She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[chicapee]

Even Brinsea recommends not using the cooling program, so that has to be enough...its in the manual, yes, but I called and asked a bunch of questions, and their support told me not to use it; "I wish it was not there", she said.

well like I said, I am not going to set it this time and record the results for my situation. Thank you for letting me know what brinsea said to you personally. It must have been a gimmick that they added. The reasoning behind it made sense to me.

 

[NTBugtraq]

The whole idea of the cool down period in the Brinsea is to simulate a hen getting off the eggs to go get food and whatnot. Laudable, and as the describe it it makes perfect sense. But consider this...mother nature insists that the brooder gets food and does what nature requires...wouldn't it be better if those requirements weren't there? So, Brinsea people will tell you, if you call and ask, "should I use the cooldown", then will say no. It does not achieve better hatches, ergo, there's no reason to do it.

 

[NTBugtraq]

well like I said, I am not going to set it this time and record the results for my situation. Thank you for letting me know what brinsea said to you personally. It must have been a gimmick that they added. The reasoning behind it made sense to me.

When I read that part I said to myself; "This is why a Brinsea is so awesome!!"...so you can imagine how surprised I was when they said; "Oh, ignore that"...lolz

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Lock down!

The nest boxes are about 2 feet above the floor, and there's not really any way to rig a ramp that wouldn't be too steep. When the chicks are fluffy/I actually see them, Frieda and the babies will be moved to the getting-to-know-you pen for a week or two before I leave the lid open to let the family start mixing with the flock. That will give me time to chick-proof a couple of spots in the run that are merely chicken-proof.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Hi everyone, just discovered this thread so thought I'd share my experience of incubating/hatching eggs. Last year i successfully incubated eggs for the first time in a make-shift incubator that cost me nothing. I used a old cupboard with a glass door, put a light inside, a digital thermometer, some containers of water and a shoe box with a towel and the eggs in it. I had no humidity gauge so no idea what the readings were. I adjusted the temperature by opening and closing the door. That was kind of a pain because i had to keep checking on it day and night to make sure the eggs didn't get cooked! But it was worth it Out of 10 eggs 1 was infertile and 2 quit early on, the 7 others all made it successfully to hatch. I was really worried they'd not make it after reading all the problems people have with incubating and getting the conditions just right. Maybe it was just luck, but i think i did well considering i didn't spend a penny and made the incubator from things i had already in the house. This year I've had a broody hen so let her do the work. The chicks have been hatching over the past few days, but now she's left the nest and is sitting with the chicks on the floor instead and I've had to adopt the last egg which i currently have in my bra! I've candled it and it's starting to break into the air cell now and i can hear it pecking inside. Fingers crossed now for the bra method! lol

That may be the funniest thing I have read all day. Awesome story and welcome to the thread. I guess you can be the green team.

hahaha

 

[FridayYet]

Lock down!



The nest boxes are about 2 feet above the floor, and there's not really any way to rig a ramp that wouldn't be too steep. When the chicks are fluffy/I actually see them, Frieda and the babies will be moved to the getting-to-know-you pen for a week or two before I leave the lid open to let the family start mixing with the flock. That will give me time to chick-proof a couple of spots in the run that are merely chicken-proof.

Did you put food and water in with her or will you let her out occasionally until you see chicks? I've never had a broody - hope the hatch goes well!

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Lock down! The nest boxes are about 2 feet above the floor, and there's not really any way to rig a ramp that wouldn't be too steep. When the chicks are fluffy/I actually see them, Frieda and the babies will be moved to the getting-to-know-you pen for a week or two before I leave the lid open to let the family start mixing with the flock. That will give me time to chick-proof a couple of spots in the run that are merely chicken-proof.

Did you put food and water in with her or will you let her out occasionally until you see chicks? I've never had a broody - hope the hatch goes well!

The last 2/3 days, broodies don't get up to eat and all that anyway

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Good news and bad news.

Good...I have 5 pips so far.
Bad...1 of my 7 week old hens was killed in the main coop an hour ago. I had been in that coop not 10 minutes earlier...

...and it was one of the few almost pure white ones I had...

...so I scooped all the others up and threw them back into the young flock...I will try again at 8 weeks. Die and learn I guess...

Congrats and condolences. Good luck with the rest of your hatch!

Yes and she has done it!! She has hatched off at least one chick

Day 21 today for her and I checked a little earlier, she fluffed up and out popped a little chick from under her!! So pleased for her that she has actually managed it. She's still on the nest so not sure on the other eggs as I don't want to disturb here too much. Will post some pics when she brings it/them off the nest. Can't believe I've got a polish that has actually managed the three weeks and something has hatched

Woo-hooo!

Quote: Welcome to the thread and the insanity.

Been working on another coop this weekend. Trying a porch...

Nice!

My funny story for the day... My dog's doggie door goes out of the house onto a screened-in porch. Then there is a small opening from the porch to the yard. The chickens have been out of their pens all day today, as I've been home all day. (They usually only get a few hours each evening). I went out to check on everyone and noticed chicken poop inside the screened-in porch! I believe I have some clever chickens! Lol

Haha, secret agent chickens.

or your dog is experimenting with a new taste sensation...mine clean my shoes when I come out of the run...they love the poop.

Ewwwww.. . . . yuck!

Lock down!



The nest boxes are about 2 feet above the floor, and there's not really any way to rig a ramp that wouldn't be too steep. When the chicks are fluffy/I actually see them, Frieda and the babies will be moved to the getting-to-know-you pen for a week or two before I leave the lid open to let the family start mixing with the flock. That will give me time to chick-proof a couple of spots in the run that are merely chicken-proof.

Woo-hoo! Go, Frieda!

Edited by Staff

 

[FridayYet]

The last 2/3 days, broodies don't get up to eat and all that anyway

Got it, thanks.

 

[FridayYet]

Been working on another coop this weekend. Trying a porch...

I like your new design. Too bad you are not closer, I'd like to have one like that for my breeders in the spring.