The Old Folks Home

[Cynthia12]

Hey ron...how's it going, haven't said hi in a while. Finally going to cool down here. We are on our last real warm day for a while, in fact, going to get into the mid to low 80's, and even upper 70's. Then back to mid 80's. I can handle that!
How are those Joe Trader chickens doing? Do they lay well..or did you not keep them?

 

[Beer can]

Why abandoning the silkie/giant project?

Naked necks just way too easy to slaughter? Wanna go with them?

Kind of a shame though... After working so hard to get stick from Sandhill.

Keeping the jersey giants! Hatched out some really nice pullets. Just going no further with the cross. I'm actually freezer camping all the pure silkies also, don't want any none essential birds anymore, might revisit the giant silkie project someday, just have too many birds.
The naked necks yes, easier processing, they don't even have hair. They're supposed to be really good meat birds, and

Silkie giant crosses on each side, giant cockerel in back. I culled a giant/silkie cockerel this last weekend, was a pound heavier than the giants and nakeds I culled all about same age. The silkie/giant pullets are a little on the small side.

And the red/black I'm keeping, he's bigger than the white one.

I have someone local raising cornishX and am getting some pullets to add to the nakeds to cross for meat birds. Someone on the NN thread is getting 13.5lb birds in 16 weeks with this cross.
I imagine they would be big enough at 12 weeks or less.
The nakeds I just processed were only 3- 3.5lbs dressed at about 15weeks, nice looking meaty carcasses though. I didn't check live weight.

 

[ronott1]

Hey ron...how's it going, haven't said hi in a while. Finally going to cool down here. We are on our last real warm day for a while, in fact, going to get into the mid to low 80's, and even upper 70's. Then back to mid 80's. I can handle that!
How are those Joe Trader chickens doing? Do they lay well..or did you not keep them?

It has cooled down quite a bit--Highs in the 80s.

The TJ's hens lay like crazy all the time!

I have about 20 of them now.

 

[microchick]

I told DH that I'm caving. I want an incubator for Christmas. My broodies are doing well but I got an awesome looking pullet from my LO rooster over a Buff O hen and I would like to hatch out about 8 more. The only way it is going to happen is if I pen the rooster with some Buff O hens and then hatch the eggs in a 'bator. I told him I'd be budget friendly, especially since I won't use it regularly so I'm torn between a Hova Bator and a Janoel 12. I'd never hatch 48 eggs in a Hova Bator unless somebody goes crazy over my back yard mutts and wants chicks.

Anybody have any experience with either of those incubators?

 

[ronott1]

I told DH that I'm caving. I want an incubator for Christmas. My broodies are doing well but I got an awesome looking pullet from my LO rooster over a Buff O hen and I would like to hatch out about 8 more. The only way it is going to happen is if I pen the rooster with some Buff O hens and then hatch the eggs in a 'bator. I told him I'd be budget friendly, especially since I won't use it regularly so I'm torn between a Hova Bator and a Janoel 12. I'd never hatch 48 eggs in a Hova Bator unless somebody goes crazy over my back yard mutts and wants chicks.

Anybody have any experience with either of those incubators?

If you want a fool proof incubator, go for the Brinsea 20 advance with humidity pump.

look for deals but they will even hatch out goose eggs....ok you have to put in goose eggs...it cannot turn chicken eggs into goose eggs.....

 

[microchick]

Oh yeah, I'd love me a Brinsea. But I'm back to the budget friendly part of the wish list. I think the going rate on a Hova bator is about 100$ if I go with a 1602 N with a turner. The Janoel 12 is about 83. Incu views are REALLY nice. I like the observation dome. But I usually have one or two broodies a year. I have a hen on 11 eggs right now and 15 new birds from two separate hatchings so I wouldn't be using it a lot. I have just about a full house right now with 30 birds from the age of 12 weeks to 18 months with more hopefully hatching in 2 weeks. I really do now need a top of the line, expensive bator, just a reliable entry level one, reliable, with a turner.

 

[FridayYet]

Unfortunately, reliable and entry level often don't go together. Of the two you mentioned, I'd go for the HovaBator

 

[pennyJo1960]

I told DH that I'm caving. I want an incubator for Christmas. My broodies are doing well but I got an awesome looking pullet from my LO rooster over a Buff O hen and I would like to hatch out about 8 more. The only way it is going to happen is if I pen the rooster with some Buff O hens and then hatch the eggs in a 'bator. I told him I'd be budget friendly, especially since I won't use it regularly so I'm torn between a Hova Bator and a Janoel 12. I'd never hatch 48 eggs in a Hova Bator unless somebody goes crazy over my back yard mutts and wants chicks.

Anybody have any experience with either of those incubators?

Go for the Hova Bator hands down I have both bought
within days of each other watch as I paid 104 for mine Hova but it did not include a turner that just cost
me 60 more.. I do admit it less the the one with the turner by 48 dollars

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oh yeah, I'd love me a Brinsea. But I'm back to the budget friendly part of the wish list. I think the going rate on a Hova bator is about 100$ if I go with a 1602 N with a turner. The Janoel 12 is about 83. Incu views are REALLY nice. I like the observation dome. But I usually have one or two broodies a year. I have a hen on 11 eggs right now and 15 new birds from two separate hatchings so I wouldn't be using it a lot. I have just about a full house right now with 30 birds from the age of 12 weeks to 18 months with more hopefully hatching in 2 weeks. I really do now need a top of the line, expensive bator, just a reliable entry level one, reliable, with a turner.

Unfortunately, reliable and entry level often don't go together.  Of the two you mentioned, I'd go for the HovaBator

X2!

Hovabator Genesis 1588 is the best, but the 1602N's are a close second... just ask @Alaskan , lol...

If you can save for a bit longer, I would spring for the Genesis, I've got 2 and 1 has been going almost nonstop for 2 years now, stable and reliable, unless you have severe temp swings in the room it's in... I had a 1602N before it and it was almost as good, but I like the fan and heater combo in the Genesis better...

 

[ronott1]

Oh yeah, I'd love me a Brinsea. But I'm back to the budget friendly part of the wish list. I think the going rate on a Hova bator is about 100$ if I go with a 1602 N with a turner. The Janoel 12 is about 83. Incu views are REALLY nice. I like the observation dome. But I usually have one or two broodies a year. I have a hen on 11 eggs right now and 15 new birds from two separate hatchings so I wouldn't be using it a lot. I have just about a full house right now with 30 birds from the age of 12 weeks to 18 months with more hopefully hatching in 2 weeks. I really do now need a top of the line, expensive bator, just a reliable entry level one, reliable, with a turner.

I would shoot for the top--it is a Christmas present!

Look at craigs list, even BYC BST section. Often hatchers will move up in size and sell the small incubators at a savings.