Texas

[TexasLisa]

Just make sure there aren't any light poles! Seriously, it is fun to learn to handle skids. Just start trying to skid the car when driving slowly. Once you get the feel of it and know how your car behaves, it won't be so scary anymore.

Hmmmm, methinks somebody is missing playing on the ice! Seriously you do NOT need to be doing that with your brace on. Patience, patience, patience...

Lisa

 

[bnjrob]

I was thinking about ordering this when I get my incometax. Anyone have any reviews for the either of these Hova Bators? LINK1, LINK2, I really like the digital settings for this one, another set. Thanks much! IF you know of any better incubators, please do tell!

I was also looking at this incubator. Any reviews?

I have the small 7 egg capacity Brinsea and the Genesis Hovabator 1588. The Brinsea has been my favorite by far except that it doesn't have enough egg capacity in it. I would like to have the larger models but cost is a factor and I'm making do with what I have. My biggest complaint with the Brinsea is price, but you do get what you pay for in most things and the Brinsea is pricey but I like it much better.

My complaint with the Genesis is that is has too many temp/humidity fluctuations compared to my Brinsea. We don't have central heat/air so our house is prone to temp swings and hot/cold areas and this affects the Gensis. It has not affected the Brinsea at all. But then the plastic of the Brinsea is a little more of a secure environment compared to essentially a Styrofoam ice chest outfitted with a heating element and a computer fan.

I am having a little bit better time this year because I have turned a "greenhouse shelf", the kind that is a set of shelves that has greenhouse material covering it that you zip open/shut, into a nursery ($20 at TSC). I put cardboard on the shelves and the incubators are on the shelves inside and so are not getting the brunt of drafts and hot/cold temps in the house. So I'm not seeing quite as big of temp/humidity fluctuations in the Genesis this year with this new setup.

The temp/humidity controller in my Genesis is also questionable as far as accuracy of readings. I've had to "get used" to how it heats and adjust things differently whereas with the Brinsea, I set that humidity and temp on the normally suggested numbers and have excellent results with it - without a lot of work and messing with the controls. I have put multiple thermom/hygrometers in the Genesis and none had the same results as what the incubator unit itself was reading. And you can't calibrate the Genesis controls.

My other complaint with the Genesis is having to pour water into a tray for humidity - this is messy, and time consuming and not very scientific. I did find an after market humidity pump controller for $80 and now use it. It has decreased the amount of time I deal with humidity issues although I do find it a pain in the butt that I haven't found a way to really affix the tubing so that it doesn't accidently slide out of the incubator or out of the moisture sponge when I move the incubator to check on things. But it beats having a tray of water in the bottom of the incubator.

I have heard recently that someone doesn't like the larger Brinseas for hatching because there isn't a lot of head room in there and they use their Brinsea 20/40 for incubating but then go to a different incubator like the Genesis to have room for actual hatching. The Genesis does have decent room for hatching, although sometimes it does get a little tight in there when the chicks are running around in there and interfering with unhatched eggs. So I do usually have to remove chicks to give more room to hatch the rest.

If I were limited on funds, I'd get the Genesis before I'd get any of the other similarly built/priced ones. Once you figure out the quirks of your individual machine and environment, it does work. And it was nice that I could go to TSC and buy one of their cheaper egg turners and it fit inside the Genesis, rather than buying the more expensive egg turner from GQF that they recommend for use in the Genesis.

But if money were not a factor and ease of use was a concern - I prefer the Brinsea.

I also have one of their EcoGlow warmers and love it to death. I know someone on here had some bad problems with Brinsea products and electrical issues - cords being unsafe or something - but I"ve had nothing but good luck with my Brinsea products.

 

[Brookshire11]

I think I will start some chicken and dumplings when I get home.

OMG that sounds amazing...
I'm just making a big vat of chicken fried rice. Lol.
Dumplings sound WAY better

 

[ShadowsFIAL]

I have the small 7 egg capacity Brinsea and the Genesis Hovabator 1588. The Brinsea has been my favorite by far except that it doesn't have enough egg capacity in it. I would like to have the larger models but cost is a factor and I'm making do with what I have. My biggest complaint with the Brinsea is price, but you do get what you pay for in most things and the Brinsea is pricey but I like it much better.

My complaint with the Genesis is that is has too many temp/humidity fluctuations compared to my Brinsea. We don't have central heat/air so our house is prone to temp swings and hot/cold areas and this affects the Gensis. It has not affected the Brinsea at all. But then the plastic of the Brinsea is a little more of a secure environment compared to essentially a Styrofoam ice chest outfitted with a heating element and a computer fan.

I am having a little bit better time this year because I have turned a "greenhouse shelf", the kind that is a set of shelves that has greenhouse material covering it that you zip open/shut, into a nursery ($20 at TSC). I put cardboard on the shelves and the incubators are on the shelves inside and so are not getting the brunt of drafts and hot/cold temps in the house. So I'm not seeing quite as big of temp/humidity fluctuations in the Genesis this year with this new setup.

