Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[slick4591]

Nice setup. I got some of the flexwatt heat tape for my winobator too. I just haven't had the time to work on it lately. I do have all the parts now though LOL!  I was originally going to use heat panels but they were just too bulky.

Here is a cool video on the flexwatt heat tape if anyone is curious as to how it works..I use it on my plant shelves as well to germinate seeds. Its great cuz you can fit it to your shelves.
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Flex-Watt-Heat-Tape

Thanks, and Big Apple is where mine came from. I had heard that flexwatt was slow heating and wouldn't warm back up very quickly after opening the door. I've experimented with it and after things are warmed up it has no problem getting back to temp. I have enough to wire the bottom part of the unit also, but haven't decided whether to make a window or not. My thinking is that the bottom could be the incubator and the top a hatcher.

 

[Cadeau]

Slick - that sounds like a great idea!!

Does anyone have a Brower Brooder??

I'm trying to decide between buying one (hopefully used!) or building my own with FlexWatt - I'm tired of those red bulbs and their associated fire hazard AND electric bill!)

 

[DMRippy]

Slick - that sounds like a great idea!!

Does anyone have a Brower Brooder??

I'm trying to decide between buying one (hopefully used!) or building my own with FlexWatt - I'm tired of those red bulbs and their associated fire hazard AND electric bill!)

I haven't tried it, but not sure the flexwatt would be a good choice in a brooder. It heats best from the bottom up and I don't really know how you would keep them from messing it up... I have toyed with the idea, but the only think I can think to do is tile the bottom and that is more work than I want to put in a brooder.... not to mention the weight. My brooders are stacked and I only need to use a 40-60 watt light in each one. Flexwatt the 11 inch anyway is 22 watts per liner foot so not really cheaper... and I can see the chicks with a light bulb.

now you could get the narrower flexwatt and put it around the walls... but not sure that would work well in the winter.

 

[Cadeau]

Well - I was thinking of building a little 3 sided or 2 sided shelter with the flexwatt in the ceiling.

I have a REALLY OLD brooder thing that is sort of 4 legs with a pyrimidal top and canvas curtains for sides.
Then, the rest of the building (10x20) doesn't need to be heated, even in the dead of winter!

It is run by a heat ring and is WONDERFUL!
It also has a teeny tiny red bulb for a little light, so I can see!

So....if I can imitate that, using FlexWatt - I think I'd be in business!

 

[DMRippy]

Well - I was thinking of building a little 3 sided or 2 sided shelter with the flexwatt in the ceiling.

I have a REALLY OLD brooder thing that is sort of 4 legs with a pyrimidal top and canvas curtains for sides.
Then, the rest of the building (10x20) doesn't need to be heated, even in the dead of winter!

It is run by a heat ring and is WONDERFUL!
It also has a teeny tiny red bulb for a little light, so I can see!

So....if I can imitate that, using FlexWatt - I think I'd be in business!

I made a house and the slep in top of it

 

[slick4591]

When flexwatt is on, it's fully on. You have to regulate the temperature with a thermostat and the chicks wouldn't be able to walk on it, therefore you'd need a raised bottom that kept the excrement off of the flexwatt. Unless the brooder was pretty tight on one end I'm not sure if it would work correctly if you attached it to the wall or ceiling.

 

[chickeneyfoot]

Why is it so hard to sex marans. Can vent sex a marans?!*!*!*

 

[Christie Rhae]

Why is it so hard to sex marans. Can vent sex a marans?!*!*!*

Marans have single comb which makes them a lot easier to sex at just a few weeks than say.. ameraucanas. I am terrible at sexing them. lol
I think any chicks can be vent sexed at 1 day old. I don't think just any body can vent sex...that is the problem. It is kinda tricky.
Or did you mean a vet?

 

[chickenlisa]

overnight tally...3 BCM chicks hatched, 8 more pips or zipping ones, and 4 not doing anything yet (2 of those the clear ones I thought wouldn't hatch.)

I agree....Go Chickies!

 

[bigshawn]

Congrats.......