Michigan

[fifelakelooper]

Olive...I'm guessing you didn't have an incubator running when power went off? We rarely lose power here so I guess I should count my blessings. I'm going to do the pumpkin thing...we grow them anyway so have them.
Can you answer my incubator question Olive?

 

[Olive Hill]

Can you answer my incubator question Olive?

I bet we were posting at the same time but here you go!

Quote:
Start counting the second day. So if you set on the 11th, you would could the 12th as day "one" because it marks the point at which they had been incubated for 1 day, 24 hours. I put mine in lockdown early because they consistently hatch early you won't know if that's the case for yours until you get a couple hatches under your belt though.

Quote:
Nope, no bator running here right now. I've got turkey eggs collecting on the counter for it, but nothing in right now. I have had the power go out during incubation before though. It wouldn't have been a big deal if I had remembered they were in there as we have backup power, but I forgot and didn't get them set up. They went without power for 8 hours, I think it was. Got down into the 80s in the bator. It reduced the hatch rate, but quite a few still hatched. I was impressed.

As for the efficacy of the natural wormers. I have never had birds FEC'd, but I have run FECs on other animals here and have never had a problem. The reason I don't run FECs on chickens is a bit twofold. 1) They don't stay here long enough for it to be worthwhile. 18 months is about the maximum I keep them around and more importantly 2) chickens don't contract all of the same parasites that you would find in mammals and the ones they do get affect them in different ways, they are, generally speaking, more prone to be symptomatic with a smaller load, whereas in larger mammals you can have significant parasite loads that remain asymptomatic. IOW, with chickens 'what you see is what you get' is more likely to be true so if you're observing your birds thoroughly on a regular basis you're less likely to have things get out of hand if one should have an issue.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even the routine worming of animals that can and do carry large loads asymptomatically has come under scrutiny in recent years as being not just ineffective, but detrimental overall. Routine use of wormers has been shown, in horses for instance, to contribute to the rather rapid development of resistant strains of parasites on farms. And the routine schedules often given out have zero basis in what we now know about how the wormers work and how the parasites respond to them. And then there is the whole issue of wormers that have known resistance issues in most locales still being used and touted. But that would be a novel all it's own, so I'll just say do your homework and decide from there what's best for your flock.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Start counting the second day. So if you set on the 11th, you would could the 12th as day "one" because it marks the point at which they had been incubated for 1 day, 24 hours. I put mine in lockdown early because they consistently hatch early you won't know if that's the case for yours until you get a couple hatches under your belt though.

Thanks....I will redo my calender so that March 12 is day #1.....I hope out of the 11 eggs to get a few anyway:/

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
That's good to know! Mine get a bunch of pumpkin guts from when we carve jack-o-lanterns at halloween time and they get whatever maybe rots in the garden too soon.
I wanted to ask about the humidity in my bator. I saw fifelakelooper say that the humidity is 40-45 until the last few days...I try to keep my as close to 55-60 the whole time and 60+ the last 3 days...do I not have to do that?!?! I don't have to fight it as bad as I used to since my new incubator has a bottle on the side for it to use as needed, but it would be good info to know!! I have a hatch due this weekend and about 60 more eggs in the other incubator. My husband got home last night and saw the two bators....looked at me and just shook his head

He might as well have waved a white flag!

We dodged bad weather for now!! I woke up to light showers and no ice!!

 

[fifelakelooper]

I'm really not into "chemicals" or medications so would much rather do the pumpkins and see how that goes. I usually turn my chickens over after 1 or 2 years also....they have always been healthy but sometimes I read an article somewhere and it makes me wonder if I'm doing it right. Thanks again Olive for the "counting" for incubating.
Still watching snow swirl around here......

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
That's good to know! Mine get a bunch of pumpkin guts from when we carve jack-o-lanterns at halloween time and they get whatever maybe rots in the garden too soon.
I wanted to ask about the humidity in my bator. I saw fifelakelooper say that the humidity is 40-45 until the last few days...I try to keep my as close to 55-60 the whole time and 60+ the last 3 days...do I not have to do that?!?! I don't have to fight it as bad as I used to since my new incubator has a bottle on the side for it to use as needed, but it would be good info to know!! I have a hatch due this weekend and about 60 more eggs in the other incubator. My husband got home last night and saw the two bators....looked at me and just shook his head

He might as well have waved a white flag!

We dodged bad weather for now!! I woke up to light showers and no ice!!

I don't know what kind of incubator you have RIRJen but I set mine for that because the Brinsea book that it came with suggested it. I've read where some set there's even lower than 40...so not sure what to tell you. Someone will answer I'm sure...I just heard to follow the directions on your incubator since they all vary .......
Lucky you...dodging the bullet!

 

[RIRJen]

Hey Cricket!!!!

Is there any way I can bribe you into vent sexing 10 chicks for me? (And show me how to do it!) I can bring them to you if you want. I just want to know what I have...I'm not 100% on my wing sexing and it's hard to tell with Speckleds because the hens have very cocky postures and (sometimes) a good-size comb. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?

Are you going to be going to Geyers this weekend for the swap?
BTW...Who all is planning on being at the swap? I'm hoping it will be warmer then last time!! BRRRRRRRR!

 

[Mish]

Quote:
Maybe... I'm on the lookout for runner ducklings for another family. Where exactly is it? What are the rules for the swap? Is there a thread or website with more info?

 

[MrsChickendad]

Quote:
Maybe... I'm on the lookout for runner ducklings for another family. Where exactly is it? What are the rules for the swap? Is there a thread or website with more info?

Yes, I'm looking for info on the swap, too! Can't seem to find any current info. What time does it start????

 

[RIRJen]

http://geyerfarmservice.com/index.php
That is the website for the place holding it...but I don't see a flyer on thier website. Best Farm Buys website has one...but for some reason it's on the fritz right now and won't let me open it up. Look in chickens or poultry in Best Farm Buys or search for Geyer farm service and it should come up! Post it on here if your computer will let you look at the website...mine won't right now for some reason.