The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

On the henbit plants, I just learned that was their name this last week or two, when I first posted the pics to another thread, I thought they were clover and labeled them as such. Then a fellow byc'er let me know what they really were. I looked them up and found out they were edible, so I was going to try them, but then read further that they tasted like grass and figured I wasn't that hungry. lol

 

[Eggcessive]

I would love to see the advice again too. I'm still learning the ins and outs of incubating. I'm thinking once I learn out to do it better, using my current still air incubator, I will be able to convince myself to splurge on a genesis. Does anyone know if the turner in my little giant still air incubator will fit and work in the genesis? Or would I have to get a new turner for the genesis incubator?

Yes that's the turner i used in my new Genesis. My friend who breeds only Marans says they are just more difficult to breed than others. Their shells are so hard and dark that it is difficult to candle them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Was this the article you were looking for on the incubators?

 

[mlowen]

From experience...with barrel for garden, not chickens...put an extra "filter" of some sort because pollen going in makes the water smell really bad! I'd look for a lead-free hose, too. Regular garden hoses can leach lead, especially if it's hot.

 

[delisha]

Delisha, I'm picking up another dozen BCM eggs to incubate. Any advice for a better outcome? Assuming I have better fertility this time too.

good luck..

If they are fresh..it is much easier...not shipped..even easier..make sure you have a good LED flash light to check air cells or have a scale. Make sure your hands are always sanitized when handling eggs
1. Make sure your incubator is running smooth and steady for 24 hours.
2. Check your thermometers and your hydrometers (ice test and salt test)
3. Check and mark your air cells.or weigh them. Mark your eggs and record your weights (etc #1. weight 3.7 oz #2 2.9 oz)
4. Try not to handle the eggs.and if you do be gentle. If you ever watched a hen who has a good hatch ..when she turns an egg she is so very gentle and slow.
5. Weigh 50% on day 7 and 50% on day 10. If you are loosing 10% weight your humidity is good. If it is less or more you might need to adjust. Most problems other than fertility comes into day 18. To many times eggs are put into lock down with too high of humidity before the eggs are ready. On day 18 softly tap each egg and listen for a peep. If no peep..close the lid and check the next day. Do not increase humidity until you hear a peep or you see a pip.
Take eggs out of turner gently. and do your lock down.

We just hooked up our rain water barrel to a hose to chicken coop and attached a faucet. Now watering the chicky-poos with rain water.

sweet..I purchased the system last fall on sale..I am just waiting for the mess to reduce so I can get it going.

Our daytime highs this week range from mid 60's to low 80's. Nighttime temps range from 49° to 63°.

Our chicks are 5 weeks old now. At what point can I put them out for good? There will not be a heat lamp outside.

yesterday

Quote: X1000 I spit my coffee all over the computer...thanks

 

[Leahs Mom]

When I set the SFH eggs under my broody last December, I also had 3 BCM eggs. Nice, dark eggs. Not a single hatch.

 

[Sally8]

My rain barrel breeds mosquitos so fast. We finally bypassed the rain barrel and put a submersible pump in the small creek out back. When it starts to dry up we have to dig a little deeper and dam it up. I leave the rain barrel up but have to make sure I empty it every couple of days. It sits on the edge of the garden behind the garage. Usually, it's turned over to collect water lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

JEALOUS!!!!! I've always wanted a creek.....

 

[armorfirelady]

My rain barrel breeds mosquitos so fast. We finally bypassed the rain barrel and put a submersible pump in the small creek out back. When it starts to dry up we have to dig a little deeper and dam it up. I leave the rain barrel up but have to make sure I empty it every couple of days. It sits on the edge of the garden behind the garage. Usually, it's turned over to collect water lol

Hmmm i didn't notice an increase of mosquitos with mine but that's probably because they all usually bite me so its hard to gauge if there were more lol

I used to purchase little disc that were suppose to keep mosquitos from thriving in my pond. It was safe for the fish so I wonder if if would work for the rain barrel...hmmmmmm have to see if I can find them again.

But I am jealous of your creek.....its just calling for some ducks to swim in it

 

[pigeonguy]

OMG They blew up the Boston Marathon. Lots injured 2 killed. How wrong.