Janoel

[MisfitMarie]

What maran eggs have you got in Misfitmarie? Just ordered the incubator turns out there was one for sale with quick delivery so there we go it will be here by wednesday! hahaha

I have eight beautifully dark Black Copper Maran eggs. I am SUPER excited, because I can see six thriving little embryos!!! Two of them are too dark to tell, but I figure I'll just wait a few more days and try again. I was going to pick some up locally from a friend, but her hens decided to go on vacation. So I ended up ordering some over Ebay. I was actally extremely impressed in the great shape that they arrived in, and how fast the shipping was considering it was all the way from Missouri to Washington. I think the quicker the shipping, the better.

I would also like to add that I have both the Janoel 12 and Janoel 48:

Both have an additional humidity and temp monitor. BOTH are turning on schedule. BOTH have done an excellent job of maintaining temp and humidity. So either, in my opinion, it's a fairly decent product OR I have been very lucky so far. Granted, it hasn't been long. But I've been impressed with how stable and accurate my readings have been.

 

[backyardjack]

What kind of heat lamps do you guys have expensive wire covered metal ones or just a cheap plastic bulb holder kind of thing as i'm just wondering if the expensive metal ones are really worth the money you pay for them and do you use the red bulbs or ceramic bulbs? sorry about all the question but i guess you have got to learn some how

 

[dorpersheep]

Don't be sorry to ask questions backyardjack - the only dumb question is the one you need an answer to and won't ask!
I don't know what is 'best' but we are using the ceramic bulbs in a cheap plastic bulb holder and have had no problems at all.

Great news on the eggs misfitMarie! Hope they all keep going for you....only 3 days to go until I candle mine again! I love this chicken thing, the turn around is so fast - sheep take 5 months to produce a lamb! Although they are quick compared to the horses - not sure I can be patient enough to wait 12 months to meet a new baby anymore!!!

 

[backyardjack]

What wattage of bulb do you use dorpersheep ?

 

[dorpersheep]

Started out with a 100W bulb jack, but I am thinking of using a 50W bulb to wean them off the heat when we are done with it.

 

[dorpersheep]

Dorpersheep - Were you raised that way, or is it something that sort of developed through your life? Interesting that your brother doesn't share your same passion =P Did he ever, at any time, show an interest in it? Or just a different personality?

I can relate to that. I was raised around chickens, pigs, dogs, etc. The little town I lived in was also home to a lot of chicken and dairy farms. I was in the FFA through high school and had a lot of exposure to it all. I live just outside of a city now, and I already have friends who have given me raised eyebrows about my new-found hobby of hatching chicks. Usually one of the first things they say is, "But they're so dirty! They poop everywhere, and they smell!" I've been taken back a couple times already about how shockingly judgmental people can be...but whatever. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I guess I just have a different perspective. I don't remember my parent's coop ever stinking, but they did clean it regularly and never overcrowded it. I remember my mother also planting tons of flowers around it, maybe that's the trick! =P

As far as the germs and poo, that's never really bothered me. I am usually pretty good about washing my hands after handling my chicks, but sometimes I forget... and I've never, in my entire life, gotten sick (knock on wood) from chickens so... I guess it's just not something I worry about. Maybe I should more? I don't know.

Anyway, I will stop rambling. I will remember that, about opening the incubator to remove reckless chicks. I was wondering the same thing, about them knocking each other around. But it makes sense that maybe the sudden drop in humidity from opening the incubator would do a lot more damage.

AND YES... I did candle! It was only day 5 yesterday. They are very dark, Copper Maran eggs. BUT.. In a few of them, I did see a very small bean-shaped thing with a black dot in the middle... I hoping it's SOMETHING good, maybe a little chickie-baby. I still plan on checking tomorrow!

Haha MisfitMarie - I grew up in the city, and no, neither of my brothers have ever shown any inclination to revert to a farming lifestyle unlike me! Our grand parents were farmers but they moved to the city long before we came along. Growing up I always wanted horses and wide open spaces, finally got my wish.

The only time we SAW a real chicken as kids was when the neighbour set up a run, I won't say coop as she didn't build them a house, just locked them in a run on the fence line. Poor birds always standing in mud when it rained, the council came in response to all the neighbour's complaints and made her rehome them.

We now farm just over 600 acres, breeding sheep, at the moment we are not breeding horses but have 2, plus sheep dogs, etc etc. And a fast growing chicken obsession!!!! I have just ordered my next batch of eggs.....

Fingers crossed your eggs continue to develop. 2 more days until we recheck ours. Counting down!!! haha

 

[backyardjack]

So dorpersheep would a 250 watt bulb be too much?

 

[backyardjack]

So i jumped in tothe deep end and thought as i'm probably going to be addicted to hatching just as you all are i would by a quality heat lamp

what do you all think http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121292994210_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[MisfitMarie]

So i jumped in tothe deep end and thought as i'm probably going to be addicted to hatching just as you all are i would by a quality heat lamp

what do you all think http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121292994210_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

NICE! I'm not sure what kind of heat lamp I have. It's a red heat lamp, with a similar casing around it...? I bought it at the feed store for about $9.00 for the bulb and $13.00 for the outer casing/holder. I've heard the red bulbs are the way to go!

I've taken the lamp away from my six week-olds and will be giving it back to them ONLY AT NIGHT once we move them into the garage brooder this weekend. That will buy us a few week's time to build a coop!

 

[dorpersheep]

So dorpersheep would a 250 watt bulb be too much?

Sorry Jack just saw this - I am absolutely NO expert, ours is a 100W bulb and at 2.5 weeks during the day it is almost too hot for ours.
Not sure how cold it is where you are, we are heading into summer here in Aust and our days are now 30C-55C. Nights 12C-18C, so not cold like some places!