The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bill Matthews]

TO: Leahs Mom and myself...Guess I was asleep...The incubator is a broody hen not an incubator....Will still work if you get the temp and moisture right....Mom used to do this because she used an old Sears Roebuck kerosene incubator and it wore out a few times.....Sorry, Luck...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks Eggcessive and Mumsy.

Now I have to decide the best way to proceed. I'm just afraid the shipped eggs will be duds and I'll be without a hatch.

Now question #2:

I have 2 girls of the breed I am hatching. There are 3 different girls that are the same age and their egg sizes are similar. However one of the 3 is not the breed I'm hatching.

If you want to be sure which eggs are from the specific girls you want to hatch do you isolate them for laying? I have a very small operation and I think that trying to figure out how to isolate them may cause a lot of stress and stop egg production.

I would be happy if I could just figure out which girl's eggs I was setting!

I think the resulting chicks will be obvious if I can get that done.

 

[Leahs Mom]

TO: Leahs Mom and myself...Guess I was asleep...The incubator is a broody hen not an incubator....Will still work if you get the temp and moisture right....Mom used to do this because she used an old Sears Roebuck kerosene incubator and it wore out a few times.....Sorry, Luck...

Thanks Bill Never heard of anyone doing the end of hatch in an oven!

 

[loveourbirds]

The two times I had bugs in my feed, there was also moldy powder on it, so I would return it to the store.

Edited to say this was scratch grains..I guess I haven't had feed with bugs in it. I usually make sure I get fresh dated feed. We don't have many choices here for feed since my brand is only sold at two stores.

not sure where you are here in southern ohio, but i have the best luck from crums just north of peebles on rt 41. i have my feed custom mixed by them, a slight variation off of a local "chicken kings" mixture. i love the bowles range bird pellet they sell there, it makes a wonderful feed on its own for molting birds, and its a great base in mixed feeds.

 

[Sally8]

I ditto the advice to remove the broken egg shells. Through experience, I've found the broken halves have worked themselves over half a viable egg, stopping the egg from hatching. (The chick would have to work through 2 egg shells). This isn't necessarily for you but maybe for others that don't hatch often. That's a great question though. After incubating several hatches this spring, I like the broody hen the best. sue

 

[Vigar49]

Well it is just a cement floor but I just want like ideas I guess, would you do chicken wire from the floor to the ceiling or put like plywood at the bottom.

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks Eggcessive and Mumsy.

Now I have to decide the best way to proceed. I'm just afraid the shipped eggs will be duds and I'll be without a hatch.

Now question #2:

I have 2 girls of the breed I am hatching. There are 3 different girls that are the same age and their egg sizes are similar. However one of the 3 is not the breed I'm hatching.

If you want to be sure which eggs are from the specific girls you want to hatch do you isolate them for laying? I have a very small operation and I think that trying to figure out how to isolate them may cause a lot of stress and stop egg production.

I would be happy if I could just figure out which girl's eggs I was setting!

I think the resulting chicks will be obvious if I can get that done.

Now I am not hatching eggs but I am trying to figure out if Lucy is laying. I am asking friends if someone would lend me their game cam to put in the coop to watch and see. That might work for you?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Hmmmm that's a thought. I know one person w/a game cam. he might let me use it for a few days...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for the idea, AFL! I emailed my friend and he's going to bring the camera tomorrow!

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks for the idea, AFL! I emailed my friend and he's going to bring the camera tomorrow!