The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Wax Myrtle]

I need some ideas on a bigger brooder? I have the largest container I can find locally and in another week or so I'm going to need to upgrade, I was going to use a 6ft kiddie pool but that just seems so short....hmm. I dont want to make one out of wood, but does anyone else have any off the wall ideas rather than just a big box? Also for those that DO use giant boxes where is the best place to look you've found?

If you end up having to go the cardboard route, I've seen some brooders made of the octagonal cardboard bins that grocery stores get watermelons, pumpkins, etc. in. With a heavyweight tarp as a floor. I use a wood/netting brooder with a tarp floor, unless I only have a very small number and then I use a large rubbermaid tote.

 

[chiques chicks]

Yeah, my hatch want great percentage worse, but of my own eggs, very successful, quail were around 40% on shipped, so I'm not upset. Turkey were shipped and did horrible, but that just means I get too try again. Weather conditions when my shipped eggs came was far lies than ideal, downright horrible, so overall, I'm very happy.

 

[wolftracks]

If you end up having to go the cardboard route, I've seen some brooders made of the octagonal cardboard bins that grocery stores get watermelons, pumpkins, etc. in. With a heavyweight tarp as a floor. I use a wood/netting brooder with a tarp floor, unless I only have a very small number and then I use a large rubbermaid tote.

I've used those and love them. Furniture and appliance stores are great for boxes too.

 

[coldupnorth]

Think I found out what happened.

I had 3 birds that laid eggs in a really wet area. I let those eggs dry out and then set them with all of the others. I just found one that was almost completely mildewed and when I opened it it was the same way inside. Pretty sure it was one of those eggs, since I didn't have many OEs in there.

I have 2 more hatches set in the Sportsman. I'm going to transfer all of those eggs and clean really well and spray the whole incubator with Oxine. Hope it isn't to late to save the hatches. I have about 100 more eggs backed up now, so time to clean and set some that may have a better chance. I've never seen anything like this. The chick that pipped is DIS and there is green ????? inside of the shell. I feel like a chick murderer. I was really suspisous when the quail didn't hatch. They hatch even if I forget about them. Now I have to go sterilize all 2 incubators, which I would have anyway, and go for a normal hatch.

Never has failed in these big hatches. hmmm

That really does stink! You are not a chick murderer - we all know that these things can happen to all of us.

 

[wolftracks]

That really does stink! You are not a chick murderer - we all know that these things can happen to all of us.

I had some great eggs in there. My stock, but I have nice birds and I need to add stock. Plus I had chicks on order and none hatched.

I originally though that because the eggs were in cartons and then adding humidity, that it was just some of the carton sticking to the shell. I've seen that prenty of times, but nothing like this. I was also hatching some of the last eggs from a roo that I lost. Looks like that pen would have any action this year.

 

[Sueg4332]

Good morning chicks. Black sex links with one white one?

Are the ones with the spot on the head roosters?

 

[chicken pickin]

Are the ones with the spot on the head roosters?

Yes

 

[myfivegirls]

Quick update on count ( don't know if it's final yet)
Set 63 eggs
Removed 4 clear
& 2 early quitters

45 chicks hatched
1 pipped early this AM & no movement since

After removing two that I'm pretty sure quit after lockdown, I'm going to leave the remaining eggs in until Wed;
I've candled them, and they look okay, but they may have died in the shell. Or, they're just late-bloomers.

 

[ronott1]

your cat looks very nice, I have chihuahua that look so contend to just look at the chickies. But I see a lip smacking in their evil little eyes. I think if I wasn't there they would have chicky dinner for sure.

I think so too!

 

[Sueg4332]

I need some ideas on a bigger brooder? I have the largest container I can find locally and in another week or so I'm going to need to upgrade, I was going to use a 6ft kiddie pool but that just seems so short....hmm. I dont want to make one out of wood, but does anyone else have any off the wall ideas rather than just a big box? Also for those that DO use giant boxes where is the best place to look you've found?

Go ask your feed stores if they get larger idea in plywood crates. Here in California they will give you the crates as they just break you them down and throw them away.
you can recycle them to any size you want to make a brooder.
I acquired a 4 foot by 8 foot about 2 foot high plywood crate. Hope to make 2 brooders 2 foot wide 4 foot long on 4 foot legs. but wheels on legs for easy to move easily. Want to but linoeum inside for easy clean up.
Ask industries for crates too. Our car filter manufactory has than too. Just ask