***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[sdlittleton]

@sdlittleton- not certain where in OK you are located. But, if you are anywhere near Lake Tenkiller, I have a 6 week old RIR that I'd be happy to give you, if you'd like to come by and pick it up.

That's very kind and I would take her but I'm outside the north okc area. Little too far for me to drive. I'm perplexed about her sudden disappearance.

 

[BetsyOK]

Wow, Coral! You've really had it lately. I think those of us who are prone to respiratory allergies do have a harder time once something gets started. I've learned that once the persistent cough sets in with the allergies I always end up with an upper respiratory infection that requires antibiotics and Prednisone. Sometimes two rounds. If we get on it soon enough, it only takes one round.

I try not to take any more allergy medication than I have to--having taken the 4 years of shots some years ago, etc., etc. I've ended up with Benedryl, which works better for me than anything, and I can wait until slight symptoms appear rather than taking it on a very regular basis as my husband does. I had asthma as a small child and have mild asthma now. I'm sure this all sounds familiar to you, and is probably similar to what you experience.

Anyway, glad you're better! This is one of the two seasons we really have to be vigilant.

 

[BetsyOK]

Sharkman Dan, yes you can use your incubator as a hatcher also. It would probably be better to take the turner out altogether at that point and replace it with the sort of paper egg cartons, with holes cut in the bottoms of the cups. It might work with the turner off, but the newly-hatched chicks can get their legs caught in the turner, even with it turned off. Or just put the eggs in on the hardware cloth. That's how eggs were hatched for many, many year before automatic turners came along. The egg cartons are helpful to keep rambunctious newly-hatched chicks from moving the other eggs around too much.

Many of us have incubated quite successfully for years with only one incubator to serve as both. The Hovabator with he electronic settings is the one I still use.

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thank you for your post : )

At the capon clinic you attended, you heard the beginning of the allergy problem that turned into a sinus infection that graduated and became pneumonia.  With already weakened lungs, my pneumonia was followed a month later with an annoying but less threatening upper respiratory infection.  Still battling allergies, and without warning, the allergies robbed me of my voice for over a week (laryngitis).  The stomach flu hit in the middle of the laryngitis, which confused my doctor as well as myself.  I endured the fever, aches, and the rest of the symptoms that yucky stuff brings, but the flu kept me from my classroom, which made me grumpy and sad.

I'm rarely sick, and this string of ailments made me sit down and look at my workload.  Something needs to change, so my husband and I are working on a solution.  We've set aside time once each week to talk about options for next year.  He's a smart guy, and I've had lots of good work experience, so I think between the two of us we can find a solution that will prevent me wearing myself out.  Thanks again for thinking of me : )

Coral,
I used to get a horrible case of laryngitis, every year, in November, out in SoCal. It would last for 6-8 weeks, and people would think I was horribly ill. But, I was fine, except for the glue like substance, that was building up on my vocal chords. Then, in July 2002, while sleeping on the floor of the hospital room my dad was dying in, I got it again. They suspected mold spore allergies.
Later that year, I replaced the old floor furnace in my home, with a central HVAC system, and it never came back. I never got tested, but it's a reasonable assumption, that it was something kicked up in the dust of my floor furnace, that was also in the carpet of the hospital room. Mold makes sense.
I sure hope it improves quickly, and The Good Lord sees fit, to no longer burden you with it's ravages.

 

[DBerryhill]

Question for the incubating folks.
I really want to get started incubating. Right now, I simply cannot afford much. I'm thinking of a Hovabator, with the automatic egg turner. Can it be used both as incubator and hatcher? Can I turn off the turner, and turn up the humidity, at day 18, to get it to do the whole job? I'm hoping that before I get to that point, I can afford a second unit, that can simply be a hatcher, but, at this point, I am done trying to guess, when things will improve for me financially. So, I want a unit, that can do dual duty as both incubator and hatcher.
Any ideas on a better price than Amazon?

