Our First Broody and Incubator Hatch: a Diary

[igorsMistress]

@Diannastarr

Thanks for the tips! I've seen Ruby out to eat. There's food in the coop, but she goes out to be with the rest of flock in the big yard.

I think we have a solution to the heat issue, testing over the next few days to see how it works.

 

[Nats Chickens]

So exciting!!!!

 

[igorsMistress]

We recently attached shade cloth to the outside back wall of our coop. The back wall of the nest boxes are about 4 inches from the inside of that wall with air space between them. When I went out at 1600 to check on Ruby she wasn't panting or in any distress.

After work she was having watermelon, food and water with the rest of the girls. I went in the coop and checked...her nest box was nice and comfortable and I could feel some air movement from the breeze outside, especially near the top of the box where the vents are.

To help with hot days we ran electricity out there and added a fan. I really have no way to put in an a/c or swamp cooler so this is our best option.

We put the fan in last night and are leaving it in the coop but off so everyone can get used to it before it runs.

I used to have to look at color and body shape to tell Ruby from Scarlett the Pigeon Killer. Lately she's been clucking at me and showing me all the goodies she's finding. She's adorable

 

[BlueBaby]

That shade cloth really helps to cut out some of the sun for coolness, plus it still let's some air pass through!

 

[aart]

We recently attached shade cloth to the outside back wall of our coop. The back wall of the nest boxes are about 4 inches from the inside of that wall with air space between them.

Brilliant!
What geographical direction does this wall face?

 

[igorsMistress]

Brilliant!
What geographical direction does this wall face?

The back of our coop faces North and gets sun in the afternoon. There's a short wrought iron fence about a foot behind it. We attached the shade cloth at the top of the coop wall just below the vent and draped out over the fence and attached. It creates a tunnel with good air flow and that wall is always shaded now.

 

[aart]

The back of our coop faces North and gets sun in the afternoon.

Probably not for long tho, huh?

 

[igorsMistress]

Probably not for long tho, huh?

From about 2 PM until almost sundown, 5 hours or so in the warmest part of the day in summer.

 

[aart]

From about 2 PM until almost sundown, 5 hours or so in the warmest part of the day in summer.

Yeah, hottest part of day for sure.
Maybe it's the difference in latitude, but I don't think the sun ever directly hits the north side of my coop...but it is facing dead due north. I do have some pretty tall trees about a 100-150' due west, so maybe it's blocked. Sorry, just tenaciously pondering the details. Will have to watch here the next clear day.

 

[PouleChick]

Very eggciting and look forward to following along however I'm super confused as I had an alert saying that you'd quoted me in this thread (and my pics aren't working on another thread - I'm thinking there are some gremlins in the system today!).
I think it is an awesome idea having an incubator in place - I saved an egg mama had trod on and crushed by borrowing my neighbours in preparation.
Good luck with the heat - we (happily) arent' getting those temps (yet?) this summer and I'm happy my 3 broodys are all done!