The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[RedRidge]

so not one person has any underwood roos/cockerels they are willing to part with?

Oh I have rose comb cockerels, but they are LF not bantam.

 

[RedRidge]

Electro netting is the key to free range. I just make sure the cockerels are on a totally different pasture except when in breeding pens. Kencove had gotten plenty of my business over the years. I rotate on 50 acres and own at least 18 rolls of the stuff. Lol.

Of course I'm rotating cattle and sheep too.

Premier has gotten my business, but I don't have 18 rolls! Of course, I only have 3 acres. If you don't mind some questions. If the cockerels where in sight and ear shot of the pullets would they fly over the net and leave the pasture? I assume you keep the males separate all of the time, They either are kept in a small group if they get along, kept separaately if they don't or are in breeding pens. I will only be able to breed one variety, because I woul like to keep everyone together if possible. No more than 2-3 cocks with the main flock, but management of the males I think would be tricky.

I used to have 3 breeds. Once I discovered how easy the HRIR were I cut down to two and eliminated my fliers. The Rhodebars well get a little over confident with the netting every once in a while, but The HRIR are just too laid back to challenge it. One of the many reasons I love them so much.

 

[RedRidge]

Incubator is running good so far.  I cannot get the humidity up though. Its stuck at 34%.

34% is fine until you get to lockdown. I usually aim for 35-40 until lockdown and then between 60-65% those 3 days.
What type of bator is it? Have you used it before? How many days ago did you set?

 

[CluckyJay]

Set some the 15th some yesterday. I have used it to hatch several full settings (48ish eggs each time). Usually have very, very good results. In the upper 80s to 90s on my own eggs. Its a little giant still air incubator, with turner. First time this year though, im running behind on my hatchings for the year, lol. That's why I set my mutt eggs, to test it out before getting the good ones. Im crossing my fingers.

If I remember right, this one usually runs low on humidity for some reason. I always end up adding a lot more water towards the end of hatch than most people have to. Its hold a temperature well though.

 

[CluckyJay]

I cracked some of the oldest eggs and we had a good strong heartbeat. Poor little guy.

 

[RedRidge]

It's more difficult to get your humidity up if those types of bators aren't full.
Are you just setting in them or hatching in them too.

 

[ronott1]

Incubator is running good so far. I cannot get the humidity up though. Its stuck at 34%.

What? If you have been increasing surface area and the hygrometer is not going up, the hygrometer is likely faulty.

Adding a glass storage container with a sponge in it will increase surface area and humidity.

 

[Fentress]

The electric netting was something I wanted to try. But it needs to run on solar. I cannot seem to find enough people with personal experience running a solar netting fence to decide whether or not to invest in it.

Premier has some good info on their site, including videos re: set up. they have all in one solar units, that inlcude the solar panel, battery and charger. All you have to do is attach it to the fence. I hve been using electro-net for 3 years and have never lost a chicken to a four legged predator. Winged predators are a different story, but still not that bad. A small price to pay for free range.

 

[CluckyJay]

We've used different ones ronott. It is still a possibility though. But, the membranes during hatching show me without adding more water, it is was too dry some times.

For sure less eggs effect it redridge. This is a small set. Not sure if I will hatch them, I am just using them to calibrate everything. I always do a test run before a proper hatch, just in case. Usually I hatch them out though, lol. It hasn't hurt us though, our hatch rates are pretty decent.

I am excited to try our homemade one later in the year.

Fentress, as long as my birds stay in the pasture with our LSGD we don't lose any. Its when they leave the pasture we have a problem, lol. Naughty chickens and ducks!
I wanted to try a setup where she and the goats could pass the fencing but the chickens cannot. I gotta use my brain for that though lol.

 

[Rancher3535]

I am a new member and have not received one yet. Hope to get it soon.