The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aaggjg]

Se
Seriously? I just typed dang it and it edited it? I didn't think we were that uptight here

Wow really??? Now I want to try dang it

 

[brandislee]

You

That is such a bummer ! I'm sorry your hen is a bad mama 

You're sorry... Just wait until culling time, then she'll be sorry. She just went from pass for life to soup.

 

[brandislee]

I'm thin

Wow really??? Now I want to try dang it 

I'm thinking in my frustration I typed something else. But I only meant to say dang it, I swear!

 

[aoxa]

90 is too warm at 2 weeks old imo. I'd start there.

agree with Stony. Too warm causes pasty butt. Ever since I got the eco glow - not a single pasty butt! There are 28 of them too!

Yikes! the shaving barrier is such a great idea - these chicks are just at the scratching stage today and I have shavings everywhere. am going to rig up a cardboard barrier, but wish I had thought of that earlier.

sounds like it is going to be wonderful space.

I didn't even think of the shaving barrier, that was the contractor. He is a smart man. He's been researching chick brooders online all night. I feel so blessed to have him doing this job.. He has really impressed me. I will be singing his praise to any who will listen!

The company name is Spirits Construction. How cool is that?

 

[Pozees]

Thanks
Thanks! And another hatching question- do already pipped eggs need heat only or heat and humidity to finish hatching? In other words could I put pipped eggs under a heat lamp to finish hatching? Ugh, it's times like this I wish I had an incubator... One without a mind of its own!

Need the humidity to keep the membrane from shrink wrapping them. Once they've pipped it's pretty critical, I was thinking maybe you could rig up a warm moist towel in the bottom of a small bin, with a wire shelf/platform over it, and heat lamp above, to keep the atmosphere warm and moist, but I don't know if I'd be brave enough to move them after pip.

 

[Pozees]

agree with Stony. Too warm causes pasty butt. Ever since I got the eco glow - not a single pasty butt! There are 28 of them too!
I didn't even think of the shaving barrier, that was the contractor. He is a smart man. He's been researching chick brooders online all night. I feel so blessed to have him doing this job.. He has really impressed me. I will be singing his praise to any who will listen!

The company name is Spirits Construction. How cool is that?

You've got a gem there, Justine.

 

[Ashdoes]

I bought hubby an eco glow for his new chicks, all from everyone's rave reviews on here. He keeps testing it, because he can't imagine not using the red death light.

 

[aoxa]

I bought hubby an eco glow for his new chicks, all from everyone's rave reviews on here. He keeps testing it, because he can't imagine not using the red death light.

I was like that at first.. I thought.. this couldn't possibly be warm enough.. It's not even hot.. But it is.. My chicks tell me it is

 

[brandislee]

Need the humidity to keep the membrane from shrink wrapping them.  Once they've pipped it's pretty critical, I was thinking maybe you could rig up a warm moist towel in the bottom of a small bin, with a wire shelf/platform over it, and heat lamp above, to keep the atmosphere warm and moist, but I don't know if I'd be brave enough to move them after pip.

Thanks for the feedback!
How humid is it supposed to be? Right now I'm thinking the choice is either death by potential shrink wrapping or death by bad mama... Since the bad mama is seeming pretty sure now, I'm thinking I may take my chances with the possible shrink wrapping.

 

[Pozees]

Thanks for the feedback!
How humid is it supposed to be? Right now I'm thinking the choice is either death by potential shrink wrapping or death by bad mama... Since the bad mama is seeming pretty sure now, I'm thinking I may take my chances with the possible shrink wrapping.

ideally 55-65%