Texas

[wtxgrl]

I have a question that belongs in 2 threads.
We live on the eastern edge of the Chihuahuahan Desert. So our climate is dramatically drier. That said, im looking for someone else that lives in such a dry area that has done the incubating. I wanted to hear what you set your humidity to and how successful you are? Please and thanks!

 

[RUNuts]

I have a question that belongs in 2 threads.
We live on the eastern edge of the Chihuahuahan Desert. So our climate is dramatically drier. That said, im looking for someone else that lives in such a dry area that has done the incubating. I wanted to hear what you set your humidity to and how successful you are? Please and thanks!

@007Sean - any input?

You could post on the Incubating and Hatching forum if you don't get a response here. The short answer is get some cheaper eggs and try it. Each person's climate and elevation will change and so will the source, quality and shipping of the eggs. Lots of variables go into this. I'm still a novice. Only been hatching for 2 years, so I might be wrong. What works for me doesn't work for others.

Allen will tell you to get a broody hen. Silkies are almost certain, but others will brood too.

Best wishes and happy hatching!

 

[AllenK RGV]

I have a question that belongs in 2 threads.
We live on the eastern edge of the Chihuahuahan Desert. So our climate is dramatically drier. That said, im looking for someone else that lives in such a dry area that has done the incubating. I wanted to hear what you set your humidity to and how successful you are? Please and thanks!

I have near the opposite problem. My incubator runs like 90+ on humidity at all times. The local hatching eggs I've used worked out fine. Or..... you could always get a few Silkie hens, my broody prisons are overrun right now. I'm averaging 1-2 Silkie eggs daily as they just keep going broody/break/broody/break and that is with 1 year old hens and I think I have 9. The4 2yo Sumatra are averaging 3 eggs/2 days, but one is brooding a clutch of 5. The OEGB feral just went broody last night.

Late edit about something different: Just ran 50' 24" chicken wire inside my growout pen and am sweating crazy. We are anticipating triple digits with unbearable coastal humidity.

 

[wtxgrl]

Im actually hoping to hatch a silkie! Lol. I was given some eggs that are going in the incubator as we speak. I had been reading everything i could and now that im on lockdown i am panicking something will go wrong. Wringing my hands!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Im actually hoping to hatch a silkie! Lol. I was given some eggs that are going in the incubator as we speak. I had been reading everything i could and now that im on lockdown i am panicking something will go wrong. Wringing my hands!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Im actually hoping to hatch a silkie! Lol. I was given some eggs that are going in the incubator as we speak. I had been reading everything i could and now that im on lockdown i am panicking something will go wrong. Wringing my hands!

My incubator just got fired up. One of the broody silkies got in with Broodzilla and now we have a fully formed but dead chick and 4 peeping eggs. Threw the broody silkie back into the grow out pen with the other 2 broody ones and the 5 Sumatra chicks. If broodzilla is still enjoying her sit on golf balls I'll take my bites and scratches and get those eggs traded for golf balls at chicken o'clock. She already got all new bedding(Broodzilla) and the dog air transport box sprayed, new bedding sprayed as well as her self treated.

Today I also have been using permethrin on all roosting materials and broody prisons and broody hens. It seems something brought little red mites in and they are bothering the chicken and us if we handle them. I'll top off the silkies with their treatments when they want to go back in to their pen for the night. I'll also treat all areas again in the morning before this stuff gets to 24 hours old on the 1:200 mix per label instructions. Or 1/2oz to 1 gallon not that I did the math.

So far so good it seems I haven't found a mite on myself for like 2 hours now.

 

[chickenholdthewaffles]

Hello fellow Texans!
I live 1hr west of Houston. I am fairly new to raising chickens. I've been doing this now for about 1 year and learning as I go! I was wondering which bedding is best for the coop run given the type of hot,humid sometimes rainy climate we have here. I am currently using bank sand, works great as long as we don't have persistent rain. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi! I live in Fort Worth and was concerned about the same thing because my coop is at the back of my property where it stays wet when there's rain. I just recently started raising chickens, but it seems that good drainage is key and I've got that down. This may seem like overkill, but I dug about 12 inches down and alternated 4 inch layers of pea gravel and sand with hardware cloth in between. The run drains quickly, stays dry and it's easy to clean. Hope this helps!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Well looks like my 5 straight run Sumatra went missing last night after dark and getting closed in to their grow out pen. No signs at all of foul play anywhere, however, I also have located an egress point they could have used to get out and not be trapped by the poultry netting inside. We will see what the next 24 hours brings before I give up hope on them. More holes to close offI'm thinking the next batch are going to wait until they are fat enough to not squeeze through a gap that barely fits a 2x4 if I need to go that route.

 

[RUNuts]

Well looks like my 5 straight run Sumatra went missing last night after dark and getting closed in to their grow out pen. No signs at all of foul play anywhere, however, I also have located an egress point they could have used to get out and not be trapped by the poultry netting inside. We will see what the next 24 hours brings before I give up hope on them. More holes to close offI'm thinking the next batch are going to wait until they are fat enough to not squeeze through a gap that barely fits a 2x4 if I need to go that route.

I hope they appear safe and sound. Soon.

I have used a totally enclosed quail coop for chicken chicks with success. Off the ground. Dry and rain resistant. The sideways rain finds a way in, but ventilation is important. Sealed tight (when I close the door, but that is another issue) against escapees.

Basically a box with wire around it and under a roof. May need to buy a couple more screws.

Go to the hardware store and ask for a shipping crate to convert. The grocery store has the watermelon pallet boxes that have been used successfully. I've used a lawn mower box, hot water heater box, and a large shipping box. Be warned, the little buggers can fly/hop/jump about 2 feet in 3 weeks. Lids are necessary.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I hope they appear safe and sound. Soon.

I have used a totally enclosed quail coop for chicken chicks with success. Off the ground. Dry and rain resistant. The sideways rain finds a way in, but ventilation is important. Sealed tight (when I close the door, but that is another issue) against escapees.

Basically a box with wire around it and under a roof. May need to buy a couple more screws.

Go to the hardware store and ask for a shipping crate to convert. The grocery store has the watermelon pallet boxes that have been used successfully. I've used a lawn mower box, hot water heater box, and a large shipping box. Be warned, the little buggers can fly/hop/jump about 2 feet in 3 weeks. Lids are necessary.

Same here if not ideal seems sold out atm so I will get to experience Cackles livestock a straight run of 10 or so should set me for life. Plan will be to plug/caulk/nail shut every hole nook and cranny before they go to the grow out in that same area as before. Additionally I'll stick a rooster in with them so they are used to that drill.

Broodzilla is now solo on the 4 remaining eggs(again). Nothing has hatched out and today should be day 21 for them but there was a bit of stop and starting involved in the early days. I checked in on her this morning carefully as I don't want her moving eggs about just to sate my curiosity. When I moved them briefly to the incubator I was careful to mark the top of the eggs so the hard work of getting into position wouldn't be a wasted effort for those chicks.