The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

1 more little black Orp

 

[Mumsy]

No pips. Day 21. First time EVER I sat a batch of eggs in a still air LG and not one pip on day 21. 10 fully formed embryos went into lockdown. I had 63% humidity, and a steady 100 degree air temp reading until that weird high spike at 3:30 pm yesterday. It happened while I was standing there. The temp rapidly climbed to 105 degrees and the humidity jumped to 70%! I have no idea why. I logged the temp and humidity every single hour I was awake. I don't know if this has happened before while I was sleeping. I haven't opened the bator or messed with the adjuster at all. I got the temp and humidity back on track as fast as I could by opening my back door in the same room as the bator to let cold air in the room and added cold water drop by drop through tubing and a syringe through ventilation holes onto sponges. I find it completely weird that that lowered the humidity back to 63% and brought the temp back exactly where it was before at 100 degrees. I don't know what else I could have done to incubate these eggs. I'm not giving up on them for a couple more days. If I have lost this batch, it was by no faulty process of mine. I will blame it on an anomaly of incubator malfunction. My still air LG was new.

I ordered the Genesis 1588 this morning. Free shipping. It should arrive in time for the Catdance eggs.

Found it here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genesis-Hov...285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7dea6c2d

 

[aoxa]

Wow - I never would have thought of a horse trailer - what a great idea! And you're right, all those little compartments will come in handy!

I have thought about something like that. I have seen the neatest school bus coops. I'd love to do that

 

[SallyinIndiana]

R-Com 20 Digital Incubator if only it was not so much money, I would get one. It looks great. I'm sure it is worth every penny. I'm just wishing it was way cheaper. Maybe the price will go down in a few years like other electronics.

 

[aoxa]

don't you think the catnip lures the cats which deters the rats? I know 'they' say that cats don't bother catnip seeded directly into a garden -- however, it's been my experience, that it only takes a bruising of a couple of leaves to get a cat's attention - and then those who are prone to catnip intoxication will roll all over it.

My cats LOVED catnip fresh out of the garden. It's the only way they liked it.

Gah!

My Still Air LG is new. I have ten eggs in lock down on day 20. I have been logging the air temp, probe temp, and humidity every hour on the hour except when I'm asleep. Probe 100 degrees, air temp 100 degrees. Humidity: 63% This has not fluctuated at all for all of lock down except by a half a degree or so every few hours. I don't touch the adjuster. I don't open the lid. I barely breath on the thing! Between 3:30 and 4 pm the prob spiked to 103, air temp to 105 and humidity to 70%!!! While I was standing there just looking at it! I immediately opened an out side door that is in the same room! Also used a syringe to put a few drops of cold water through a hose onto a sponge. It took about 20 minutes to bring every thing back to normal. I have no idea what happened! I'm so annoyed. 20 days of everything normal and perfect and then this for no bleeping reason! That's it! I've got to get a better incubator!

What one are you looking at Mumsy?

I am going to get the genesis I think..not sure yet. I will have to discuss it with DH, and he will say no, and I will give a good argument and he will say..yes
I am so spoiled rotten.

You both need the Genesis.

Those LGs are terrible.. just sayin'..

 

[aoxa]

Just had the discussion. He said no. He made a good argument. I just bought the new LG. We are going to purchase Catdance eggs and chicks in two weeks spending a night in a motel and I am ordering HRIR in a month. My rebuttal argument? I am a cheap date. I don't buy jewels. I don't buy clothes or shoes unless I need them. I could have worse vices. I need a better incubator to make sure the investment in eggs is well spent. I also am spoiled rotten. I want the Genesis 1588. Found one with free shipping. Might wait a week to order.

lol..it is so nice to have good men
I simply adore mine
He always says to me..You can have anything I can afford with a good argument and a kiss.

LOL

I'm the same with Mumsy. I don't buy any fancy clothes, jewlery or anything remotely girly. The chickens are my thing.

The incubator will pay for itself. Sell your extra chicks. Tell your hubby it will pay off in less than a year. Mine was paid off very quickly.

Mine broody gets off the nest, poops, eats and drinks in less than 2 minutes. As long as you are seeing fresh broody poops, I would not worry too much. But some do force their girls to get off the nest to eat and drink. I leave mine alone, otherwise Pig Pen is chasing them around trying to mate with them, the horn dog.

I never see my broody do it, but she does!

 

[aoxa]

Update on the hatch progress

The Orps look like they might start zipping soon..the little crack was a bigger crack...anddddddddddddddd

I have a few silkie pips..

My humidity is at 70 ugh..I might have to pull out my shot glasses.

OH YAY!!!

So happy to hear this!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Genesis 1588 vs. Brinsea. Anyone compare the 2?

 

[aoxa]

No pips. Day 21. First time EVER I sat a batch of eggs in a still air LG and not one pip on day 21. 10 fully formed embryos went into lockdown. I had 63% humidity, and a steady 100 degree air temp reading until that weird high spike at 3:30 pm yesterday. It happened while I was standing there. The temp rapidly climbed to 105 degrees and the humidity jumped to 70%! I have no idea why. I logged the temp and humidity every single hour I was awake. I don't know if this has happened before while I was sleeping. I haven't opened the bator or messed with the adjuster at all. I got the temp and humidity back on track as fast as I could by opening my back door in the same room as the bator to let cold air in the room and added cold water drop by drop through tubing and a syringe through ventilation holes onto sponges. I find it completely weird that that lowered the humidity back to 63% and brought the temp back exactly where it was before at 100 degrees. I don't know what else I could have done to incubate these eggs. I'm not giving up on them for a couple more days. If I have lost this batch, it was by no faulty process of mine. I will blame it on an anomaly of incubator malfunction. My still air LG was new.

I ordered the Genesis 1588 this morning. Free shipping. It should arrive in time for the Catdance eggs.

Found it here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genesis-Hov...285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7dea6c2d

You'll love watching those eggs pip from the huge picture window!

 

[aoxa]

Genesis 1588 vs. Brinsea. Anyone compare the 2?

Genesis.

More room, more eggs. They have more space to move around after hatched. If you want to hatch enough extra to sell to pay for incubator, genesis is the way to go.