New Member Sandbox

[Kevin565]

Hi guys, gotta go. I've been in and out severall minutes now. Hugs, and chat w/ ya tomarrow. I'll be on a lot, no school thr-mon. Back to work tuesday.

Night Marty!

 

[Marty1876]

I'm back!

 

[Kevin565]

 

[goose chick]

Hi Kevin yes I just joined yesterday not sure if I am doing this right but trying.lol I really need some help I ordered 5 chicks from Meyers that i will receive on the 16th. I am so nervous now though because I keep reading all kinds of stuff. I thought Buff Orpingtons were quit & now I read they are loud. I am totally freaking out. The Salmon Favorelles & the Buff Orpington were my definites & I was still going back and forth about the other 3 i have ordered. EE, Partridge Rock, Golden Buff (sex link). Any advice?? Thanks

 

[Kevin565]

Hi GooseChick!


Do you have the brooder set up? What are you using for a brooder? Are you using shavings for the brooder? Are you brooding indoors?

 

[goose chick]

I was gonna use a large container for the brooder, wood chips, & yes indoors. I also had decided on only three. I am so sad to say that my husband wants me to cancel our order & wait awhile until we have more time & money. We already have two many pets for me to go against him on this. He also was the one going to build the run for me & attach it to our barn. So I need him to be ready as well. I will let ya know if anything changes.

 

[mamas farm]

where can I see your incubator's ? The kids and I would love to try to make one too. $3.00 wow! we paid 100.00 for ours plus the egg turner .

 

[Marty1876]

where can I see your incubator's ? The kids and I would love to try to make one too. $3.00 wow! we paid 100.00 for ours plus the egg turner .

I made it for my kids, and told my friend Kevin how. Its super easy, but I don't have a pic. I've got directions posted in boys vs. girls, I'll go get them and come post them. The only thing is you have to be available to peek at it pretty often, as its rather low tech, and requires supervision. We loved turning our own eggs, and actually had good hatches out of it (from our own chickens).

 

[Marty1876]

Homemade incubator:
Needed: one styrofoam beverage cooler, or any square cooler/styrofoam box with a lid.
One sheet of 1/4" wire mesh just smaller than the inside of the lid
one accuarate thermometer
one basic lamp that only has the cord and light socket left
duct tape
25 watt bulb
a small square of glass or thick clear plastic for view window.
a few lids to mayo jars, or similar. Even a plate will work. (these hold water and support your mesh wire)
more tape (duct or masking)
a pencil to stab some holes

Take the cooler, and turn it upside down. the top is now the base. set water holder(s) in, and place wire on top. (I like to zig zag fold wire a bit - looks like an acordian- to hold eggs in low areas better.)

Now for the new top (formerly the ice holding section) take your light bulb holder and use it to mark a hole cut in top center of cooler. make the hole (knife works), stick in light bulb socket, then duct tape it and the cord to the top of cooler, so it won't fall in. The bulb should be able to be put in by reaching iinside now. You just look in and see a bulb from the inside. test that light works. proceed to decide where you want your view window, and carefully trim styrofoam to allow the window to be put in. (I leave a little lip to support it. Tape the edges.

Now, get a shot glass or something similar, and tape your thermometer so that the bulb falls about the middle of egg hieght. Put it into the incubaor, and put on the lid, and plug it in. Use pencil to make about 10 holes around the bottem, just below egg wire. (air must be able to get in here!) Now, make about 20 holes evenly spaces around top of incubaor, just below the "roof". I do 7 on long sides, and 3 on sort sides. Give inicubaor 12 hours to warm, then start putting tape over holes (as needed) to keep in warmth, or uncover to cool. Always leave 2 bottom wholes open, and 4 top ones for proper air flow.

You will have to adjust this daily. Remember to turn eggs about every 4-8 hours. This is a STILL AIR INCUBAOR/HATCHER. That means you want a temp of 101.5-102 at the height of center of eggs.

Thats it. I've used this when incubators broke down, and for hatching lots!! I often have mixed eggs in my big one, so I just take them out 3 days before lockdown, add lots of water for humidity (and a wet sponge at hatching time). You will need to keep an close eye on water in bottem. The light can be drying.

 

[johnorem]

Hello everyone, verily new here, questions: How does one get the little smiley face things?

Marty, your homemade incubator sounds great. Is eight hours the max interval for turning?

Thanks