The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

All these incubator setups are making me jealous! I really need nothing fancy, so I am probably going to steer clear of the brinsea only because of cost. I am a complete beginner at incubating, so the easiest setup is the best setup for me. I have no idea what my incubating needs would be in the future, so I think that Ur's point about being able to incubate 10 eggs in a 20 but not 20 eggs in a 10 is a good one. In that case Im probably just going to see what is out there around the 30-40 egg range. I want to be able to hatch out enough birds that I can have some nice results. Some people raise 200-300 birds in a season, and while I probably wont raise nearly that amount, I do need to raise up a decent amount.

I'm probably in that 200/300 range.

 

[waddles99]

I'm probably in that 200/300 range.

I could never be able to maintain a setup of that size. It must be a lot of work hatching out and raising all those chicks.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

All these incubator setups are making me jealous! I really need nothing fancy, so I am probably going to steer clear of the brinsea only because of cost. I am a complete beginner at incubating, so the easiest setup is the best setup for me. I have no idea what my incubating needs would be in the future, so I think that Ur's point about being able to incubate 10 eggs in a 20 but not 20 eggs in a 10 is a good one. In that case Im probably just going to see what is out there around the 30-40 egg range. I want to be able to hatch out enough birds that I can have some nice results. Some people raise 200-300 birds in a season, and while I probably wont raise nearly that amount, I do need to raise up a decent amount.

Of course you don't need a giant incubator. Or do you??? Chicken math sneaks up on you, and you may end up like this...

 

[daxigait]

Look at it this way... you can hatch 10 eggs in a 20 egg incubator, but you can't hatch 20 eggs in a 10 egg incubator. In this case, bigger is always better. If you can afford a Brinsea, go for it... it's like the Cadillac of desktop incubators. While they're nice, most people can/and do just fine with less expensive incubators. You can find incubators for $200 (or less) that can hold up to 41 eggs and give great hatch rates. I was torn between the Hovabator 1588 and the IncuView from Incubator Warehouse. The IV only holds up to 27 eggs, but what sold me was the plastic construction, which is easier to clean and keep sterile as opposed to styrofoam. Building your own incubator out of an ice chest, old mini fridge, etc., is another option if you're even remotely mechanically inclined. These can save you a little money over pre-built units, but can be a little more fidgety. 

Runs don't have to be built like Fort Knox to be safe. If hawks are a problem, nylon aviary netting will suffice, and it's not nearly as expensive as wiring or building a large roof. I don't even have wire buried in the ground around my pens/coops. I've been using Solar Nite Eyes since I got my first chickens, and nothing has attempted to get into the runs/coops. Mounting 4 of them in the corners of the runs and coops is lot faster and easier than burying wire...  

Hey, do you have a link to Amazon or a correct name on your night eyes? Thanks Joey.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Hey, do you have a link to Amazon or a correct name on your night eyes? Thanks Joey.

The best deal I've found is at http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Predator-Protection/Solar-Nite-Eyes-p834.aspx
If you use the drop down menu for Size, it gives the option to purchase 4 for $49. You need 4 to get 360° protection. I'm about to order 4 more for my new coop/run...

 

[daxigait]

The best deal I've found is at http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Predator-Protection/Solar-Nite-Eyes-p834.aspx
If you use the drop down menu for Size, it gives the option to purchase 4 for $49. You need 4 to get 360° protection. I'm about to order 4 more for my new coop/run...   

Thanks, have a great day! They are a bit pricey.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Thanks, have a great day! They are a bit pricey.

Not only for the proven protection, but the cost of wire and the labor involved in burying it all the way around a large run makes these gadgets sound like a real bargain to me. Just saying...

I hope you have a great day too, daxi!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I haven't buried any wire. My fences go to the ground. I don't know about Solar Nite Eyes, I have my pens covered with netting and electric wire around all of the pens and have not lost a bird to a predator in a few years. The last time I did was to a fox that dug under a gate and killed some birds. Since I put concrete under the gates so nothing is going to dig through the concrete. A friend of mine used to be a crabber and gave me a bunch of the concrete bottoms from his old traps and I used them. I covered the pens because some owls were getting in at night and killing birds especially in two open coops my husband and a friend built. I guess it's what ever works best for you.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I haven't buried any wire. My fences go to the ground. I don't know about Solar Nite Eyes, I have my pens covered with netting and electric wire around all of the pens and have not lost a bird to a predator in a few years. The last time I did was to a fox that dug under a gate and killed some birds. Since I put concrete under the gates so nothing is going to dig through the concrete. A friend of mine used to be a crabber and gave me a bunch of the concrete bottoms from his old traps and I used them. I covered the pens because some owls were getting in at night and killing birds especially in two open coops my husband and a friend built. I guess it's what ever works best for you.

I had considered using electric fence, but it's easier for me to use solar power rather than running electicity. I don't have to worry about power outages, broken/shorted wires, or zapping myself of any of my pets. Like you said... whatever works best for you.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I had solar at my end two coops but have since ran electric out to them. Have not really had much of an issue with loosing power. I have lost power but it's a rather far and few between outages. I do not have power to my new very end coop. I haven't built their pen yet either. When I do I will put the electric wire around it. It will actually terminate at that coop. I already have the terminating insulator on the coop.

I have had one chick hatch so far. It is a Wallace chick. There are lots of pips. I have been struggling with the humidity. I think I finally have it under control. I have the hatchers in the garage because it is nice and warm in there. Here is what I have used as a brooder, a watermelon box I got at the grocery store. Works great.

This is Wallace.