Anybody raising chicks this Spring?

[Lazy Gardener]

Nice. I like your heat source. I've often wondered if one could use a hair dryer or other such piece of equipment for the heat source.

Hubby and I built 2 bators. The first was foam with bimetal thermostat. The second was a large picnic cooler with digital thermostat. Both have computer fans, and use 2 x 40W light bulbs as a heat source. I had a heck of a time with managing warm/cold spots in the second bator, so ended up finishing the incubation without the fan. I hand turn, with eggs in cartons which are tilted to turn them until day 14, then finish turning with them laying flat. Hatch rate has averaged 90 - 95%. #1 bator comfortably holds 18 eggs, while #2 bator will handle 24.

I use a MHP brooder and brood incubated chicks outdoors.

Sure is a lot easier to use a broody!

 

[Chic Rustler]

Nice. I like your heat source. I've often wondered if one could use a hair dryer or other such piece of equipment for the heat source.

Hubby and I built 2 bators. The first was foam with bimetal thermostat. The second was a large picnic cooler with digital thermostat. Both have computer fans, and use 2 x 40W light bulbs as a heat source. I had a heck of a time with managing warm/cold spots in the second bator, so ended up finishing the incubation without the fan. I hand turn, with eggs in cartons which are tilted to turn them until day 14, then finish turning with them laying flat. Hatch rate has averaged 90 - 95%. #1 bator comfortably holds 18 eggs, while #2 bator will handle 24.

I use a MHP brooder and brood incubated chicks outdoors.

Sure is a lot easier to use a broody!

Mine will hold around 90 eggs. 300 watts proved too much for the size of the cabinet and caused over shoot. So i choked it down to 150. Works well now. It gets cold in the shed, down in the 20s. The incubator never had an issue keeping up

 

[Lazy Gardener]

SWEET THAT YOU CAN RUN IT IN YOUR SHED. HUBBY WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL CHICKEN RELATED STUFF OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND I REALLY DON'T BLAME HIM!!!

 

[FarmerJamie]

Sale at TSC.....

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Woo Hoo! 'Cept I don't need no more stinkin' chicks or chickens!

 

[CrealCritter]

Plan on doing Jumbo CCX roos this year. I do have a broody sitting, chicks should be hatching in the next week or so.

 

[BarredBuff]

I would love to do some Cornish rocks this fall. Need to fill my pantry!

 

[FarmerJamie]

My eldest spent the day with me. We had a great time. Her idea to pop into TSC. We talked about the "chicken days" of times past. She wants me to get back into it. Well, part of the 2020 possibilities

 

[Hinotori]

I'm hoping to pic up a few chicks next weekend at a poultry show. I cleaned out the broody coop today and will move hens into it in the next few days. I have enough broody silkies to take my pick.