The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I save one of my neighbors chickens today that was being attacked by a juvenile Golden Eagle. I was out with my chickens so they could free range, I heard one of his screaming and thought his Beta-rooster was "getting" with one of the girls, but then I hear a lot of the chickens including both roosters doing the "egg song" calls. I knew it was a predator at that point. I ran out of my yard and toward his. I made it to the street when the Eagle broke off the attack and the Favorolle he had pinned got away. There must be a drastic reduction in small game that the hawks and eagles normally hunt for to be causing this many attacks on chickens. That is 4 attacks in 2 weeks resulting in 2 dead birds and 2 injured. I am going to be getting poultry netting to put up in my open areas. Stupid birds of prey.

 

[delisha]

Quote:

 

[delisha]

A little tip for Styrofoam incubators:

Do not use it if you can't get your temp to be steady

to keep your temp steady put it in a room where there is the least amount of activity

set up an area around the incubator if you need to.
I use an old card table and I tape insulation 6 inches up on the side of the table
I slide the incubator in the front
this will keep that small area as best as I can get it ( I hatch in the basement and it is cold)

I set up a few jars of water on the table and make sure I have a digital thermometer, a candy thermometer, a human thermometer in a zip lock bag with water
and I also use a barometer
I make sure my temps are accurate. I use salt to calibrate barometer and ice water to calibrate the candy, human, and digital
I than use the instruments on top because I know what they really are after all of the testing.
I do place that cheap plastic disposable one on top of the eggs after i know what the real read it. I mark it!
I wait 12 hours of steady temp before setting eggs.

This is for auto turner only: I have not turned my eggs for 10 years and to be honest, I have forgotten. If you are hand turning, you can skip all the rest.
after setting eggs, I (usually)do not open lid for any reason.

I use the air holes and a straw to add water if I need it after day 18.
I dry hatch 20- 30% humidity. 60% on day day 18-19.
I put in heavy shot glasses with a wadded up paper towel than wet it down with warm water at time of turner removal. I put a shot glass at each air hole.

I opened the incubator to take pictures of the first hatch for new years. I really did not think much about it, however I have a serious stall now, and my shipped eggs are simply not doing a thing. Not sure they are even viable. I would not think me taking pictures would kill the eggs, but, i might have.

 

[delisha]

BTW for 2 bucks I would be buying everything she had. I sell my eggs for 3 a dozen at the feed store

 

[Sally8]

Quote: I also use a "cheapie". My last hatch, last spring sounded like what you've been going through. WE also heat with wood and because I have indoor cats, I had to keep it shut up in the smaller bathroom, door closed. One of the OT's suggested that I put the whole incubator in a cardboard box (no top) to help keep temps stabilized. I set mine up today, (no box yet). I've done everything wrong keeping my own eggs but if I don't try, I'll never know. It's only my 4th or 5th time incubating. I had excellent luck with dry incubating or hatch, not sure what it's called. No funny legs or toes. My temps ranged from 99-100 and occasionally reached 102. By the time the eggs hatched I had 4 different thermometers and they all were different. Someone suggested to me to screw a milk cap on the temp control and I would have better luck regulating. It works. I'm excited. I'm not sure what I'll end up with.
On a sad note. I've decided to get rid of my 2 turkeys. Because of issues I've mentioned before, it's not fair to keep them so confined. Watching them pacing reminds me of animals in a zoo. It's heartbreaking to me. I've found people who will give them a home a pets.

 

[Mumsy]

I've had it running for the past few days to try to get it all calibrated - I'm getting some flux in temperatures. It mostly stays at 99-100, but will drop to 98 and has bumped up to 101-102 a time or two (not for very long). If this flux is going to be a BIG problem, I want to hear from all of you with experience. I'll move it into a smaller room where I may be able to control the ambient room temperature a little better... but I'm still a little concerned. What do you all think??

I had a real bad time with my old cheapo Little Giant Styrofoam and new one used as the hatch-er this past hatch. It had worked very well for years and I had many many good hatches over those years. I thought to bank my odds by putting three thermometers and two for humidity in each one. I put the hatch-er in a card board box at lock down to help keep drafts affecting it. I bumped the humidity when I was supposed to and every thing looked fine. But only half the eggs pipped and only half of those hatched viable chicks. I kept my temp 99 degrees 101 degrees diligently. The problem I believe started there. I have read just recently these styrofoam incubators should be kept warmer. At 103 degrees and the humidity should be kept at 50% to 60% at lock down. Mine was 70%. I had a high percentage of fully formed beautiful big chicks dead in shell at 21/22 days. I am convinced 99 degrees was too low and 70% humidity too high. That I had seven chicks survive out of 14 viable live candled eggs from this disaster is remarkable. I will try again another time and bump temp and lower humidity. There is a thread about hatching tips and tricks here on BYC under the Little Giant Incubator search. I hand turned my eggs three times a day as a side note. I think temp and humidity have to be spot on where you are leaving it for 21 days. I kept my room temp 68 degrees day and night. No power outages. Keep records of what you do so you learn what works and what doesn't. I wish you every success.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Good suggestion
I hatch at 100 degrees it does take 22 days for me usually and today is only 21 days so I should not panic..yet.. I did open the top for quite a while and that is an issue. I am going to go read about hight temps though..I might try it after this hatch just to see.

 

[delisha]

Quote:
I think it is better to eat them or re home them for there sake..good decision..

 

[jockeyeba]

Was away since last night, just got home, have to catch up but wanted to post... DH found egg #2 today when he went to feed the chickens this morning, I assumed it was from the same girl, but after coming home and seeing the egg, I think I have a second hen laying... What do all you guys thinK? Different color, and shape... Do I have two pullets laying? MB

Congrats MB My BLRW laid her 2nd egg today! I saw her going in & out of a nest yesterday & later found the egg & today another one almost like it Now I'm sure the 1st one I found a few days ago was from the GLW pullet. Isn't it exciting

 

[jockeyeba]

Since we're sharing pics of babies...here's our girl, 8 weeks 22lbs.

Maiden


She's met the chickens and is wary so far. She got a little too close to the BR and got pecked pretty good. As soon as winter break is done I'll start taking her with me for chicken chores. Puppies are fun!

Oh my gosh how adorable... I love Great Danes.. 

Nice pup