NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi - go to walmart.. They have thermometer / hygrometers. The brand is accurite, they're digital. It's about 2" x 3" fits in my brinsea, laying on its side. You might get different temp readings between the brinsea thermometer & the accurite one. I go by the brinsea thermometer.

As far as water. I bought a mixed bag of thin, thin sponges, but they were the size of a sheet of paper. I cut them in strips about 1.5" - 2" wide and long enough so that they curl into the bottom of the water well and comeback up to lay on the floor of the bator under the hatching tray. You have to play around with the amount of water in the well with the sponge and how many sponges you need to maintain the humidity you want. Then I take a piece of aquarium airline, cut one end at an angle and slide it thru the air vent on top down thru a hole in the egg tray right into the water channel. When the humidity gets low I use a needless syringe to injet water down the line into the channel. Add small amounts at a time and wait about a half hour to recheck humidity, before adding more water.

Don't give up................. it takes practice and patience to figure out how to get the best hatch rate from our bators. I've had some awesome hatches and some really crappy ones, It will come.

I have that Acurite therm/hygrometer and it barely fits in my little Brinsea Mini - is that the one you are referring to? I know there is a Brinsea Octogon too that seems to be a little larger. If I keep that acurite one in there I'm now taking up the space of 1-2 eggs I could have in there. As far as the water goes I kept the well in the middle filled half and then filled it on both sides for the last 3 days like people had recommended. I'll have to see if I can find these thin sponges you are referring to. I don't have a "hatching tray" in this incubator like I do in the LG. so I could see those working in that incu but not seeing how they would fit in my Brinsea? This is the one I have

http://www.amazon.com/Brinsea-Mini-...=1391174020&sr=8-1&keywords=brinsea+incubator

 

[marquisella]

Ok a few things.

First airing dirty laundry but, I have a drinking problem and that's part of not having money to fix stuff. I've finally admitted it and going to stop one way or another. Yesterday was b-day and drink a lot last night at my comp. Today I don't know if I even woke up with the kids or not. I've never done that and its my wake up call. I've laid around while they get ready and that hung over but never not knowing anything or wakeing up at all. I figure I've been spending about 25-50 a week on beer. I feel like **** for not knowing if they was even ok getting on bus or anything. I've dumped what i have left out this morning. I've known I have a problem but haven't wanted to admit it. I felt that I handled everything ok. I didn't miss work or drink and drive I drank at home and kept to cheap beer to save. Sorry for bringing this up just ya'll are probably closest thing to friends I have any more. I don't go out and see people the people I work with is just work nothing out side work and I don't talk to them much at all if I don't have to. Guess first step is admitting you have a problem not to just your self but others.

Ok now that that's off my chest....

Wood burning stoves is there better ones or anything I should look for in one? Should I get one for basement,1st floor, and 2nd floor? We have thought of them before but no trees to cut down so would have to pay for wood. I think I've seen it like 45 a cord but have no idea how bid a cord is besides my telephone cord lol. Also would wood pallets be ok to burn? Not the red or blue but the straight wood ones? I know wouldn't burn long but if I can get for free and they are ok to burn I might be able to do that also.

I've been slowly learning how to fix stuff myself around the house problem is I like to put stuff off and off and off..... Hoping to do a 180 and start doing more and less time at computer. As of right now the problem is money it's like 300 in parts to fix my boiler atm. I've priced wood stoves and looked like 175 I think it was for one not to mention the pipe.

As for the chicken costs we aint buying any more really. I know it's put us in the hole a lot but slowly making money back on it. I need to get it out there that I will hatch chicks cause I don't see it out this way very much. I fired the bator up again cause someone wants 20 chicks easy 45 dollars next month. Plus any extra I manage to hatch and sell. Don't get me wrong I don't think it will ever pay for all the cost of what I have put into it so far or the upkeep but I think I can get close to the upkeep costs if I do it right.

Maybe you should look at your chickens in a different way....don't see them as an income, cause we all know how that goes, but how about if you raised your chickens for your food? If nothing else, and it came out even as far as cost, you would know your food was healthy. You can learn to process them yourself. Its not rocket science and actually I didn't mind doing it at all.
Don't jump in with 100 meat chicks, start slow, with 25. You can keep your hens that are good layers, or replace your slackers with prolific layers. At least you will still have chickens and justify their upkeep because its helping with the food bill. As far as selling day old chicks, I don't think anyone can make money doing that. Especially the inconsistancy of hatching rates, but I wish you good luck.

 

[marquisella]

It runs on both sides of my family I think. I know I had an uncle who had diabetes drank until he died from it lost fingers and toes. Sorry to hear about your daughter stony. I worry about that with my girl all the time her heart condition makes me worry a lot.

How about this weather I hope the pipes unfreeze I don't know about the one from well to house will or not but heres hoping. Also no wind today so house got up over 65F!!!

