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

[WVduckchick]

Nothing to be impressed about, I got a quote for over $20k for cabinets and said f- that, I can do it myself.  So I bought some books, turned some QS oak into firewood while practicing, and got to work.  

I did that also and thought "I'm in the wrong business!" Lol. Would love to see some pics. Seems like you posted some, but I didn't realize you made them! We made our countertop at our camp from rough cedar, and poured that epoxy tabletop coat on it, and its beautiful!

I picked up my Brower brooder and GQF incubator.  I'll be tearing into them to fix them once I have cleaned out all the rodent pee and pellets.  The GQF smells like a 1960s metal shelf fridge stored in a damp basement and lived in by rats.  Not nice at all.  But on the good side, it looks like the issue may be just the heating element wire.  It even has the GQF electronic thermostat and a safety wafer.  I think it's a 1202, the tag is obliterated.  It's harvest gold and has three turner trays and a hatcher tray.  I don't think I can hatch turkeys in that tray, there is no headroom!  And I need to find out what's up with the turner.

I am amazed by how tiny the incubator is compared to my apartment-fridge sized homebuilt.

The brooder is old but nice, the microswitch is jammed and the wafer is broken, so that will be my first fix.

Anxious to see what you do with it!

 

[ohiojems]

Nothing to be impressed about, I got a quote for over $20k for cabinets and said f- that, I can do it myself.  So I bought some books, turned some QS oak into firewood while practicing, and got to work.  

Pictures please!!!

 

[RubyNala97]

Ok so just a hole into the air cell? *That means I don't touch the internal membrane, right?* Does it matter where into the air cell the whole is made? And how small? Like a pip hole size?

Also, this may seem like a dumb question, but I see the outer membrane, directly under the shell (where the pip is) but I don't see the inner membrane. I see the chicks feathers (peachicks are fully feathered). Is that because the chick broke through the inner membrane there? And if it did, and I don't see any blood, could there still be veining in other parts of the inner membrane?

 

[WalnutHill]

Ok so just a hole into the air cell? *That means I don't touch the internal membrane, right?* Does it matter where into the air cell the whole is made? And how small? Like a pip hole size?

Yes, a small hole...not even 1/4"...right at the top of the fat end. At this point, you don't need to touch the membrane unless you are concerned about humidity and want to moisturize it. Just be sure to remove the shell chip from the hole so it doesn't fall in. Eggs are made to be broken out of, not into.

 

[sideWing]

No, the kid just wanted the breeders. I was also still holding out hope that I could sell them when I could sex them, but they aren't even selling at that. I have seen the chicks that some of the guys that work for me buy at auction, and I wouldn't want to sell there either. It's just a shame that such beautiful birds won't sell. My silkie sales have even slowed down, and those usually sell as soon as the ad hits. I know it's later in the season, but I still have people calling me asking when I will have more layers available. This year was an experiment for me. It was my first year incubating and selling, and I wanted to see what worked and what didn't. What I have learned is:
1. Chicks sell before Easter
2. Pullets are always in demand (layers)
3. There is no market for ornamentals here
4. SQ doesn't sell for any more than barnyard in my area
5. Sell excess roosters at group prices and you will get meat bird customers

Looks like next year the focus will be on the marans, cuckoo and BC, and I expect the Ameraucanas to be huge

Great breeding/selling advice SC. We have 20 chickens strictly for laying and that will net my boys $40 in profit a month IF all goes well. I realized this year (too late) that I could have raised 4x the chickens I did and easily sold them for enough to pay for 2 years worth of feed. All I needed to do is get them to 8 to 14 weeks. I saw so many "my dog killed our chicks and I don't want to start over" ads and I got calls too when I posted roosters.

I hope to raise and sell 100 Wyandotte and EE next year. If I hatch in Feb/March and sell in June I will pay for everything and make a profit. I just sold three 8 week old wyandotte pullets for $15 and I had 4 people waiting in line if the sale fell through. It only costs me $2 a month to feed them.

I think the price of eggs and people being more conscious of where there food comes from is fueling the back yard chicken scene.

You just did

Nothing to be impressed about, I got a quote for over $20k for cabinets and said f- that, I can do it myself. So I bought some books, turned some QS oak into firewood while practicing, and got to work.

I just think a 30 min documentary about you would be a great watch. You turned a tree a raw growing tree into a kitchen!

 

[WalnutHill]

Also, this may seem like a dumb question, but I see the outer membrane, directly under the shell (where the pip is) but I don't see the inner membrane. I see the chicks feathers (peachicks are fully feathered). Is that because the chick broke through the inner membrane there? And if it did, and I don't see any blood, could there still be veining in other parts of the inner membrane?

Yes, the chick had to break through the inner membrane to make an external pip. The membrane will have been pushed aside at that spot, but it is not an indication that the blood vessels are fully retracted. They start receding at the air cell and work their way down to the "umbilical" connection at the pointy end of the egg. When the yolk is absorbed, all the blood vessels will be as well. The challenge is that it is impossible to see when that has happened, so the poult/chick is the expert here. When it struggles and peeps loudly, it's ready. If it gets weaker sounding, it's time to move.

 

[sideWing]

I did that also and thought "I'm in the wrong business!" Lol. Would love to see some pics. Seems like you posted some, but I didn't realize you made them! We made our countertop at our camp from rough cedar, and poured that epoxy tabletop coat on it, and its beautiful!
Anxious to see what you do with it!

You too!? You folks amaze me.

 

[RubyNala97]

Yes, a small hole...not even 1/4"...right at the top of the fat end.  At this point, you don't need to touch the membrane unless you are concerned about humidity and want to moisturize it.  Just be sure to remove the shell chip from the hole so it doesn't fall in.  Eggs are made to be broken out of, not into.

Yes, the chick had to break through the inner membrane to make an external pip.  The membrane will have been pushed aside at that spot, but it is not an indication that the blood vessels are fully retracted.  They start receding at the air cell and work their way down to the "umbilical" connection at the pointy end of the egg.  When the yolk is absorbed, all the blood vessels will be as well.  The challenge is that it is impossible to see when that has happened, so the poult/chick is the expert here.  When it struggles and peeps loudly, it's ready.  If it gets weaker sounding, it's time to move.

Thank you!! My second egg just pipped in the right spot!! This is nerve-wrecking. I will make the hole. Thanks again for your help.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you!! My second egg just pipped in the right spot!! This is nerve-wrecking. I will make the hole. Thanks again for your help.

Didn't you explain to them when you went into lockdown where they were supposed to pip? lol

 

[rossfam06]

Please keep updating pics. Can't wait to see what color you end up with.

I will. I am excited to see how it turns out as well.

Enjoying your sand and sun! Baking on the beach...

Our beaches are better!!!!!