Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

Yeah it looks like the little 12v can coolers you can get. I suspect it uses a peltier cooler (since it can heat and cool) which can be hit and miss on longevity. They should handle the on/off cycles of the thermostat well though. The one guy claims success with it so I will see how it goes this weekend.

I am leaning away from styrofoam incubators and this one caught my eye. I've also been reading through a cooler-bator thread that has me intrigued. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...bator-how-we-did-it-and-test-run-ready-set-go

I have all fall/winter to figure it out since I don't plan to hatch until next spring

Edit: do you think adding another fan inside to circulate the air could solve the temp differences?

From what the one person commented, it doesn't get sufficient air flow with fresh air. I would think that is an issue. Maybe with reptiles it is different but even though you want to hold good humidity, you also want proper air flow in the unit, otherwise I think it would be like a giant petri dish. And opening a unit several times a day? Like Ralphie said PITA!!! just manually turning eggs twice a day can screw things up if you miss once or twice, and constantly having to watch the humidity.

 

[Minniechickmama]

An error on my part caused our drake to get hurt. I had a foot trap out for weasels and I thought I had it far enough in the box that the birds would leave it alone. Nope. Yesterday morning we found him caught in it. His upper bill was snapped in the trap. We managed to get the trap off and he has been acting relatively normal for the last 2 days. I think he will be fine but I tell you what I feel like crap. At first sight the kids and I thought he was going to have to be put down. Many tears! How many birds have to suffer because of my mistakes?! AAHHH!

On a better note, the little duckling is doing well. He is being cared for by both the hen ducks and the 2 drakes keep him in line. All are sleeping and hanging out together 24-7. A relief for me. I wasn't sure how the others were going to behave.

In chicken news, all is good. Still have the soft shell egg though. I don't know how to fix that yet. Layer feed and oyster shell are available at all times. Vitamins are given once a week in water. ?????? Wouldn't things have worked themselves out by now if it were just a new layer getting into the swing of things??

It's been hot, I would see if it is just one of those sensitive to heat. If it cools down and still happening, then decide if it is worth keeping around with the number of them she's laying that are not good.

As for the trap incident, I did the same with a rat trap and one of my favorite old hens, Sweety. She got her toe in it. I put on neosporin, used vet tape until it fell off and she is as good as new.

 

[MeredithW]

Welcome Meredith, we are a good bunch of chicken geeks here

Cool!

 

[Mistahbue]

Halllo!!! Yep I'm still alive. Been crazy few weeks.

Gina Hercules went to the happy chicken hunting grounds 2 weeks ago -- she was not improving at all. Took her and the little Silkie that had keeled over in the brooder down to the U of MN for necropsy -- needed to make sure I wasn't dealing with Marek's since we have chicks coming in a few weeks.

Round worm larvae is the culprit.

So in case you ever need necropsy - the U charges less than $75 for up to 10 chickens; Round worm comes through feed or soil contaminated by raccoon or skunk droppings. They recommnended I toss the remaining starter feed since I don't know how it was stored and hope for the best.

These chicks had no exposure to anything outside other than the few times we allowed them to go out in their playpen controlled environment. No skunks or raccoons that close to the house. Since all of this happened we've released the Kraken - aka Samson - our GP/K LGD mix. We lost 3 guineas in 2 days time the week before we put Gina down.

Doc said no preventative for round worm in chickens -- I know there are round worm wormers on the market for dogs and cats. Has anyone tried anything to prevent round worms in the birds? Can they eat garlic? Reckon that might be useful?

Thanks so much for ya'lls input while this craziness was going on. The other 5 birds are doing fine. Got one little rooster for sure -- he's starting to crow. Sounds adorable when he does!!!

Hey Ralphie -- I'm attaching a link to video yesterday of Ole and Lena.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206249002057001

 

[Minniechickmama]

I'm from Minnesota too!!

 

[lalaland]

I'm relieved only 60 posts to read....
congrats to the almost to be new uncle!
welcome meredith!
Ralphie, I sure hope your rooster comes back, but roosters don't usually go wandering off if they have a flock to watch over.

I picked up a couple five gallon pails and a milk crate full of small apples from someone's backyard in mpls - nice person who posted on a list serve that he thought the apples would be good for chickens, and he wanted them out of his yard. THe chickens were thrilled for a few days, but now the novelty has worn off ....so they are going into the compost except for a batch to make apple cider vinegar. My daughter took some and made some applesauce.

Got to let the chickens out for supervised, predator free grazing while I picked plantain leaves to make a plantain salve. Chickens kept helping themselves to the bowl of plantain leaves I was trying to fill, I guess they looked better in the bowl then on the plant on the ground! Hoping to hit the roadside a few miles down by the creek to get jewelweed for another salve - best thing for poison ivy!


