my thieving otter eggs are in the incubator- need photos of setups please

[lindy]

ok, i did buy a trailer load of "sand" its ground rock, so can i just boil it in water or something to clean it then give it to them? i dont want to give them coccidia.
-not sure how to dry it back out though

I wouldn't worry about the wire as long as there aren't any sharp edges.

Sand isn't going to be large enough for grit. Construction sand will have some small pebbles in there that will work, but true sand is awfully fine

 

[Nabiki]

ok, i did buy a trailer load of "sand" its ground rock, so can i just boil it in water or something to clean it then give it to them? i dont want to give them coccidia.
-not sure how to dry it back out though

That should be fine. Unless it's mixed with poop, you shouldn't have to worry about coccidia. If you are worried, you can just spread it out in the sun. Sunlight has enough UV light to kill just about anything that could be in it.

 

[lindy]

That should be fine. Unless it's mixed with poop, you shouldn't have to worry about coccidia. If you are worried, you can just spread it out in the sun. Sunlight has enough UV light to kill just about anything that could be in it.

thanks, it doesnt get super hot but all give it a try.

 

[lindy]

so about 9 weeks was when i got the first egg. Can i do anything different to try to get them to lay a week earlier or is that still average?

 

[Nabiki]

so about 9 weeks was when i got the first egg. Can i do anything different to try to get them to lay a week earlier or is that still average?

How much light are they getting? The earliest I've had them lay is 5.5 weeks, the latest was about 16 weeks (late autumn hatch).

The best thing you can do is make sure they have 14-16 hours of light per day and are comfortable in their home.

 

[lindy]

I am not sure, i bought a solar light and just started leaving it on low at night the last week. Daylight hours are slowly getting less. i would say they have had at least 12 hours of light before supplemental. I am trying to find a solar one that would turn on for just a few hours after dusk.
im hoping when they move into the stacked cages they wont stop laying. since they are on sawdust right now.

 

[Nabiki]

I am not sure, i bought a solar light and just started leaving it on low at night the last week. Daylight hours are slowly getting less. i would say they have had at least 12 hours of light before supplemental. I am trying to find a solar one that would turn on for just a few hours after dusk.
im hoping when they move into the stacked cages they wont stop laying. since they are on sawdust right now.

If they're not getting enough light, they won't lay. That's the main reason the late autumn hatches usually don't start laying until nearly spring. The spring hatches usually start laying early since they get the summer length days.

 

[lindy]

update-
i have 4 girls. One is laying no shell eggs. Didnt realize until they were moved to the stack cages.
not sure what to do about it. I have been giving a 50/50 mix of turkey starter and layer. the layer doesnt have enough lysine/meth so thought mixing would be ideal. with oyster shell, but i think i need to make it smaller flakes.
any ideas on containers they dont knock over within a day for the oyster shell?

 

[Nabiki]

I have to break up the oyster shell I use. I have a stainless steel mortar and pestle that does a pretty good job.

You can just use a feeder to put the oyster shell in. I use small ceramic bowls intended for hamster/rat feed that seems to work, though.

 

[lindy]

update-
out of the two trio's that i have. one hen was beat up. found in the morning, no idea if it was the male or other female. but she is healing fast by herself.

I also was finally shipped my young hens. I have had them for a week. not sure if i need to wait 4 weeks before putting them with my quail or would 2 weeks work? one did die on arrival sadly even though it was only 48 hour shipping. but the other 6 are doing well. I plan to add one to each trio then setup another cage with the other four and an extra male.
has anyone tried the vinegar/water spray to mix together new birds and old birds?
I am hoping this will be enough of a foundation for my quail.

other good news! I have hatched out two small hatches. I only lost two chicks. One piped on the wrong side of the egg and the other one decided to somehow hop out of the brooder on day 2 and died of being cold . but the rest (5 almost 4 weeks and 6 almost 3 weeks)are doing great indoors in the spare room. I am going to take the heat plate out of the older chicks bin ,as they are fully feathered. I am so glad i am not having issues with these. No idea what was wrong with the first ones i had.

now i need to figure out how to make it not so stinky. They are terrible smelly with 1 day cleaning. and its freezing at night now so i cant leave the window open