Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

Yes! That's what we do. We have the ladder/tiered roost- and it rests on a shelf (poop tray) and the whole tiered roost lifts up. It's about 2 feet off the ground. Under the shelf is a brooder area that I can remove the door from. Right now I have a broody hen in it so that she's left alone. I put the chicks in it early in the year so that they are separate- but everyone can see everyone so that the transition of joining them all together is smoother. All the poop falls from the roosts to the shelf below. The shelf has a tarp that goes over it. We take the tarp out and shake it. Used to do newspaper- what a nightmare!! 

Can you post photos?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Anyone have experience with a hovabator 1588? Going to purchase a second hand one soon, with autoturner.

I used the hovabator 1602n, which is a step down. It has a wafer instead of the preset temp. I think the 1588 has a fan as well. I didn't have any issues with it and the auto turner is awesome. I hatched 21/24 and that was with tweaking the wafer more than I felt I should have. Preset temp will be much nicer. If I start to hatch more frequently, I'll step away from the styro bator and get something different, but overall, it performed well for me.

 

[athalia17]

Thanks for the input Minnesotanice!! Makes me feel better! Going to purchase one soon.

Here's the pics of our coop.

Outside of coop.

Small feed and storage area in front with a door to the main coop.

Ok, I need to shake the tarp out. You can see how the roost is hinged and can lift up. It rests on a shelf. The walls are white because we stapled up tyvek (house wrap), and will tear it down and replace it as opposed to having to hose things off.

These are better views of the little run underneath the roost. It's made of two doors that can be removed so it's all open. This is where my broody hen is.

Ok, this was dumb... I used the poultry dust without gloves. Days later my one hand is all red and cracking. Sucks. Make sure you always where gloves if you have to use it.

 

[scandiafowl]

@athalia17

Thank you, it makes more sense now. I like your set up.

I have a renovation project in mind to separate Eddie and the Jersey gals from the rest of the flock.

 

[scandiafowl]

I used the hovabator 1602n, which is a step down. It has a wafer instead of the preset temp. I think the 1588 has a fan as well. I didn't have any issues with it and the auto turner is awesome. I hatched 21/24 and that was with tweaking the wafer more than I felt I should have. Preset temp will be much nicer. If I start to hatch more frequently, I'll step away from the styro bator and get something different, but overall, it performed well for me.

I bit the bullet and bought a Brinsea for 20 eggs with auto turner. Was so frustrated after the hatch failure!

 

[athalia17]

@scandia, I have the brinsea 20 advance with auto turn too. I love it but I need to hatch out more eggs at one time though. I found a deal on a hovabator 1588 with auto turn and some extras for $100. I've heard good things on them. I'd gladly get another brinsea... but can't bite the bullet on the cost. What were you using when you had the hatch failure? How did it fail? I was tempted by one called the incuview also. It's pretty neat looking and has had surprisingly good hatch rates.

Thanks about our set up. I like it too, but I'd change a few things of course! I wanted as little wood cracks and seams as possible to help reduce areas for mites to live. Hence the house wrap and plastic nesting boxes. I've never had an issue with them, so I'm happy about that.

Tapped the maple trees yesterday!! Spring is coming!!

 

[lalaland]

Thanks for the input Minnesotanice!! Makes me feel better! Going to purchase one soon.

Here's the pics of our coop.

Outside of coop.


Small feed and storage area in front with a door to the main coop.


Ok, I need to shake the tarp out. You can see how the roost is hinged and can lift up. It rests on a shelf. The walls are white because we stapled up tyvek (house wrap), and will tear it down and replace it as opposed to having to hose things off.



These are better views of the little run underneath the roost. It's made of two doors that can be removed so it's all open. This is where my broody hen is.

Ok, this was dumb... I used the poultry dust without gloves. Days later my one hand is all red and cracking. Sucks. Make sure you always where gloves if you have to use it.

that is a nice setup! I really like the little broody quarters.

Was that sevin or flower/poultry dust? And some of the poultry dust is more toxic that others. The diff is in the pyrethrium and the permithrin or something, I always have to look it up if I am not seeing the normal brand I use. Regardless, it is a good idea to use gloves, to wash your clothes afterwards and take a shower, and also to wear a mask or at the very very least, a bandana over your face. Also best to dust outside if you can manage that because less chance of you breathing it in. THe dust part is a disadvantage to the drop on the back of the neck. But I go for flower dust every time.

Funny, I jsut checked the girls this morning for mites/lice and they came up clean.

THe rooster, whose comb was so badly frostbitten, has the dead black part hanging off his comb. Bet it is gone all the way when I get back today. He had such a pretty comb too, before it all froze off.

way too much snow here, I got a little more than 3 inches.

enjoy the day!

 

[lalaland]

scandia, enjoy Cancun!

And was it minnesotanice who was posting beach pics? geesh you guys, have a little heart. ALthough, I wouldn't be able to resist if it were me, either

 

[lalaland]

grossest thing. Had to pop a buff orp into the hospital cage because she was acting abnormal. Went to get her feed and water, came back to find she was drinking out of the heated dog bowl which apparently had a little disgusting, brown, yucky water in it. If that doesn't kill her, nothing will. I had emptied out the little plastic tub that I use inside the water bowl and didn't know that there was some water at the bottom.

Enjoy the warm day!

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I bit the bullet and bought a Brinsea for 20 eggs with auto turner. Was so frustrated after the hatch failure!

The Brinsea's are nice. That's what I have my eye on, but I don't know if I'll hatch again this year. Maybe next year.

scandia, enjoy Cancun!

And was it minnesotanice who was posting beach pics? geesh you guys, have a little heart. ALthough, I wouldn't be able to resist if it were me, either

Lol, I wish it was me! I'm heading to Arizona Thursday, but no beaches there. Just dirt....and dirt....and a cactus or two....