I have splashed out and bought one of these...

[Snadger]

Maino MPS12 (MANUAL) INCUBATOR FOR 12 EGGS on eBay, also, Poultry Hatching Incubation, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 16-Jan-09 19:51:09 GMT)

Now, what breeds do I fancy hatching? I fancy large fowl of some description for eating/eggs and broodies.

They will be in an ark ( with straight sides 3 foot high) eventually(which I aint built yet) so fancy some breeding trio's of purebreads.......but even though they will be LF I don't want to be cruel by not giving them enough room.

The average size of my veg beds is 4 foot by 12 foot and I have about 30 beds which I can keep moving them around on.

The three type of chook I fancy are Dorkings, Light Sussex and Silver Laced Wyandotte!

Just thought I would bounce my ideas off you lot and hopefully gain a bit of constructive criticism!

[MaureenHall]

well they all look lovely big birds, but the Dorking looks to me as if it'd make a good Sunday roast
Just been looking at pictures and I love the look of Brahma cockerals - but they all cock-a-doodle-doo don't they

[lynda66]

Well for a start, completely ignore the thermometer, where it fits into the hole at the top, it rests on the mesh, and therefore is not the same temp as the egg level.

i got a digital thermometer/hygrometer included with mine, like this Hygrometer/Thermometer Incubator Hatching Eggs Poultry on eBay, also, Poultry Hatching Incubation, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 16-Jan-09 21:09:33 GMT)

i also took advice of a couple of websites on dry incubation, basically just fill up the enclosed pot every 5-7 days, depending on the humidity, as we are a damp country, too much humidity can kill the babies, (by not alolowing the air bubble to develop properly)then a couple of days before hatching, when you stop turning the eggs, add a bowl with a couple of sponges in to raise the humidity to help hatching

which i put at egg level, keep this at 37.5 degrees, the top thermometer will read about 43-44 degrees, so don't panic..... that was the reason i lost 2 lots of eggs, despite the thermometer supposedly being accurate.

i'm hoping for some light sussex next, once auntie mo has finished with the incubator, so i can't tell the difference, and can eat the boys with no guilty feelings.

once hatched, i kept mine in a brooder for a couple of days, then transferred them to a babies playpen, with a bulb they do like exploring though mine are still in the living room ....... i'm all excited again

[lynda66]

oh and you don't get the framework in the base with a manual one, they have put the wrong picture on

[Snadger]

oh and you don't get the framework in the base with a manual one, they have put the wrong picture on

Do I need it?

[Snadger]

Well for a start, completely ignore the thermometer, where it fits into the hole at the top, it rests on the mesh, and therefore is not the same temp as the egg level.

i got a digital thermometer/hygrometer included with mine, like this Hygrometer/Thermometer Incubator Hatching Eggs Poultry on eBay, also, Poultry Hatching Incubation, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 16-Jan-09 21:09:33 GMT)

i also took advice of a couple of websites on dry incubation, basically just fill up the enclosed pot every 5-7 days, depending on the humidity, as we are a damp country, too much humidity can kill the babies, (by not alolowing the air bubble to develop properly)then a couple of days before hatching, when you stop turning the eggs, add a bowl with a couple of sponges in to raise the humidity to help hatching

which i put at egg level, keep this at 37.5 degrees, the top thermometer will read about 43-44 degrees, so don't panic..... that was the reason i lost 2 lots of eggs, despite the thermometer supposedly being accurate.

i'm hoping for some light sussex next, once auntie mo has finished with the incubator, so i can't tell the difference, and can eat the boys with no guilty feelings.

once hatched, i kept mine in a brooder for a couple of days, then transferred them to a babies playpen, with a bulb they do like exploring though mine are still in the living room ....... i'm all excited again

Ooooh hark at er! Thanks Lynda.....will bear your comments in mind!

[lynda66]

Do I need it?

not really

[lynda66]

Ooooh hark at er! Thanks Lynda.....will bear your comments in mind!

lol, don't want you going through what i did with the same incubator ..... the temperature was the problem, as soon as i ignored the thermometer it worked lol

[Noodle]

Maino MPS12 (MANUAL) INCUBATOR FOR 12 EGGS on eBay, also, Poultry Hatching Incubation, Pet Supplies, Home Garden (end time 16-Jan-09 19:51:09 GMT)
The three type of chook I fancy are Dorkings, Light Sussex and Silver Laced Wyandotte!

Couldn't you start off with some of each and then see which ones you really like? I only know the Light Sussex and they are lovely birds and supposed to make good alrounders. I'd get 3 (or so) of each and then get to know the breeds!

[Noodle]

Oops, didn't mean to include the attachment in my quote!

[Birdie Wife]

OOoooo more babies! Hatch some for Easter, that would be really cool I would recomend all of the breeds you have in your list already - but make sure your SL Wyandottes aren't a huge fluffy exhibition type, or you'll find they are more feathers than carcass. Other breeds you might like to have a look at (but may be more difficult to find) are Australorp, Barnvelder, Indian/Cornish Game (really good for meat crossed with other breeds), Marans and Faverolles.

[HayleyB]

Can we bear another Lynda Snadger please be sane........ please

I like Wyandottes, Sussex good layers, would love Brahmas but a bit pointless really as they'd get mud fever