Darla,
I'm glad to know that I'm not the only crazy Ohio person hatching chicks all winter long. I started late in the summer and I just haven't quit yet.
I use cages designed for rabbits and guinea pigs. The ones with the plastic bottoms and wire tops. It sounds expensive compared to cardboard boxes, but I bought them on clearance at a pet superstore for only $10 each! They are very easy to clean, just remove the wire top and wash the plastic bottom out in the sink or tub. Small clip lights are easy to clip to the wire sides. The cages I bought actually have the door opening on the top which is ideal for removing chicks.
I also use shavings. I get the premium pine shavings from our local feed store. They are less dusty, and dust is a problem when you have chicks in your house. I just put a brick in the cage to set the waterer on. It helps to keep shavings out.
Right now I have silkie and frizzle eggs in the incubator due to hatch next wednesday. I also have 4 emu eggs in there which are due to hatch at the same time. The temperature is running at 97 degrees for the sake of the emu eggs, but the silkie and frizzles are developing just as well at the lower temperature.
My only problem is what to do with emus if they hatch! I just had to try hatching them, but I don't know a thing about them. I'm guessing they won't fit in my cages for very long.
Is there any chance you can post photos of your homemade feeders made from the coffee cans?
Sheryl
Ohio
--- In CHICKENS-101@
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> I use cardboard boxes for brooders and as my chicks grow I add another box or two to give them plenty of room to move around. I alway have two brooder lights w 40w bulbs on them just in case one light goes out. I have been hatching and raising chicks all winter here in Ohio and boy has it been cold this year! I also use plastic coffee cans for feeders. I cut the side down to leave 2 to 3" of the side to hold enough feed I want. These work great and are a great money saver! I use them also for my breeders as feeders too but I leave half of the side on it to hold more feed. One other thing I do to help keep shavings out of the chick waters is I made wood 6" x 6" x 4" tall shelf to sit your waters on. I do have a 6" x 6" x 1 1/2" for new chicks waterers. Now if I find a way to keep the shavings cleaner I will let you know...lol Darla
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> --- In CHICKENS-101@
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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