I think we will get a pellet/corn stove come taxes I just have to figure out what all I have to do to install it and have it legal. I think we have to take the stack all the way to top of house so 2 stories will cost a lot for pipe i think.

I have a pellet stove. The pipe just comes out the side of the house and doesn't have to be tall like a normal wood stove. I think mine is only about 4 feet. If there is a window within a certain distance, then it has to end above the window, but not up to the roofline like a woodstove. Anyways, its not that cheap, you have to buy the wood pellets. and as I recall, since we only bought the pellets, corn can't be more than 1/3 of the pellets, you can't burn just corn. and corn is more expensive than the pellets now.

 

[Lynzi777]

Maybe you should look at your chickens in a different way....don't see them as an income, cause we all know how that goes, but how about if you raised your chickens for your food? If nothing else, and it came out even as far as cost, you would know your food was healthy. You can learn to process them yourself. Its not rocket science and actually I didn't mind doing it at all.
Don't jump in with 100 meat chicks, start slow, with 25. You can keep your hens that are good layers, or replace your slackers with prolific layers. At least you will still have chickens and justify their upkeep because its helping with the food bill. As far as selling day old chicks, I don't think anyone can make money doing that. Especially the inconsistancy of hatching rates, but I wish you good luck.

I agree...especially with the amount of chickens you can keep because of the amount of space you have. Think of the money you'll save on food if you had a few chickens to feed your family each week. One of the reasons I'm such a huge fan of chicken is because there are just so many different ways to prepare it. If you're having really successful hatches and can sell all the chicks great. but are you getting money back, enough to put back into feed? Probably not. Do you sell any of the eggs your chickens lay?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Spoke too soon. Off to work as the other tech has the stomach bug.

Jlaw--I concur. Use the excess chickens to fill your freezer, sell excess eggs to fellow workers, etc and get prepaid orders for chicks before hatching. I only hatch what has been ordered and paid for so I am not out of money for feed, etc. My extra eggs are sold to fellow workers and others who buy a lot from me and are willing to wait during these winter months for their eggs. Non laying hens were processed and either frozen or canned, along with extra roos and mean roos. (Mean roos taste the best!) My chickens support themselves with my egg sales when they are at full production. Thats all I look for. Strive to sell enough eggs to cover your feed costs and you will be doing well. It takes time but its worth it.

Its friday so the crazies and needy will be in today. Later all.

 

[why do birds]

Metella, doing stone mason work can be tricky. There were some cement workers who let me go on their crews a few times to learn. Some things you don't really see on the videos are the grading and leveling of the foundation, and the cleanup. It really helps to have a hose ready when doing these types of jobs. I hope your masonry work turns out good, it can be gorgeous when done correctly!

JLaw, we knew people who tried the pellet stove. They didn't like the smell of the pellets, this was years ago so they may smell different now, and when the pellet cost started to rise, they decided to scrap the whole pellet stove idea. We've heard of people with outdoor woodburning stoves. They do a good job, but these may be people who have ready access to wood to burn.

We don't drink alcohol, although we do use wine for cooking, fondue or chicken marsala, on occasion. We find drinks that we like and have them available. V8 makes a pina colada and we add lime juice with ice, very good. We make Shirley temples and have NA beer O'Doules, in the house on occasion. When people gift us alcohol, we regift it. It's nice that you are trying for a better lifestyle! There are a lot of people who do not drink alcohol! We welcome you!

Losing a child is terrible. We hit the 5 year mark for his son recently. Didn't even bother to get a Christmas tree this past year. It's been 5 years of torture for him, starts in October and goes through December. Having the hatching eggs this year, in December, seemed to help a little bit. The chickens are a big positive in our lives right now. We moved them to the kitchen so they can watch TV from their area with us.

Welcome Bronx chicken lover! I lived in Queens for a while, enjoyed the hustle and bustle. Best of luck on the quail! There are a lot of people in NY keeping chickens in the city. Some in Utica even have live goats in their apartments, often for food. There are live animal markets in NYC area. If no one knows you have chickens or quail, no one should make a fuss. Now I'm getting hungry for NYC Chinese food, or one of those bagels over in Far Rockaway.

 

[huntin fool]

Ok a few things.

First airing dirty laundry but, I have a drinking problem and that's part of not having money to fix stuff. I've finally admitted it and going to stop one way or another. Yesterday was b-day and drink a lot last night at my comp. Today I don't know if I even woke up with the kids or not. I've never done that and its my wake up call. I've laid around while they get ready and that hung over but never not knowing anything or wakeing up at all. I figure I've been spending about 25-50 a week on beer.  I feel like **** for not knowing if they was even ok getting on bus or anything. I've dumped what i have left out this morning. I've known I have a problem but haven't wanted to admit it. I felt that I handled everything ok. I didn't miss work or drink and drive I drank at home and kept to cheap beer to save.  Sorry for bringing this up just ya'll are probably closest thing to friends I have any more. I don't go out and see people the people I work with is just work nothing out side work and I don't talk to them much at all if I don't have to. Guess first step is admitting you have a problem not to just your self but others.

