Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

Happy reading and welcome back! I don't want to spoil the surprise, but there is some good news in there!

 

[Wrightsx4]

Haha- I just got caught up on this thread! The "chicken tunnel" - I made one of those, about 5ft long and gave it a floor by attaching the wires to a steel grate I found lying around (DH will be looking for it someday - I have no idea what it was for!). Enclosed the ends with netting, and placed it up on blocks to use as my broody breaker pen. It worked great. It wasn't predator proof so I kept it inside the coop though. Now that it's vacant I find it to be a perfect place to put Salomon for a couple hours in the morning when he tends to misbehave. I'd have to cover the metal floor I assume if I needed it in winter.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hi Pam!

Nice idea about the broody breaker. We are coming into spring and I think this is something I may have to consider. Although....that could be a good excuse to let one of the girls be a mum to some Coronation Sussex!

Will still need some method anyway, I don't like the idea of letting a girl waste away for weeks for no result.

 

[NovaAman]

Well Ben, I have suckfest worthy news. I opened the eggs this morning. Two were quits from before lockdown. The other two had well formed chicks, the inner membrane was not pipped, not dried out either. But the chicks were also dead. There was a lot off fluid in the inner membrane. I do not see how this could have happened by float testing them last night with as quick as they were in and out of the water.

Anyway... I have one lone marans baby. I can get day olds on Monday from townline. Will be hatchery RIR...

 

[Wrightsx4]

Hi Pam!

Nice idea about the broody breaker. We are coming into spring and I think this is something I may have to consider. Although....that could be a good excuse to let one of the girls be a mum to some Coronation Sussex!

Will still need some method anyway, I don't like the idea of letting a girl waste away for weeks for no result.

It worked great for my hen - 2 days and she'd had enough, rejoined the flock. She seemed like she was going to be quite persistent too. I don't know, if I could get some coronation Sussex like those I'd be tempted too. My last broody Australorp was an excellent mama.

Nova, that's terrible news! Was your humidity too high at lock down possibly?

 

[NovaAman]

No... infact I ended up having a drop in humidity over night the first day of lock down. Got the humidity back up to 68-70 the rest of the time. But to have fluid like that in the sac.. I don't know. I am wondering if there was a bacteria or something... I don't know...

 

[Bens-Hens]

Sorry to hear about that Nova, little Maran's chick will be a special one until you can find it a buddy.

I am going to do a float test and see what I can make of that and how much water transfer I can make happen (when I get a minute)

I did mention on FB about the different feed's between layer birds and breeding birds. The issue being chicks that make it to full development and either die before pipping, or pip but seem to run out of steam before making it out.

This link has some good info and how to fuel your chicks best for hatching.
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/17469/pnw477.pdf

Not sure if it applies to you, but I found it interesting.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hey Ben, thought I'd brighten up your day with some coro pics.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Now I want a broody! Might have to settle for an incubator if I don't get one.

Nice taunt, full points granted Lisa!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hi team,

I just wanted to dump some info here. I was chatting in another thread about power consumption in incubators. I decided to crunch a few numbers (and had to guess a couple) and thought some may find it interesting. The conversation was asking about the difference between an RCOM 50 and Sportsman unit, but, anyone can work out their own incubators providing you have the wattage.

OK...I got my nerd on and did a rough calculation of the two models.

I did not take every factor into account but this should work as a guide. I had to take a couple of estimates, but like I said, a guide. I will include my working out, but look for the bold figure that shows costs per hatch per egg.

(BTW, This formula can be used for any appliance and it's cost to run)

Watts x time run x days run divided by 1000 = kWh, then multiply kWh by how much the power company charges you per unit. In addition to this, I used a refrigerator estimate of 1/3 actual run time, once both incubators are up and running they will cycle on and off to maintain temp.

1502 Sportsman Capacity, 325watts, 288 chicken eggs

325 watts x 24 hours x 21 days div 1000 = 163.8 kWh x $0.22AU p/kWh (our current local price)

$36.03 divide by 3 (for cycle of heater)

$12.01 per hatch to run the 'bator HOWEVER, this is for 288 eggs, so if at capacity each egg works out to be;
$0.04, yep 4 cents an egg if full and running full term.

RCOM 50, 120 watts, 48 chicken eggs

120 watts x 24 hours x 21 days div 1000 = 60.48 kWh x $0.22AU p/kWh (our current local price)

$13.30 divide by 3 (for cycle of heater)

$4.40 per hatch to run the 'bator HOWEVER, this is for 48 eggs, so if at capacity each egg works out to be;
$0.09, 9 cents an egg if full and running full term.

Although may seem small, it's twice as efficient to run a bigger unit.....heaps good reason to have more chicks hahahaha

Also shows that it really is best to run these things at capacity to get your moneys worth!