INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[SallyinIndiana]

How do you all not have panic attacks incubating? I have a styrofoam incubator, but I am petrified to use it.

put the incubator in a nice place that you walk by or visit frequently. Then checking on it keeps the panic to a min. Also candle the eggs every other day or so without taking them out of the incubator. As long as the chick is growing you are good.

Well here is the most recent hatch. Wasn't a great hatch, but ended up being better than I expected. Most are silkies with 2 Birchen Marans and 2 Birchen Marans mixes with either white rocks or naked necks.

And my two silvers/greys from several hatches ago. I'm really loving these guys!

The little one in the center is adorable.

 

[bradselig]

So I have most of my home made incubator together and I am having issues with the 225 Incukit. It is running way too hot and not shutting off. It runs about 104+°
Have a message in with the manufacturer to figure out what gives. Feeling a bit frustrated.

I wonder if the incukit maybe too large for that size of mini fridge?

 

[ellymayRans]

O I will mention that with the raised beds even though they were no more than 6" the strawberries and all the other things we grew weren't touched by the countless bunnies and deer...and those are the only critters I saw! Ha! However our tilled portion they didn't hesitate to eat the tops off my sunflowers beans and a few corn plants. Mind you there's only 2-3' between them! We had some dead elms cut down that I used for lining each bed and put down landscape cloth with mulch for walkways. I can't wait til this year! Planting corn in raised this year because last 2 years in tilled beds they just didn't produce like we need for a family of 6 ! Had to try tho cuz DH just couldn't grasp the concept that it would work! Lol. We grow a ton of stuff so feel free to ask away! Our strawberries will Have to be thinned out and new beds started cuz they went craZ Y and produced tons this past year but have managed to grow across the walkway into the beds around them. Mulch and wood ..they don't mind...they just keep spreading! Gotta lovem!

 

[Kiniska]

I wonder if the incukit maybe too large for that size of mini fridge?

I am wondering that as well. Hopefully they will exchange it for the smaller version if that is the issue. Would have been nice if they had stated a suggested cubic foot on the web site.

 

[Mother2Hens]

bradselig's former Silkies and Kiniska's former English Orpingtons:
I'm making myself finish my work before I look at the thread, but here's a new video. At first, they're playing on some "sod." I took a large knife outside and cut a rectangle of "grass" out of the side yard for them to play with. Just as I was going to stop filming them around 30 seconds, they started flying/jumping over the stick/perch. That's an especially cute part.

Share your video

 

[Kiniska]

[COLOR=A52A2A]bradselig's former Silkies and Kiniska's former English Orpingtons:[/COLOR]

[COLOR=8B4513]I'm making myself finish my work before I look at the thread, but here's a new video. At first, they're playing on some "sod." I took a large knife outside and cut a rectangle of "grass" out of the side yard for them to play with. Just as I was going to stop filming them around 30 seconds, they started flying/jumping over the stick/perch. That's an especially cute part. [/COLOR] [COLOR=8B4513]      [/COLOR]Share your video 

That is pretty stinkin cute Julie. Man, the Orps look leggy next to those silkies.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
I am also so sorry to hear about Lucy.

At least you know going forward.
C....chickens, agreed. My only crossbeak was an EE.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Seriously about to hang it up. I have silkies with lice, a pullet with respiratory issues that needs tylan by mouth, her eyes unsealed every morning, and the rest of the flock is on antibiotics due to exposure to her. I went out to get the only loose sand on the property to give the flocks to bathe in, and it took 3 times as long as it should because all of our gates are frozen shut. I was cleaning of a hens butt this morning because it was caked with poo, only to realize the barn chickens have lice also. Then poor minmin gets her eggs from me today and six of them are broken. All were individually bubble wrapped, in a styro carton with bubble wrap over all of them, the carton then wrapped twice with bubble wrap, layed in a bigger box stuffed tightly with newspaper all around the carton, then taped shut. I put up arrows on the box and live embryos written on the side. How they broke I have no idea, but I feel terrible. Its just one thing after another. Okay rant over.

There are bad days.. I am so sorry. This weather isnt helping. I have a little BA cockerel sick, he is about 12 weeks. I brought him in, put him in a crate. He seems underweight, so am beefing him up on chick feed and electrolytes. He is important to me since Bruce is my only other roo

Quote: Muahahahaha

We do eat a lot of chicken.... Building a "whizbang" plucker too! Did I mention, I have a very patient DH

Quote:
X2!!!!! I will be getting mine in a week or 2

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I feel that way at times too. Lot less health problems! Its rare for us to loose a goose or duck. Stanley, my scovy drake had a bad bite on his throat from the fox last year but survived.
Predators is usually my only problem with waterfowl.

Quote: Shipped eggs are always a risk. I have never had better than around 80% hatch, and that was quail from Brad. And I have seen several boxes scrambled and dripping too.

Thanks guys. I'm just frustrated today. I feel like any changes I make to the flocks something bad happens. I won't give up.

Ok I tried to stay busy today (so I wouldn't keep playing with Silkie Eggs). I drew up my plans for my yard/garden/chicken coop. Going to post what I've done, looking for advice, criticism...whatever. Let me know what you think. .

Quote: Thank you leslea my issue is I've not ever had luck growing veggies and I'm not sure they are in the right locations. I have only one tree on my property as of right now so everything except raised beds by the side porch have all day direct sun. Is there anything you would change... I know I'm asking a lot but I need and appreciate advice. Thanx all!!! By the way my chickens have free range of everything during the day.
I think it looks great! You will rethink and tweak a lot too. Thats part of the fun!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

It sounds like someone has my mailman's brother!

hello all from Whitley Co. How do we add the state to our pic? A little about me, my wife and I have golden comet layers right now and we are hopefully going to grow to around 30 this spring. Just bought a hova bator genius and I got three different hatchings ordered, barred rocks and rhode island reds for the first batch and then just ordered a dozen silver laced wyandotte's for april. glad to have found this thread...

Welcome to our thread!!!!

Its amazing how fast the obsession can grab you. I barely had eggs in the incubator and all of a sudden I've bid on Midget White Turkey eggs that would hatch in the middle of my vacation......luckily, I got outbid at the last minute. So to counteract that small victory, I then pm'd the seller and told them I'd be interested in eggs if they ever have any more for sale. If I didn't know you all were a bunch of enablers, I'd be asking for help to curb the addiction. lol.

and it begins... I want midget white. That is one breed I will add for sure!

How do you all not have panic attacks incubating? I have a styrofoam incubator, but I am petrified to use it.

Just jump in with both feet! Draft free room and decent humidity is the key.