The Middle Tennessee Thread

[n3kms]

Thanks. It still needs a chicken door, roost and nest boxes. They're not quite 3 weeks old so I guess the nest boxes aren't needed for a while. The windows are on hinges and I will be putting hardware cloth on the inside so I can leave them open in the summer. May have to add a third window if it turns out to be too hot inside. Plan to add more ventilation under the overhangs as well. So hard to get things done. Mine and my husband's schedules, as well as rainy days, haven't been real conducive to getting it done as quickly as I would like.

 

[jlynnp]

I just locked down my first ever hatch, I have 104 Bob White Quail eggs and hopefully something hatches and lives. I probably should have started with chickens instead of something the size of a Bumble Bee at birth. My next hatching attempt will be in my new Hova Bator Genesis and will be Cream Legbar eggs.

 

[n3kms]

I just locked down my first ever hatch, I have 104 Bob White Quail eggs and hopefully something hatches and lives. I probably should have started with chickens instead of something the size of a Bumble Bee at birth. My next hatching attempt will be in my new Hova Bator Genesis and will be Cream Legbar eggs.

I ponder getting an incubator. It seems a scary thing to do. Plus I am spent more than expected just on a coop and run so I have plenty of time to keep pondering it. Hope your quail hatch goes well. Post pics of the tiny rascals. Lots of people hatch quail but I don't know what they do with them. Do they just raise them to eat? I've never tasted quail, must be pretty good cause it seems like a lot of work for such a small bird. Let us know how you end of liking the Hova Bator Genesis. Need more info for my pondering.

 

[JennaLynn122]

I ponder getting an incubator. It seems a scary thing to do. Plus I am spent more than expected just on a coop and run so I have plenty of time to keep pondering it. Hope your quail hatch goes well. Post pics of the tiny rascals. Lots of people hatch quail but I don't know what they do with them. Do they just raise them to eat? I've never tasted quail, must be pretty good cause it seems like a lot of work for such a small bird. Let us know how you end of liking the Hova Bator Genesis. Need more info for my pondering.

Quail are very small but very very tastey. I perfer just hunting mine instead of raising it.

 

[JW12]

Quail are very small but very very tastey. I perfer just hunting mine instead of raising it.

I would prefer hunting mine as well! The trouble in east TN is I haven't seen a good covey in years. The grouse have almost gone by the way side too.

 

[Peach2u]

Well, I got my first incubator batch in lock down. I tried many times to candle them. The shells where too dark and thick. I could see into the blue ones ok with a very strong LED light. I am a worried about the hatch. For the first 18 day the humidity was 47%-53%. When it would spike over 50% I would crack the lid. Now on lock down I can not get it above 60%.I hope 60% is high enough.

As for the broody I have outside. I put 12 eggs under her. On Fri 6 fuzzy-butts where in the pen and 2 warm eggs. Saturday and Sunday still 2 eggs. So I took them and they never peeped. They where fully formed but didn't try to break out. As for the other 4, I guess they where not fertile and she eat them. That is the worst hatch rate I have ever had from a broody. This was her first brood and my roosters first year.

I am thinking since my broody had 50% hatch rate my bator is going to be 25% lol. I'm okay with that. I'm still learning and the eggs are free.

48 non-candled eggs sitting in paper cupcake liners. They are just baking atm!

 

[cpegram]

I usually keep my lockdown humidity 40-50 at the most...

 

[DMRippy]

I usually keep my lockdown humidity 40-50 at the most...

The humidity will spike when they start hatching.

 

[Peach2u]

Ah thanks Donna, You might have a great great grand chicken in there somewhere lol. I retired your rooster last fall. He now lives with a friend a few miles away. I'm using one of his grandsons this year.

 

[jlynnp]

I would prefer hunting mine as well! The trouble in east TN is I haven't seen a good covey in years. The grouse have almost gone by the way side too.

They Quail population in TN has declined by over 70% in recent years. I decided to just raise my own.