NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

If the wind would just quit, I would not worry as much

The wind should die down by sunrise, so, hopefully, they will make it through the night

They are probably much warmer than you think.

Here's the number if you decided to try the straw. 699-4157 $4 a bale. He is in Cicero center.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Very true! I am always improving and updating and changing...just working on the coop has turned into quite a hobby 
It is a bit late in the season, but I was able to finish my homemade water heaters and they work great   

Homemade water heaters? Please elaborate.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

If you can get some straw or hay, it might help to spread a thick layer out around the tree.  This might give them better sight of where to land.  Kinda like the Skiers in the Olympics.  

I wasn't away that Guineas would fly up into trees like this.   It's one of the reasons I didn't get Muscovy ducks.  

We had 5 guineas a couple years ago & they drove us crazy. I clipped one wing on each bird but they still managed to get out of their pen. However they couldn't figure out how to get back in even when we herded them toward the opening. Loud is an understatement. The geese are loud, but it seems to have purpose when the geese speak. The guineas just make lots of noise. And they were mean to the chickens, chasing them and pulling beakfulls of feathers. We did process the guineas at the end of that summer and they were delicious. Not big heavy birds, but amazing tasting. Delicious. Almost made the pain in the neck worth it. Just sayin.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Hi, Welcome Watkins Glen! I don't have a extra incubator but...  Have you thought about building a cooler-bator? its not to expensive and will hold a couple dozen eggs with the right cooler like a 48 QT coleman. I'll be happy to help you if you are interested. 

Very interested in the cooler-bator. Found a couple threads on these, but wondering where I find a thermostat that will work. Is that something I can find at lowes or do I need to go to an electronics store. Also, is anyone engineering automatic turning racks for cooler-bators & how does that work. R u sure this will cost less than buying a bator?

Sounds like a project that could start cheap... Any info appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[Xovan]

Very interested in the cooler-bator. Found a couple threads on these, but wondering where I find a thermostat that will work. Is that something I can find at lowes or do I need to go to an electronics store. Also, is anyone engineering automatic turning racks for cooler-bators & how does that work. R u sure this will cost less than buying a bator?

Sounds like a project that could start cheap... Any info appreciated! Thanks!!

I built one last month and got 8of9 to hatch. I am at work now but could give a walk through of what we did when I get home if you would like.

 

[Gramma Chick]

So those are Geese ..they are still cute !
You can borrow my bator for a couple of chicks ...?
or ?

 

[JWEBB]

Very interested in the cooler-bator. Found a couple threads on these, but wondering where I find a thermostat that will work. Is that something I can find at lowes or do I need to go to an electronics store. Also, is anyone engineering automatic turning racks for cooler-bators & how does that work. R u sure this will cost less than buying a bator?

Sounds like a project that could start cheap... Any info appreciated! Thanks!!

this is the thermostat I use. https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=147 it is great if you follow the instructions to start up the incubator and get it set to your temp not hard at all. It holds steady and in a coolerbator you won't have fluctuations. They prob sell on ebay too but price is nice from the mfg here and they ship right away.

Here's the link to the coolerbator instructions. http://www.rushlanepoultry.com/cooler_incubators_page.htm

He has a video for the water heater thermostat one and also the GQF. wafer kind. If you are using the water heater thermostat make sure to see where he tells you to put the thermostat, near the light bulb. If your husband or you are a little handy it will take a couple hours or so to put together just get all the stuff together ahead of time. If you have a old computer you can take the fan out of save more money! don't cut the wire short just cut the connector off.

I have a Hovabator still air too with the same thermostat and I've been fighting it all day to hold a temp. Putting a fan in it tomorrow.

for turning rack ... I don't have but a regular egg rack but I prop up side of my cooler with a tissue box. It makes it at the right angle of 38 degrees. I do one long side for 8 hours... then flat for 8 hours... then the other long side for 8 hours. doing this vs. hand turning works well for me so far, so I'm not opening the box a million times I'm bad enough as it is ! Just make sure its a 38 degree angle a tissue box is pretty well that. You can check your angle with a carpenters thingy... I forget what its called.. looks like a halfmoon ruler. If you get a big enough cooler a turning rack will fit in there and they have a separate plug. The rushlane poultry also has ideas on turning racks and so does the link below to all the homemade ones.

It doesn't even have to be a cooler really. There is a thread here on the forum I'll see if I find the link.. they had a contest and people made all kinds of different incubators and there is the list of what they used, how they did it etc.
Here it is! https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-egg-incubator-designs-pictures

 

[JLaw]

For cooler bators just google home made incubator backyard chickens. It will give. You a bator page like the coop page.


Bah here you go.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-egg-incubator-designs-pictures

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. Minus 4 this morning. Almost froze off my fingers this morning delivering water and scratch to everyone. Of course they were all antzy to get out of the coops. The terrorist have this annoying habit lately of billing their food out of the feeder onto the floor and leaving it. They only had a little left in their feeder when I checked it this morning so they wont get any more for a while today. I will check later to see if they have dug around and cleaned it up. I am hearing eggs songs so hopefully it will be a good egg day today. This cold means I will be out hauling water lots and checking for eggs.

Time for a hot cup of lemon water.

 

[Coop de Cuse]

If you can get some straw or hay, it might help to spread a thick layer out around the tree. This might give them better sight of where to land. Kinda like the Skiers in the Olympics.

I wasn't away that Guineas would fly up into trees like this. It's one of the reasons I didn't get Muscovy ducks.

They are serious flyers! One was all the way across the road/field, past the parking lot. just happen to hear it. Came back though. And they can fly straight up and high speed. They are from Africa (not these, just the breed), so have to have to skills necessary to avoid the real predators!

They are probably much warmer than you think.

Here's the number if you decided to try the straw. 699-4157 $4 a bale. He is in Cicero center.

That was my first lure...hay all about on top of the snow. I think that worked for the one that decided to come back, but I think the others are just to scared to come down "cat in the tree syndrome" My mom has a farm out in Canjoharie, so I get all my hay from there, but the info is good to know in a pinch, thanks