The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[The Moonshiner]

I may stick with our two Genesis incubators then for hatching. The Sportsman is all we need as a main incubator for setting eggs unless we are setting eggs for friends, only then does things get tight on space.

In the two Genesis, I dont use the bottom plastic tray for water, I use a bowl of water and a sponge sticking out of it and it keeps the humidity perfect and lasts longer. I line the bottom of the incubator with paper towels for easy clean up and if I need to I can spray them out or soak them in a tub of hot water. I have a spare in the closet for parts if I need them, and they hatch eggs like a dream.

I used the wafer thermostat hovabaters for years as hatchers. They're easy and convenient imo.
I didn't use the water tray thing either. I got a few little rectangle plastic tray things. They're softer flexible plastic and I cut them down to a height to set under the grid. I put 2 side by side which worked well and would hold 3 or 4 days water so sometimes I had to add a bit.
Then I got a couple of those plastic like little yard signs. Cut them to fit the bottom tightly with a cut out around the water trays. They'd set right under the grid so all I'd have to clean was the grid the make shift under grid floor and the 2 water trays. I'd let them soak in the tub I take chick pics in for several hours then just rinse them. Easy

 

[The Moonshiner]

Its been rainy and chilly here too. In Kentucky, winter keeps trying to make a comeback and we have all these little mini winters every spring that mountain folk call redbud winter, dogwood winter, blackberry winter, etc. All punctuated by periods of nice and warm weather. The mini winters are marked by what tree or plant is blooming at the time. Hopefully after this chilly snap it will heat up and dry out.

I’m excited you have set eggs! Looking forward to seeing your chicks and what all you produce this year!

Our weather says no more rain in next 7 days and 60s to 70s to 80s by the end.
We'll see if it holds true. Our weather always likes to make it look nice 567 days out but then it usually changes before that gets here.

 

[KF0002]

I used the wafer thermostat hovabaters for years as hatchers. They're easy and convenient imo.
I didn't use the water tray thing either. I got a few little rectangle plastic tray things. They're softer flexible plastic and I cut them down to a height to set under the grid. I put 2 side by side which worked well and would hold 3 or 4 days water so sometimes I had to add a bit.
Then I got a couple of those plastic like little yard signs. Cut them to fit the bottom tightly with a cut out around the water trays. They'd set right under the grid so all I'd have to clean was the grid the make shift under grid floor and the 2 water trays. I'd let them soak in the tub I take chick pics in for several hours then just rinse them. Easy

Well great minds think alike! I hated using the water tray in the bottom because it dried up before the hatch was complete, forcing you to open the incubator and chicks would get shrink wrapped. So I tried oxygen tubing threaded down through the notch of the incubator (where the turner cord comes out when in use) and into the water tray. I added water via the tubing with and a turkey baster when needed. I got the idea because that is how we give meds and water through patient PEG tubes (feeding tubes) in nursing. It worked but was kind of a pain. The water bowl and sponge work better and don’t take up much room in the incubator, and the water never runs dry before the hatch is done.

 

[KF0002]

Our weather says no more rain in next 7 days and 60s to 70s to 80s by the end.
We'll see if it holds true. Our weather always likes to make it look nice 567 days out but then it usually changes before that gets here.

Hopefully the weather gets nice so you can take some more pictures!

It is supposed to rain off and on here I think for like the next week and a half.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Well great minds think alike! I hated using the water tray in the bottom because it dried up before the hatch was complete, forcing you to open the incubator and chicks would get shrink wrapped. So I tried oxygen tubing threaded down through the notch of the incubator (where the turner cord comes out when in use) and into the water tray. I added water via the tubing with and a turkey baster when needed. I got the idea because that is how we give meds and flush patient PEG tubes (feeding tubes) in nursing. It worked but was kind of a pain. The water bowl and sponge work better and don’t take up much room in the incubator, and the water never runs dry before the hatch is done.

I used a big syringe minus the needle from work and a heavy straw with the bendy section. Poking it through one of the vent holes on top.
It worked really good but yeah who wants to be keeping track and checking water everyday during a hatch.
Those water trays would also start cracking as they aged. I think that was the original reason I looked into something else.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Hopefully the weather gets nice so you can take some more pictures!

It is supposed to rain off and on here I think for like the next week and a half.

Ugg, winter was extra cold and snowy. Spring has been extra rainy and Swampy. You want to bet on what summer will be like?

 

[KF0002]

Ugg, winter was extra cold and snowy. Spring has been extra rainy and Swampy. You want to bet on what summer will be like?

As hot as satan’s natal cleft I’m sure, but bring it on!!

 

[The Moonshiner]

As hot as satan’s natal cleft I’m sure, but bring it on!!

Why O why did I Google that?
I know better then to use the Google?

 

[WallyG74]

I hate that I can't just stick the bottom in a sink full of water and let it soak for a while.

Preach on it, brother!

 

[KF0002]

View attachment 4118455
Why O why did I Google that?
I know better then to use the Google?

I figured it was more polite than saying butt crack.