the back of the house, and it tends to be a colder room so I have the rest of the house at 80 degrees to keep that one room warm enough.  I will be glad once I can pump the heat back down to a reasonable level.  I figure I can lower it a few degrees a week so it will only be a problem the first couple weeks.  Overall I would recommend it, but it would not be big enough for 20 chicks like they claim.  At night they all slept under there and i think 8 or 10 would max the space out. 

I had always thought that was the point of the EcoGlow--it doesn't put off heat and so they have to go underneath it to warm up. It's more natural for them that way because it's how it would be if they were raised by a broody. They get used to being away from the heat much faster than with other heating methods, plus they already are on the day/night cycle so there's no weaning them from 24 hour light, either. I think if you gave them some time to adapt, they would be just fine with the EcoGlow even in a cold room. It's supposed to work for temps as low as 50, so as long as it's warmer than that, they should be fine. Honestly, that big window might be part of the problem--it being right at their level would allow for drafts and chickies in particular are sensitive to that.

I agree, though, that it wouldn't be room enough for 20 chicks, at least not for long. Also, once mine started getting on top of it, I was having to clean it all the time and the raised lettering makes that difficult sometimes. Other than that, though, my EcoGlow was worth every cent to me! Can't wait to use it with more chicks this May!

 

[CRSelvey]

I have never attempted to make a kilt, but many styles of skirts are not difficult. Is it the hips that make kilts not work well for women?

Yep! It worked really well, but getting the pleats all lined up nicely with curves were a little tricky. I did make it curve, but I also ended up adding belt loops so that it would lay nicer with her belt. It looked really cute. I was mistaken though. It was for the Warrior Dash.

Also, just an update on the egg/feed thing. My chickens finally kicked back into gear and they laid 16 eggs without Lucy. Had she been laying, I'd probably have 21-22 this week, so it may have been just changing their food, not the content of the food that was the issue. Nutella, my EE, is really off though. She usually lays 6 and this week she stayed at 2. I'm not complaining though. Its nice to have eggs at all.

Lucy is still having issues with her leg and now I'm concerned that she might have what the AS roo has. Maybe its confinement but she had very little strength/balance today. I'm hoping I'm just paranoid. I had to give her another bath because her backside was just gross again today.

POO ALERT!!!!

This is just a gross mess.

When I bathed her, I could only get her so clean. After it was over, I could see that the skin around her vent is still inflamed. I would be too if I had that mess on me. Any suggestions?

The bath was exhausting for her. She took a little nap. I love this girl. Her frostbite seems to be healing on her comb. She is my only chicken that got any. Could this be part of her issue?

 

[Leahs Mom]

ECOGLOW...

I just saw today that Premier is selling heating plates also. I get the catalog and there is more info and more photos in the catalog. Interesting thing about these is that they sell an optional top that is a kind-of dome that comes up to a point so that they don't stand on it and poo. Just putting this out there FYI.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=120893&criteria=brood+heat

 

[Leahs Mom]

I also saw that they are selling a kind of band that I've never seen before. Again, more info and photos in the catalog, but these snap shut. You "squeeze" them in the middle to open them. Not sure if they're any good or not, but thought I'd put it out there for anyone interested.

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=120942&cat_id=0&

 

[bradselig]

I also saw that they are selling a kind of band that I've never seen before. Again, more info and photos in the catalog, but these snap shut. You "squeeze" them in the middle to open them. Not sure if they're any good or not, but thought I'd put it out there for anyone interested. http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=120942&cat_id=0&

One of the new moderns I just picked up has one of these bands on it. I'll have to go play with it and see if they are easy to take off. If so, I think I'm buying some! I tried messing with some of the other bands and I couldn't get them off by myself.