Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[dsqard]

Duuuuude it's gunna be 56 as a high on Thursday. That's AC weather!

Well I don't know if that's AC weather but we are supposed to reach 60 today. I pulled all the horses blankets yesterday (it was around 50) and they are all blowing their coats. I spent about an hour brushing them all down and I was covered in horse hair by the end of it.

Tonya, I hope that your MIL gets better soon.

Java girl, so glad your dad is well enough to go home!

Kathy, so glad to hear that your cough is going away.

SCG, so sorry to hear about your hen. It sucks when you lose one.

I am worried about one of my Brahma girls right now. She was free ranging with the flock yesterday and all afternoon long she was making a goose like sound, like she was crying. I tried to catch her but she wanted nothing to do with that, so I left her with the flock. She doesn't seem sick although when I put out the treats she just kept mingling with the flock and "honking".

I saw the tom breed my hen again yesterday, I am really hoping she starts laying soon. I was tempted by some BBB poults at the feed store yesterday but I would have to butcher them way before November if I got them now and besides, the poults didn't look so good. I was tempted to tell the people working there to put a couple of chicks in with them, but I don't know if they would have listened to me. At least this year they have marked what breed they are. Last year they just put up a sign, turkeys, and when I asked what breed they were all I got was

so I figured they were BBW's and I didn't buy them. I really like the BR's I have.

 

[Spangled]

Good morning One and All and Everybody Else.

Well, I went to Brinsea.com -- you know, the ones who've supplied a Mini Advance incubator as a prize for Mahonri's 3rd Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long and Marathon Posting Party -- and drooled over their incubators, et al, again. I just have to say that when I started using my budget-priced Brinsea ECO 20 for the first time, it was like the clouds had parted and the sun came out and a double rainbow appeared and the birds started cheeping. Frankly, I think my Brinsea incubator is revolutionary. I could finally sleep through the night during hatching season and still get good hatch rates ... even with my French Black Copper Marans eggs.

Let's see if I can get caught up ...

Java Girl 2 ... Yay! that your dad is home. Have fun with your black and black&stripey chickens. Why not 2 golden chickens, too?

SCG ... Sorry about your little tyrant. A loss is a loss ... but the extra room in the coop will be fun to fill, as you mentioned.

Taz/Tonya ... MIL ... oh dear. Sorry.

Wolfie: Did you get a smaller cast? You surely deserve a bre ... no not a break. A mini-vacation from your wrist. I hope you managed to find someone who could move some of your chickens around for you.

Necessary hatching equipment for Mahonri: Skivees, camera, internet.

Where's our Irish hatcher that used to post every day?

kathyinmo: glad your cough is getting a little better. Fingers crossed you continue improving. My cough got worse yesterday after cleaning the dusty chicken house.

Who am I forgetting? Lots of people.

ChesnutRidge: You posted something cool ... can't remember what ... oh, the chicken trivia page. Thanks. The photo of dawn on the Midwest, too. (I think that was you.)

Razadia: Guineas? Hope I spelled that properly. That will be fun! I have been wanting guineas for years, but it just hasn't worked out. Looking forward to pics of your new little games.

Oh, a big welcome to all the new joiners. And to others thinking about joining the hatch: What's to think about?

You'll have plenty of time to build a new coop during the 3 weeks of incubation!

There's still plenty of time to find some hatching eggs locally or have some shipped.

Okay. Caught up. Well except it looks like 10+ more posts have been made since I started this post!

 

[wolftracks]

You sure did catch up.

Yes a smaller one. They asked if I wanted the same one or this one. Silly people. Granted I've hurt it more since, but I can kind of tie a show now. LOL

 

[Spangled]

Yes a smaller one. They asked if I wanted the same one or this one. Silly people. Granted I've hurt it more since, but I can kind of tie a show now. LOL

 

[thechickonthehill]

Good Monday morning everyone!

Oooh, Razadia, guineas! I want guineas. . . I just wonder if they would survive the local wildlife. Only one way to find out I suppose.

Wolftracks, glad to hear you got a new and smaller cast. Don't get carried away and hurt it again - you don't want to start over I'm sure.

SCG, way to find the silver lining!


5" of snow this morning. The chickens will be spending the day in their coops I suppose. Not because I won't let them out though. When it snows, after I open the door they all run to go outside and then slam on the brakes in horror. Some can't stop in time and almost kill themselves trying not to actually touch the snow while they scramble to get back in the coop. Then they all just stand in the doorway looking out. Such weenies!

 

[NotAFarm]

Count me in!! Im a little late but I should still have eggs in time

Ashley

NOPE, not late until after St. Patrick's Day!!

Quote:

And AK Michelle, yes, I do blame all you hatchers on my backordered ecoglow. I even checked multiple sites. They're saying late March, so we'll see.

That will be perfect timing for your April 7 hatch!!

 

[NotAFarm]

We will be setting chicken eggs in a dozen days!!

Egg collecting will be starting in earnest at the end of the week. If you are shipping eggs, make sure you have all the shipping materials on hand so nothing is delayed!!

 

[java girl 2]

Good morning One and All and Everybody Else.

.

Let's see if I can get caught up ...

Java Girl 2 ... Yay! that your dad is home. Have fun with your black and black&stripey chickens. Why not 2 golden chickens, too?

thank you all for your prayers !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Spangled..............are you an enabler ????????????????

lord knows my mom is !!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha

pray I don't come home with ALL OF THEM!!!!! .99 PER CHICK LAST NIGHT, MAYBE EVEN LOWER TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wisher1000]

Quote:

The wafer on a wafer thermostat is filled with a gas that is very sensitive to heat. As the gas heats up it expands, forcing the wafer to also expand til a small button on the wafer presses on a switch that breaks the connection. Of course once the electrical connection is broken the heater shuts off and as the incubator cools down so does the the gas filled wafer. Once it cools down and shrinks again the electricity can flow through the connection again powering the heating element once again. This heating and cooling cycle repeats itself over and over again, hopefully keeping your incubator within the correct limits for optimum hatching.

Thanks, you two!

Can anyone else share their methods to sterilize the inside of a bator in preparation for the next hatch?

Do the wafers go bad, eventuallly? How long do they last? What is the first sign that it needs replacing (I mean, before it quits completely?) If it falls off of it's dial post (mine did) are there any specific details that you have to see to when putting it back together?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

[NotAFarm]

The wafer on a wafer thermostat is filled with a gas that is very sensitive to heat. As the gas heats up it expands, forcing the wafer to also expand til a small button on the wafer presses on a switch that breaks the connection. Of course once the electrical connection is broken the heater shuts off and as the incubator cools down so does the the gas filled wafer. Once it cools down and shrinks again the electricity can flow through the connection again powering the heating element once again. This heating and cooling cycle repeats itself over and over again, hopefully keeping your incubator within the correct limits for optimum hatching.

Great info SunnyDawn!

Do you know...
How fragile are the wafers? I've had a "spare" for for almost a year and it's loose in a paper bag with some leg bands, toe punch, etc. Do I need to worry if it gets banged around it there? Can the gas leak out or is it sealed so well I don't need to worry? How about shelf life? Thanks in advance for all the help!