Winter to Spring transition is always hit or miss for me too (although here in Hawaii, *winter* means something entirely different than in Oregon).
I just did a hatch for a buyer, 23 of 39 and they're looking healthy. I'm weirdly more nonchalant about incubator heat now that I saw how badly...
It's getting crazy like it's 2020 all over again! I have 39 incubating but 7 look like duds. Here's how I'm setting them up these days.
Each set of eggs gets a "nest" in the incubator. That way, when one hatches, it rests until it's ready to get move, then exits the nest, leaving the rest...
Is the panic is coming around again? Got an email out of the blue from someone who wants 3-4 dozen quail. I don't advertise, just blog here and there, and the feed store has my name. Anyhow, this is a first for me -- this quantity for immediate sale. I also don't have many hatching eggs...
Is that with the hammer drill holes, or the regular drill ones? The screws I put in without the plastic inserts were well-anchored already, even tighter than when I drill into wood.
Thanks, that makes me feel better now that I know I could have also used a regular drill. Price was good though, the drill itself was an upgrade and as it turns out, having two drills is awesome and saves a lot of time not having to change out bits.
Taking all of your great ideas and trying to expand the coop. Each iteration gets better. I just bought a hammer drill, and I wonder what took me so long. Totally awesome, now I can secure the hardware cloth to the hollow tile and make a solid base with cubby holes for the birds to hide in.
If you're putting this on the ground, cut hardware cloth to bury for keeping birds in, predators out, then ziptie the wire barrier to the bottom of the ground PVC. I love zipties!
Usually $20 per laying hen. Roos are usually bonus birds, no charge. Farm store down the road had Coturnix chicks for $12 each, and another store asked me if I'd be interested in hatching -- the last set someone brought in sold out in under a day.
Could be that egg shortage has folks spooked...
Just out of curiosity, anyone else getting lots of inquiries for new quail? I've been getting quite a few. Most want hatching eggs and a loaned incubator. Several, upon realizing they wouldn't be able to keep all the mature roos, later changed their minds though.
Totally agree. I've even loaned out my incubator to those interested in getting quail and allowed them to return the ones they didn't want. It's a great experience and if they're interested in continuing into the future, it's the best option to learn how.
(TBH, though. Not sure how many...