The 9th Annual BYC Easter Hatchalong!

Pics
Yep, got you on the list :) What kind of quail are you hatching?



I never turn my eggs while they're waiting to be incubated :oops:


Edit: I have no idea why this posted before I commented after the quote... I must not have had my coffee yet. LOL. I was relieved to see I am not the only one who doesn't turn eggs before incubating. I mean occasionally I might but usually not.
 
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I just downsized into my freezer. Processing a hog tomorrow if the rain stops long enough.
I wish you guys were closer. DH2B and I want to learn to raise hogs(thinking guinea hog right now-that could change). We bought a pig a couple years ago and it was amazing! We also want to process our own. Right now we do chickens and quail and are hopefully planning for rabbits and maybe ducks and turkeys this year. We also want to raise beef(heritage probably Highlands and maybe a few miscellaneous others) but we don't have the space on this property sadly to raise large livestock.


I have the Hova 1588 genesis advanced with turner that's flat, rolls the eggs. Am I satisfied with it? As far as how well it works/functions, yes, as far as how well it looks, no. I knew what it was when I ordered it but if I had a do over I wouldn't have. I guess Styrofoam is good insulating, just doesn't look all that durable for the $$.
If I had a do-over I would have built my own, just didn't want to at the time. Had a Bud Light mini fridge give to me for Christmas a few yrs back, BIL won it on a raffle at our gas station and gave it to me, just didn't seem right to convert it to a bator at the time, BUT every time I look at it (I don't use it) in the garage, I think 'dang that would make a nice bator' and I don't like bud, or :sick bud light. Has a insulated light up glass door so I can see inside.
Incubator warehouse has kits, incukits ready to install for desktop or cabinet homemade bators, really wish I just went with that idea to begin with, think I will someday and try to get something out of that hova.


I see them on Craigslist occasionally, big ones.

Some of you may have seen my post earlier on that DH2B is building me a cabinet incubator with an incukit.

He is still gungho to get it done before the hatch along. If he finishes I will post pics for sure. :)

Cabinet is all homemade lined with glass board for easy cleaning. Also well-insulated.

Old window for a door(may have to be resealed or changed out-we'll see). Hatcher has it's own door.

When finished it will have an autoturner and a hatcher on top.
Drawer slides will allow us to pull each shelf out for candling, setting etc.

The outside will be completely old reclaimed shiplap boards.

It's beautiful! I can't wait!

The only thing is we need to buy some quail egg trays to allow us to incubate quail in it.
 
I've looked at a few videos, and I guess it IS possible to check a rooster's fertility manually. You will need a sterile syringe, and a good microscope, and a person to help collect.

Here's the video:


Warning: a bit graphic content
:duc Guess I would just as soon crack open an egg to check and see if it's fertile. Also, can't imagine the cost of this. Unless you have a good microscope. ;) Guess there are reasons to to need to check before cracking an egg...there were a lot of roosters there. Which one is the most fertile..or not?? Ey?
 
Yes, especially in flocks with multiple roosters, where you might be thinking of culling a few of the older ones, who may not be as potent anymore.

The collection process was what was hanging me up, I just wasn't sure if it could be done. But, Im beginning to believe there's a YouTube video for EVERY thing.
 
Some people collect themselves for artificial insemination. Have roosters to big or lazy to do the deed, crossing CX etc.
Watched a 'Dirty Jobs' show on artificially inseminating broad breasted white turkeys. It was pretty gross how they did it. Glass jar with a couple tubes or straws in the top, one to suck on other to collect the semen into the glass jar. :sick
I kinda wonder if they really do it that way, or if it was the old way they did it and just had him do it for the show.
I would think they would have a battery operated one, at least I would lol.
 

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