The temp/humidity controller in my Genesis is also questionable as far as accuracy of readings. I've had to "get used" to how it heats and adjust things differently whereas with the Brinsea, I set that humidity and temp on the normally suggested numbers and have excellent results with it - without a lot of work and messing with the controls. I have put multiple thermom/hygrometers in the Genesis and none had the same results as what the incubator unit itself was reading. And you can't calibrate the Genesis controls.

My other complaint with the Genesis is having to pour water into a tray for humidity - this is messy, and time consuming and not very scientific. I did find an after market humidity pump controller for $80 and now use it. It has decreased the amount of time I deal with humidity issues although I do find it a pain in the butt that I haven't found a way to really affix the tubing so that it doesn't accidently slide out of the incubator or out of the moisture sponge when I move the incubator to check on things. But it beats having a tray of water in the bottom of the incubator.

I have heard recently that someone doesn't like the larger Brinseas for hatching because there isn't a lot of head room in there and they use their Brinsea 20/40 for incubating but then go to a different incubator like the Genesis to have room for actual hatching. The Genesis does have decent room for hatching, although sometimes it does get a little tight in there when the chicks are running around in there and interfering with unhatched eggs. So I do usually have to remove chicks to give more room to hatch the rest.

If I were limited on funds, I'd get the Genesis before I'd get any of the other similarly built/priced ones. Once you figure out the quirks of your individual machine and environment, it does work. And it was nice that I could go to TSC and buy one of their cheaper egg turners and it fit inside the Genesis, rather than buying the more expensive egg turner from GQF that they recommend for use in the Genesis.

But if money were not a factor and ease of use was a concern - I prefer the Brinsea.

I also have one of their EcoGlow warmers and love it to death. I know someone on here had some bad problems with Brinsea products and electrical issues - cords being unsafe or something - but I"ve had nothing but good luck with my Brinsea products.

I just might get the brinsea then. I heard you could quickly remove the chicks once hey were dry and fluffy to make more room, i think I might do that. Just put them into their brooder after. I might try to try and convince my husband to let me get an ecoglow warmer as well. If I get lucky and win at the casino on feb 2nd(my aunt is taking me for a wedding present) then I might get it sooner. =) I think I might get the small one though. The incubator only holds 24 eggs max, so I think I would be safe with that. I also have an old vet cage I am intent on turning into a brooder, and it would work perfectly in there instead of using a heat lamp! Thank you for the advice!

 

[RachaelS]

First, slow down.

Keep telling yourself: Do NOT brake, Do NOT turn the steering wheel.

Then, as soon if you feel that lightness in the steering that comes before you lose control, just take your foot off the gas and keep the steering wheel straight. Then slow down some more. If you have to brake, it has to be done delicately.

VERY good advice jajeanpierre! The issue with my car is it one of the first Honda Civic hybrids, it "re-charges" by applying the breaks, when you take your foot off the gas, only car that will actually slow down when trying to coast downhill

. So I have to keep my foot on the gas or the breaks will clamp on their own. I have learned how to do it very lightly so as not to accelerate but also not engage the breaks. Of course I have only used this method to keep from hydroplaning on water, never tried it on ice. I am the kind of person that knows they are not good at driving to begin with, so if there is ice, I GO NO WHERE!!! In TX at least, when I have gone skiing in NM, CO and UT I never had a problem driving in the snow/ice, but the snow makes all the difference and snow chains

 

[topdycke]

We are under winter storm watch even here in the Houston area. The folks who live in the NE will think we are serious wimps when we freak out about sleet and road conditions. Last yar there was one day of winter storm and icy roads and a billion wrecks all over - Texans CAN NOT DRIVE in winter just sayin

 

[Ms Jellybean]

We are under winter storm watch even here in the Houston area. The folks who live in the NE will think we are serious wimps when we freak out about sleet and road conditions. Last yar there was one day of winter storm and icy roads and a billion wrecks all over - Texans CAN NOT DRIVE in winter just sayin

Ice is ice no matter where it is. When roads get icy up north they have wrecks too. They just have better tools to deal with it than we do.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Mmmmmm, looks delicious! Let us know how it taste. I just put on a pot of beans. Plan on having that with cornbread. Dessert will be an old-fashion Oatmeal Cake (my grandmother's recipe) with coffee. I will be ready for the sleet/snow.

Stay safe and warm guys!

Lisa

It turned out really good. I put coconut with mine. Wish I had had peanuts.

 

[RachaelS]

Quote:
Yep! On the flip side, they close schools when it hits 100

Adaptation at it's best! I remember growing up and a school buss had a heater, but not an A/C, CRAZY, for the one day it got cold we had a heater, but for the other 100+ days, we were stinking hot (yes, stinking

).

 

[jockeyeba]

Ok so looking at an ad on craigslist for game chickens 4hens and 1 rooster for $75 and was wondering when the hens should start laying ad if this bird is a good one for my area gilmer tx and also if this is a good deal or not

I just sold an AG trio for $50.00 so that sounds like a good price You didn't say how old they are but our games start laying anywhere from 5 months up.