Simulated Natural Nest Incubation~Experiment #1 So it begins....

[Cowpoke]

Broody Hen envy!!!! Good Luck with your hatch!

 

[fisherlady]

Our trailer was bought used, I replaced all the wood sides and back gate on it 2 years ago, I designed the new sides so each can be removed independently depending on what is being done at the time. We sometimes use it over the road and I was sick of trying to tarp things all the time... and we use it for a ton of coal, so I decided to have a 'conastoga' type canvas top made for it. Sort of a combo conastoga and boat bimini top. The framework allows it to be collapsed and stored in a canvas sleeve when not needed. It allows anything stashed in it to remain dry either for storage or during transport.

I intend to make a 2nd 'tailgate' for it with a door big enough for the meaties and a long ramp with an easy slope for the mini butterballs to maneuver 'downstairs' for grass, food and water. The trailer is 7x14, so will provide lots of shade and dry area underneath for daytime comfort. I can pick the front end of it and hoist it up to allow the dirty hay or wood chips/bedding to dump out the back.







Over the past few years we have bought 3 or 4 of those 10x10 chain link dog kennels. I intend to use 2 of them to create a 20x20 moveable enclosure surrounding the trailer. Since my space is limited for permanent structures I planned this one to give us more flexibility with meaties without having to keep them in the regular coop area. This also allows them fresh grass each week and the manure can just be washed into the yard by the rain, so reduces the amount of clean up I need to do after them.

 

[Beekissed]

X2....I love a good broody that doesn't leave the nest. That's commitment! She's a beautiful bird.

 

[AmericanMom]

Broody Hen envy!!!! Good Luck with your hatch!

She is sitting on a staggered hatch...long story, unintended but I wont bore you with the details, 5 of the eggs are due on the 6th and the other 5 due on the 9th... I added the last 5 last Thursday so hoping she can get them to catch up a bit...

I have a couple pullets who have the broody wanna-be's but they keep getting up after a few hours, wont even bother hoping for them til next year...My BA went broody in June of last year and did awesome, I am hoping for a repeat performance from her this year... All in all I should be able to use the incubator only for emergency's by next year...I hope... I like the natural way of doing it, much less stress for me

 

[AmericanMom]

X2....I love a good broody that doesn't leave the nest. That's commitment! She's a beautiful bird.

Love Love LOVE her... I took her off the hands of a lady last year that was tired of her broodiness and this is her first attempt for me... will know this weekend if it all works out.. Promised my oldest Grandson he could spend the weekend with us so he could see the new babies.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Our trailer was bought used, I replaced all the wood sides and back gate on it 2 years ago, I designed the new sides so each can be removed independently depending on what is being done at the time. We sometimes use it over the road and I was sick of trying to tarp things all the time... and we use it for a ton of coal, so I decided to have a 'conastoga' type canvas top made for it. Sort of a combo conastoga and boat bimini top. The framework allows it to be collapsed and stored in a canvas sleeve when not needed. It allows anything stashed in it to remain dry either for storage or during transport.

I intend to make a 2nd 'tailgate' for it with a door big enough for the meaties and a long ramp with an easy slope for the mini butterballs to maneuver 'downstairs' for grass, food and water. The trailer is 7x14, so will provide lots of shade and dry area underneath for daytime comfort. I can pick the front end of it and hoist it up to allow the dirty hay or wood chips/bedding to dump out the back.







Over the past few years we have bought 3 or 4 of those 10x10 chain link dog kennels. I intend to use 2 of them to create a 20x20 moveable enclosure surrounding the trailer. Since my space is limited for permanent structures I planned this one to give us more flexibility with meaties without having to keep them in the regular coop area. This also allows them fresh grass each week and the manure can just be washed into the yard by the rain, so reduces the amount of clean up I need to do after them.

That is a really awesome trailer and cover! I love it! I could really use something like that!

 

[Beekissed]

That is a really awesome trailer and cover! I love it! I could really use something like that!

X2 !!! LOVE that trailer! I had an old wooden trailer someone gave me for free and that thing was the most versatile piece of equipment I ever owned~used it to move a hundred times, haul everything, shade for the animals, etc. Finally bent the axle while hauling a load of manure that was too heavy and it was never the same since. Finally sold it for $50.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Nope...it was still Day 4 and today was Day 5.  I had just misnumbered everything on the calendar in April.     Guys...I just cannot begin to tell you how excited I am and how much I'm praising God right now.  I couldn't help myself and candled all the eggs tonight..all but about 3-4 eggs are developing!!!   Those look like infertile eggs.  The rest have chicken parts in there, blood vessels and the air cells have enlarged just since the last time I looked~at just the rate they are supposed to!   No wonder I couldn't see anything I was supposed to be seeing...it simply wasn't there. 

Do you know what this means????  It means the method is working and it was most likely the egg viability in those other nests that prevented a good hatch rate.  The method works!!!!  Now, if I can just not mess anything up until they make it to hatch I'll be so very joyful!   e   If they make it to the end, I'll have about 2 doz. little mutt mix chicks runnin' around here. 

Hallelujah!!!! 

That's awesome. My dh worked on my box and we now have an awesome hatcher!

See.

 

[aussie pete]

for those that r interested - air cell growth - pencil marks r - day 7 ,day 14 - pic day 18

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

for those that r interested - air cell growth - pencil marks r - day 7 ,day 14 - pic day 18

That's a great and very helpful picture!