Getting acclimated to country

[tortoise]

We have RIR, never had one get broody. The hatchery breed info says they don't. If you have a BO get broody, sneak some RIR eggs under her?

DH made an incubator out of an old cooler. Uses an old thermostat, a light bulb, a little desk fan, and a mason jar of water with a rag as a wick. Works great, we've incubated 5 batches.

 

[Country homesteader]

Right now NOT trying to have any more chicks because old man WINTER will be upon me soon.

 

[sumi]

BO and RIR are both lovely breeds I had some hatchery quality RIR a few years ago. No broodies, but I did not have them very long, only about a year.

 

[Mini Horses]

Right now NOT trying to have any more chicks because old man WINTER will be upon me soon.

Yep -- winter is coming! I like Spring & Fall!!!

I'm here where it stays warm enough well into late Nov to have chicks raised by hens, outside. So, one more batch would be fine with me but, it's a time when most hens have stopped and are thinking about a moult soon.

What I HATE about moult is that my hens free range and you just have sooooooo many feathers that you are constantly looking for
a dead one &/or counting to see if any are missing.

The hens raised are really pretty! I need to get some pics as a couple are lookers....varied color, etc. So far, few roos are showing. That's nice but, it ain't over...couple for sures.

 

[Mini Horses]

DH made an incubator out of an old cooler. Uses an old thermostat, a light bulb, a little desk fan, and a mason jar of water with a rag as a wick. Works great, we've incubated 5 batches.

Do you use an auto turner in it? We may need to see this set up I have one of the cheap-o styro ones that has worked well. Need to buy a turner. But, just can't beat my broody for raising & training beyond hatch! That is the best part to me.

 

[Country homesteader]

I currently have two Mama hens and a third that's going broody.

 

[tortoise]

Do you use an auto turner in it? We may need to see this set up I have one of the cheap-o styro ones that has worked well. Need to buy a turner. But, just can't beat my broody for raising & training beyond hatch! That is the best part to me.

No turner. We re-use plastic egg cartons to hold the eggs. We rotate the carton positions daily and tip the eggs from leaning against one side to the other twice daily.

 

[Country homesteader]

UPDATED PICS:
First pic- Mama #2 and Peepers ( about a week old).
Second pic- Mama #1 and Munchkin ( about a month old).

 

[Country homesteader]

Well, today while I was outside I saw Boo, my EE ROOSTER, doing what a rooster is supposed to do ( being a man) and Mr. Rooster just looked at Boo as to say, "Now I have to share my hens with you too! It's not fair!".

 

[tortoise]

Too funny! We had a docile "hen" turn into my son's pet.... and then into a rooster....