Mahonri's 2nd Annual BYC EASTER HATCH. Post pics of your chicks!

[BarnGoddess01]

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[thebirdguy]

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What I am planning is to build the brooder from the plans KathyinMo has, put the Flexwatt tape on the floor covered with a piece of the concrete board they use under tile, followed by a piece of linoleum for easy cleaning. I figure the concrete board will act as a heat sink and help keep things pretty constant and since heat rises that should keep the wood shavings nice and toasty. If I put the temperature probe for the thermostat in something to keep it at the level of the wood shavings, this should keep the temperature at chick level where I set the thermostat. I'll add a light bulb at the top of the brooder primarily just for light but it would generate some heat as well. I'll wire the light to a timer so that I can either have it on all the time or set it to only be on during the day.

I use digital thermostats that I got off ebay.. they are a piece of cake.. Basically you solder wire to both sides of the Flexwatt tape, these two wires go into screw down slots on the back of the thermostat, the two wires from your plug in cord also go into slots on the thermostat, you plug it in, program the thermostat and VOILA!!

Here is the link to the thermostats I use.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190490198738&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[ChooksChick]

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What I am planning is to build the brooder from the plans KathyinMo has, put the Flexwatt tape on the floor covered with a piece of the concrete board they use under tile, followed by a piece of linoleum for easy cleaning. I figure the concrete board will act as a heat sink and help keep things pretty constant and since heat rises that should keep the wood shavings nice and toasty. If I put the temperature probe for the thermostat in something to keep it at the level of the wood shavings, this should keep the temperature at chick level where I set the thermostat. I'll add a light bulb at the top of the brooder primarily just for light but it would generate some heat as well. I'll wire the light to a timer so that I can either have it on all the time or set it to only be on during the day.

I use digital thermostats that I got off ebay.. they are a piece of cake.. Basically you solder wire to both sides of the Flexwatt tape, these two wires go into screw down slots on the back of the thermostat, the two wires from your plug in cord also go into slots on the thermostat, you plug it in, program the thermostat and VOILA!!

Here is the link to the thermostats I use.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190490198738&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Interesting plan! I was considering it for making a unit similar to the EcoGlow simply because they go under, just like Mama- but ambient comfort is a great idea, too.

I wish chicks raised under broodies weren't so antisocial...I'd leave it to the pros all the time.

 

[Emmalion]

Isis is still trying to hatch and will be 24 hours real soon.

She sure is trying her hardest and is peeping up a storm at me when I talk to her. There are still tiny veins in her inner membrane so I know she is not ready. I hope to get home and find her a little farther along and will be keeping an eye out for any weakness starting.

4 other eggs have no signs of pips and they should hatch on time and not race like Isis

Hope everyone is having good hatches.

 

[Mervin]

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What I am planning is to build the brooder from the plans KathyinMo has, put the Flexwatt tape on the floor covered with a piece of the concrete board they use under tile, followed by a piece of linoleum for easy cleaning. I figure the concrete board will act as a heat sink and help keep things pretty constant and since heat rises that should keep the wood shavings nice and toasty. If I put the temperature probe for the thermostat in something to keep it at the level of the wood shavings, this should keep the temperature at chick level where I set the thermostat. I'll add a light bulb at the top of the brooder primarily just for light but it would generate some heat as well. I'll wire the light to a timer so that I can either have it on all the time or set it to only be on during the day.

I use digital thermostats that I got off ebay.. they are a piece of cake.. Basically you solder wire to both sides of the Flexwatt tape, these two wires go into screw down slots on the back of the thermostat, the two wires from your plug in cord also go into slots on the thermostat, you plug it in, program the thermostat and VOILA!!

Here is the link to the thermostats I use.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190490198738&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Interesting plan! I was considering it for making a unit similar to the EcoGlow simply because they go under, just like Mama- but ambient comfort is a great idea, too.

I wish chicks raised under broodies weren't so antisocial...I'd leave it to the pros all the time.

That is exactly why I was thinking of an electric blanket. I was thinking maybe you could fashion something of a hover for them to get under. I don't suppose there is any reason you couldn't do that with heat tape. I was just thinking the plushy blanket might be nice. Might be a heck of a mess to clean up though.

 

[Cattitude]

This is what I woke to this morning!

Isn't it lovely?

24 chicks so far.

 

[Emmalion]

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How awesome Congrats!!!!

 

[kvmommy]

I'm having serious jealousy pangs. I wish I hadn't done this easter hatch...maybe I would've had a better hatch rate. Because fate doesn't like me. But I'm patiently waiting and listening to my lone egg that made it to lockdown. I don't hear or see nothing! I have all the chickens I want except for my shamo, silkie and dark egg layer. But this lone egg is a shamo, so I can pray that it hatches and its a pullet. The seller of the silkie eggs offered to send me more for the cost of shipping. I feel bad saying yes though, because even though all the air cells were badly damaged, I know I screwed up in the beginning because my thermometers were off. darn digital. Should I accept? And if this shamo doesn't hatch, my husband doesn't want me to spend more money on eggs. Uggghhhhh~ so depressed as I see all your fuzzy butts hatch. Wish I didn't have an LG either. Jealous jealous jealous!

 

[ChooksChick]

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kvmommy, where are you? Perhaps someone will have chicks to share after this mad hatch!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

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Very jealous! What a beautiful sight.

Sooo,.... this is my first time hatching. I assumed that they would mostly be hatching on Saturday, perhaps Friday if they were running warm or Sunday if running cool. Am I incorrect? Should I have some hatching already? .....