Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

soba

Our (4) hens have gone to FiL's house today for a holiday while we go away for a few days. I thought they might have been a bit grumpy when they got there, but they were fine and one went straight into the coop and laid an egg so it looks like they'll be ok. Our coop has evolved over the months since we bought it on ebay, DH's build them an extension and made a few alterations. Have to say that the garden's not looking good at the moment though - they're free range and nothing's been out of bounds, but come the summer we want to grow veg so DH's made some 6' high fencing panels with wood and chicken wire and some fancy hinges that means they're sort of modular and hopefully we can use them to keep the hens out of the veg.

Been chopping veg up tonight and making a pile of green pepper bits and fruit leftovers to chuck out for them but of course they're not there :sad: - just a boring bit of (very much grassless) land.

help_me_please_3

Hi, have got incubator set up with tray of water for humidity and thermometer which seems to be staying at 38 degrees so eggs went in on bottom tray of the poly tray they were sent through the post in, this evening yeh:j. have felt them and they have already warmed up. i feel like an expectant mum.:D
Just hope it all goes ok and temperature doesnt change now ch is off.

help_me_please_3

Frugaldom

Bad news:( Got up this morning and temperature in incubator was down to ony 32 degrees, Ive covered it over a bit more and temperature is back to 38 Do you think ive lost them?

Mumof2_2

Bit of an update here - spoke to DH and told him I'd be happy with chickens (he's been on at me for ages about getting some!) He was thrilled I've 'come around'. So we're looking at probably an Eglu Go and have found somewhere just up the road from here which sells POL chickens. I've been researching the best breed of chickens to have with children (got a 7 and 3yo) and we're not rushing in to anything but probably in 6 weeks or so we'd be more ready.

Good isn't it!

Gigervamp

If you're planning on getting an eglu, I've just seen a post on the downsizer forum where someone is selling one. It's in Bridgend, which is just up the M4 from Bristol. If you're interested, the post is here.

Mumof2_2

Thanks for that - I'll show it to my husband when he gets back from work.

Frugaldom

help_me_please wrote: »

Hi, have got incubator set up with tray of water for humidity and thermometer which seems to be staying at 38 degrees so eggs went in on bottom tray of the poly tray they were sent through the post in, this evening yeh:j. have felt them and they have already warmed up. i feel like an expectant mum.:D
Just hope it all goes ok and temperature doesnt change now ch is off.

You'll need to keep the temperature steady and turn the eggs an odd number of times each day. Turn them every 3 or 4 hours - I pencil mark mine with 'O' on one side and 'X' on the other so I know which way to turn them. Each night, they should be lying on the opposite side to the way they were the previous night. Regulating the temperature, turning and humidity are all important factors in hatching, as is ensuring your hands are scrubbed before touching the eggs, to avoid transferring any bacteria.

Good luck! Hopefully the temperature dropping within the first day or so won't have affected them. The hens tend to sit on them overnight whilst still laying then leave them for a bit before they get down to the business of actually sitting tight.

Gigervamp

Mumof2 wrote: »

Thanks for that - I'll show it to my husband when he gets back from work.

Any luck? The poster is planning on posting it on the Omlet forum if she has no luck on Downsizer.

Mumof2_2

Gigervamp, I've PMd you!

Mumof2_2

Just to let you know I've contacted Chez direct so you don't need to pass on my message. Thanks for drawing it to my attention