I haven't been happy with the chicken feed this spring, adn when I was up in duluth, stopped in superior at the feed store and picked up some of their egg mash. Really liked it, the chickens are devouring it. Its a ways to go for feed though, and I can only store about 300 lbs or so at a crack.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Halllo!!! Yep I'm still alive. Been crazy few weeks.

Gina Hercules went to the happy chicken hunting grounds 2 weeks ago -- she was not improving at all. Took her and the little Silkie that had keeled over in the brooder down to the U of MN for necropsy -- needed to make sure I wasn't dealing with Marek's since we have chicks coming in a few weeks.

Round worm larvae is the culprit.

So in case you ever need necropsy - the U charges less than $75 for up to 10 chickens; Round worm comes through feed or soil contaminated by raccoon or skunk droppings. They recommnended I toss the remaining starter feed since I don't know how it was stored and hope for the best.

These chicks had no exposure to anything outside other than the few times we allowed them to go out in their playpen controlled environment. No skunks or raccoons that close to the house. Since all of this happened we've released the Kraken - aka Samson - our GP/K LGD mix. We lost 3 guineas in 2 days time the week before we put Gina down.

Doc said no preventative for round worm in chickens -- I know there are round worm wormers on the market for dogs and cats. Has anyone tried anything to prevent round worms in the birds? Can they eat garlic? Reckon that might be useful?

Thanks so much for ya'lls input while this craziness was going on. The other 5 birds are doing fine. Got one little rooster for sure -- he's starting to crow. Sounds adorable when he does!!!

Hey Ralphie -- I'm attaching a link to video yesterday of Ole and Lena.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206249002057001

Wazine is a roundworm dewormer, but if you want a broad spectrum, go with what I posted using Safeguard.

 

[KlopKlop]

Halllo!!!  Yep I'm still alive.  Been crazy few weeks.  

Gina Hercules went to the happy chicken hunting grounds 2 weeks ago -- she was not improving at all.  Took her and the little Silkie that had keeled over in the brooder down to the U of MN for necropsy -- needed to make sure I wasn't dealing with Marek's since we have chicks coming in a few weeks.

Round worm larvae is the culprit.

So in case you ever need necropsy - the U charges less than $75 for up to 10 chickens; Round worm comes through feed or soil contaminated by raccoon or skunk droppings.  They recommnended I toss the remaining starter feed since I don't know how it was stored and hope for the best.  

These chicks had no exposure to anything outside other than the few times we allowed them to go out in their playpen controlled environment.  No skunks or raccoons that close to the house.  Since all of this happened we've released the Kraken - aka Samson - our GP/K LGD mix.  We lost 3 guineas in 2 days time the week before we put Gina down. 

Doc said no preventative for round worm in chickens -- I know there are round worm wormers on the market for dogs and cats.  Has anyone tried anything to prevent round worms in the birds?  Can they eat garlic?  Reckon that might be useful?

Thanks so much for ya'lls input while this craziness was going on.  The other 5 birds are doing fine.  Got one little rooster for sure -- he's starting to crow.  Sounds adorable when he does!!!

Hey Ralphie -- I'm attaching a link to video yesterday of Ole and Lena.  

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206249002057001

 

I was just wondering where you disappeared to. Welcome back!

 

[lalaland]

mistablue, round worm larvae caused their deaths? Am I remembering right that they were about 9 weeks? very glad it wasn't mareks.

 

[Coffee 1st]

Halllo!!! Yep I'm still alive. Been crazy few weeks.

Gina Hercules went to the happy chicken hunting grounds 2 weeks ago -- she was not improving at all. Took her and the little Silkie that had keeled over in the brooder down to the U of MN for necropsy -- needed to make sure I wasn't dealing with Marek's since we have chicks coming in a few weeks.

Round worm larvae is the culprit.

So in case you ever need necropsy - the U charges less than $75 for up to 10 chickens; Round worm comes through feed or soil contaminated by raccoon or skunk droppings. They recommnended I toss the remaining starter feed since I don't know how it was stored and hope for the best.

These chicks had no exposure to anything outside other than the few times we allowed them to go out in their playpen controlled environment. No skunks or raccoons that close to the house. Since all of this happened we've released the Kraken - aka Samson - our GP/K LGD mix. We lost 3 guineas in 2 days time the week before we put Gina down.

Doc said no preventative for round worm in chickens -- I know there are round worm wormers on the market for dogs and cats. Has anyone tried anything to prevent round worms in the birds? Can they eat garlic? Reckon that might be useful?

Thanks so much for ya'lls input while this craziness was going on. The other 5 birds are doing fine. Got one little rooster for sure -- he's starting to crow. Sounds adorable when he does!!!

Hey Ralphie -- I'm attaching a link to video yesterday of Ole and Lena.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206249002057001

cute..luv videos...