Ok now that that's off my chest....

Wood burning stoves is there better ones or anything I should look for in one? Should I get one for basement,1st floor, and 2nd floor? We have thought of them before but no trees to cut down so would have to pay for wood. I think I've seen it like 45 a cord but have no idea how bid a cord is besides my telephone cord lol.  Also would wood pallets be ok to burn? Not the red or blue but the straight wood ones? I know wouldn't burn long but if I can get for free and they are ok to burn I might be able to do that also.

I've been slowly learning how to fix stuff myself around the house problem is I like to put stuff off and off and off..... Hoping to do a 180 and start doing more and less time at computer. As of right now the problem is money it's like 300 in parts to fix my boiler atm. I've priced wood stoves and looked like 175 I think it was for one not to mention the pipe.

As for the chicken costs we aint buying any more really. I know it's put us in the hole a lot but slowly making money back on it. I need to get it out there that I will hatch chicks cause I don't see it out this way very much. I fired the bator up again cause someone wants 20 chicks easy 45 dollars next month. Plus any extra I manage to hatch and sell. Don't get me wrong I don't think it will ever pay for all the cost of what I have put into it so far or the upkeep but I think I can get close to the upkeep costs if I do it right.

Alcoholism sucks, but you can beat it. Coming from a family of alcoholics, I have been dealing with it for over 30 years. You will have a very hard time quitting if you drink on weekends or on special occasions. Quitting completely is the best way. No exceptions! As far as your hear goes , home depot sells one of the best Woodstock around, the englander nc30, priced around $900, sometimes marked down in spring as low as 649, search the net gets great reviews. This is a non-cat stove so you could burn wood which isnt perfectly seasoned (pallets, CL wood) etc. Hearth.com is the best site for wood,pellet stove reviews and info. Great forums. Good luck, one day at a time

 

[huntin fool]

Dont forget, pellet stoves need electric, fuel cost fluctuates and pellet supplies run out, wood is the best way to survive in a real survival situation, you can burn anything in an emergency. Combo stoves are great but are thousands of dollars.stony is right, clean your chimney and stove yourself. CL has free wood all the time if you keep looking

 

[huntin fool]

I get pallets all year long, i use them to store my firewood off the ground. I also split lots of kindling from pallets . Most agree wood should be seasoned at least 2 yrs. Most firewood sold on CL is not seasoned, even when advertised that way. Just do enough research before you spend all that dough, so you dont make a bad thing worse. I heat my house with a 35yr old .vermont castings resolute that i foumd on CL for $400, oil furnace for backup. The worst sound in winter is that furnace kicking on... time to reload stove

 

[Lynzi777]

Finally some "warmer" weather! I've been outside almost all morning. The woman who owns the horse across the street stopped by earlier and while she was here I asked her if I could purchase a bale of hay from her, she called the guy down the road who actually owns the barn across the street from her and has all the hay and he brought me a bale 20 minutes later. What's the difference between 1st cutting and 2nd cutting hay? I only get this stuff to place in the cages of my rabbits, use a little for the nestboxes in the coop so this bale will literally last me year. But this bale compared to last two I've had is so much nicer. It's more green and fluffy. Reminds me of easter basket grass. LOL I'll be getting it from them from now on, I really like it much better.

Then I was watching the Orps for a few minutes since they ventured out of the coop today. They were pecking around at the grass since shoveled for them last week. Gru managed to find a blueberry but saw Stella come over to see what he had found and he immediately dropped it in front of her. He's such a good boy. I love all his sounds he makes when he's out with her too. I really scored big with that roo! Just sux that his comb has such bad frostbite and is now almost completely black.

I'm assuming a chicken doesn't "grow" a new comb when something like that happens? Poor thing. I'm dreading what it's going to look like come Spring.

On top of his comb, I have that EE chick still recouping upstairs. I don't think that foot is going to heal right. It looks pretty bad. What on earth am I going to do with a chicken with one foot if this other foot was damaged to frostbite? The other EE chick is a feisty one! I went up to the shed to feed and water that group today and she literally flew right out of the coop, tried grabbing a hold of my arm but slipped off my coat. She definitely knows who is in charge of the feeding and watering. I need to get her out of the silkie pen and in with the Orps soon. She's really starting to take charge of the silkie coop and I don't really like that. She fights for 1st in line with everything. The poor silkies are trying to get water and she's hogging it by perching on the side of the dish - which most of the time then knocks it over!

I don't know why she's so insistent on perching on something so small. She just needs to get a little bigger before she can move in with the Orps. I want to be able to move the two EEs at the same time but I need that foot of the other one to get better.