Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[jerabu]

You can get a thermostat for less than $30 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG...TF8&colid=1Z9S95GZNCF18&coliid=I2EX5JVH5N2UPV). It allows you to pick a temperature, and it will maintain it for you. Just plug your heat source into it. Very helpful device. It comes with a probe that you put into the enclosure (for reptiles, on their basking spot. For incubators, among the eggs) to measure the temps. A stick-on thermometer hygrometer ($6-$15 at most big box stores) will help you adjust it.

Never thought much of my reptile-related know-how would be relevant to chicken raising. The more I read about chickens, the more convinced I am that I need to live somewhere I can have more than 3.

 

[jerabu]

I have 3 white Chantecler chicks if anyone is interested. I am in GR.

I wish I had my coop ready! Trying to get work done on other projects today, so I can finish them up and start my coop!

 

[tori8780]

How do you know if your hen is broody vs. something else? I have 2 hen that have been on their nests since 8 this morning, which is SUPER unusual. When I went in the coop and tried to remove eggs from under them they both puffed up their feathers and made lots of clucking noises at me. If they're broody I want to put the chicks I got yesterday under them ASAP. Thanks!

 

[Candy442]

How do you know if your hen is broody vs. something else? I have 2 hen that have been on their nests since 8 this morning, which is SUPER unusual. When I went in the coop and tried to remove eggs from under them they both puffed up their feathers and made lots of clucking noises at me. If they're broody I want to put the chicks I got yesterday under them ASAP. Thanks!

Sounds like they may be...I read that if they are new to trying "broody" to see if they set like that at least a week. Has these hens raised chicks already? If not, they may kill the news ones you give to them or not able to protect them from no experience of hatching themselves.

 

[JackieandChicks]

My hubby is such a good doob - he's a car guy, and while not interested in my birds, will always help. Today he pulled a broken blood feather from my guinea boy while I held the bird and the bird's wing. We both were grimacing, but it had to be done as the guinea was bleeding quite a bit.

 

[SillyChicken]

Uggo lost his entire foot to frost bite this winter. It finally came off, but left a raw stump exposed. So I cleaned him up wrapped and padded up the foot and off he went. I put half a small tennis ball on the bottom to allow him to walk and protect his foot. It's a bit heavy, but at least he can walk on it now.

 

[jerabu]

What breed is he?

 

[aart]

Does anyone use a thermostat on their incubators?

With my reptile hobby, I have to keep many of my snakes hot and/or humid - not unlike an incubator.

I prefer Radiant Heat panels for my larger cage. When run on a thermostat, they maintain a perfect temperature for my tropical pythons. They tolerate humid conditions, and surface temps are not hot enough to cause burn damage.

I used to use something called a ceramic heat emitter - and they will heat an enclosure, but the surface temps on them can get over 500 degrees.

I just have a still air, no thermostat

Really naglady??? I thought all incubators have a thermostat.......but they don't all have fans.

jerabu...I have read a couple of threads were folks have used a reptile incubator for bird eggs.

 

[SillyChicken]

What breed is he?

Uggo?

Uggo.........is an Uggo.



He's a mutt chicken.

 

[aart]

Quote: You can add a surname now...... Uggo Pegleg!

Wonder if you can find a smaller hollow rubber ball?......handball? ...tiny small dog 'tennis' ball, I've seen those at the pet store.