I have a hovabator--- the genesis 1588 and added the turner. At day 18 I removed the turner. Added more water to the second part of the tray for more humidity and the chicks hatched in it. Great big window to watch "bator vision" with my daughter at hatching. Very plug and play--- just plug in and add water. I didn't have to adjust anything other than the water to control humidity. 15/18 eggs hatched, one was not fertile. It picks up and hokds temp quickly. I purchased mine from Amazon as you mentioned. I'm happy with it so far.

 

[Kassaundra]

We got the rabitat expansion finished enough to move most of the grow outs into it today. It still needs more work but stuff we can do while they are in it. They and the honorary rabbits Rudy and Bella are in heaven today w/ all the new ground and grass to explore. We did another refrigerator den, but have done some major tweeks to the first idea that I think will improve it. We had 5 older female growouts that I couldn't decide whether they had litters hidden or not so we left those in the old one they will get moved soon or ....................................


Coral, so sorry for your long multi sickness, glad you are on the mend though. Those paintings are awesome and what a cool date night. Have you been able to hatch any nakeds yet?

The missing chicken, I would bet money (if I were a betting person ) that the disappearing act at that age is a preditor, since there was no trace I would bet a flying preditor.

Sharkmandan, I don't have much experience w/ any incubators except the brinsea. The broodies are doing a good job for me this year, but I don't need to hatch on a level that most do.

I'm harvesting the asparagus now, right now just the first little bits, but I think it will take off like crazy this next week.

Anyone have any brilliant ways of preserving eggs? (eating eggs)

 

[mjgigax]

One of my Showgirl hens is sitting on eggs that should be hatching at the end of this week!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

We got the rabitat expansion finished enough to move most of the grow outs into it today. It still needs more work but stuff we can do while they are in it. They and the honorary rabbits Rudy and Bella are in heaven today w/ all the new ground and grass to explore. We did another refrigerator den, but have done some major tweeks to the first idea that I think will improve it. We had 5 older female growouts that I couldn't decide whether they had litters hidden or not so we left those in the old one they will get moved soon or ....................................




Anyone have any brilliant ways of preserving eggs? (eating eggs)

Very cool on the expansion. Share pictures when you have time!

On the eggs- I've looked into it a little. The most stable way seems to be opening and freezing them in ice cube trays then popping into freezer bags. They work better in recipes than to eat whole after defrosting. You can also open them and whisk them up and then dehydrate them, the blend them up and can them- but it is a time consuming process and they have a fairly short shelf life (6 months or so if I remember right?). I've heard also of coating with mineral oil or some other waxy substance and then storing cooly for long periods- up to 8-9 months.

A quick google search pulls up this. http://gorambling.com/go/food_and_d...nd_how_to_preserve_eggs_for_the_long_term.htm

I know I couldn't handle Century Eggs though!

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thanks for the replies. It seemed pretty straightforward, but, having never done it, I just didn't know, and was afraid to jump in, without getting some encouragement. I am getting so many eggs these days, it's crazy. And I still have breeds that simply aren't yet laying. But, I am splitting the hatch with two other local farmers, who have commercial incubator setups, and, it just seems to be better to hatch all of my own. That is, if I can get a customer base going.
My main goal right now, is to pare down to just certain specialty breeds, that seem to be in demand, or rare breeds that I can maybe show, some day.
I'm pretty certain, that my choices have narrowed to, Australorps, Marraduna Basques, Blue Andalusians, Cuckoo Marans?, Speckled Sussex, Gold Laced Wyandotte and because they are always in demand, pretty much everywhere you go, Rhode Island Red's.
I've had, I have, Delawares, New Hampshires, Dominickers, Barnevelders, black and red sex links, and Plymouth Rocks. All are great birds. But, there are other locals dealing in those breeds. I need to be the guy who has something different, if I want to get new business in here. I'm a little disappointed in my Cuckoo Marans' as their eggs are not as dark, as one would expect. So, I'm thinking of getting into a different breed, like a Wheaten Marans or a Welsummer, for those super dark eggs.

 

[Kassaundra]

Interesting, the sodium silicate idea sounds doable. I was wondering if a plastic food grade bucket would work since I don't have any "crocks"