tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84235299104252650592024-02-20T12:52:29.580-05:00Classroom Incubators | Incubation InformationDavid F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-32789644079667228252009-05-12T22:58:00.005-04:002009-06-08T01:18:22.046-04:00Chicken Farming Business<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://www.classroomincubators.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a><br /><br />A chicken farming business is a difficult career, partly because of the many steps required to raise and maintain a flock chickens. It's especially difficult if you are trying to breed your chickens as well as raise them, because if you want your flock to flourish and propagate, you will need them breeding and reproducing.<br /><br /><b>Eggs</b><br /><br />You will need to purchase either a number of fertilized eggs or purchase live chicks. As purchasing eggs is cheaper, we will go with that avenue. Live chicks may be your best bet if you live near a supplier, or you have experience with raising chicks already.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Incubation</b><br /><br />Your eggs need to be incubated in a chicken egg incubator for the right amount of time, depending on the species of chicken. This incubation simulates the heat that the egg would receive from a brooding hen. An egg incubator can be purchased, or one can be fashioned at home. Commercial egg incubators will cost you significantly more than a homemade one, but will also allow an easier time when setting temperature and humidity. Make sure to look up the specifications for your specific species of chicken, and follow all instructions that come with your incubator about temperature and humidity to ensure the maximum successful hatching. For more information about setting temperature or humidity in a homemade incubator, check out the link on the bottom of the page.<br /><br /><b>Brooding</b><br /><br />When they are born, the chicks are very vulnerable to catching disease or cold and need to be kept in a warm, dry environment. You can either purchase a brooder online or build your own, if you can find blueprints or plans. Be wary of paying for this information, as it can usually be had for free. A brooder is an essential part of raising a flock.<br /><br /><b>Enclosure</b><br /><br />Allow your grown chickens a run (area outside on the ground) where they can freely run, and provide a covered enclosure for them to take cover under at night or during rain (remember, chickens catch cold very easily). Lay down straw on a regular basis because the birds need something to make their bests with. If you want to, you could provide so-called 'nesting cupboards' by building or purchasing them. These give the hen an easy place to build their nests<br /><br /><br /><b>Egg Selection for Selling</b><br /><br />The chickens will be serious about protecting their eggs. Be sure your enclosure allows easy access to the nesting cupboards or boxes with minimal contact to the hens, (chickens catch diseases easily, remember?) and wearing thick gloves is encouraged, as an outraged hen can provide a nasty bite. A full clutch of eggs can number up to 12, depending on the species. Be sure to inspect the eggs carefully for cracks, blemishes, etc, and try to clean them gently with a dry cloth if they are dirty. They can be packaged in any number you like, although even numbers seem to be popular. :)<br /><br /><b>Egg Selection for Raising</b><br /><br />If you are hoping to select fertilized eggs for subsequent hatching or sale, (to other people hoping to start a flock, just like you did) you are going to need several roosters for your flock. When you collect eggs, you will need to check what's inside them, through a process called candling. For more information about candling, check out <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/05/candling.html">Candling Chicken Eggs.</a> Your best bet for hatching the eggs is to replace the fertilized ones (you discovered if you they were fertilized by candling) and allow the hen to brood them naturally.<br /><br />This article is a good primer for the basics of learning how to raise chickens for commercial profit, or how to start a chicken farming business. For more instructions on using the brooder or incubator, feeding the chickens, or any other chicken-raising related questions, check out the links below<br /><br />For incubator plans, see <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators</a><br /><br />For a comparison of commercial incubators, see <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators.html">Classroom Incubators</a><br /><br />For information about raising quail, see <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators-duck-incubators.html">Quail Incubators</a>David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-81387799399165095512009-05-11T00:51:00.004-04:002009-06-18T01:05:04.916-04:00Reptile Egg Incubators | Classroom Incubators<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://www.classroomincubators.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a><br /><br /><b>Reptile Egg Incubators</b><br /><br />Lizards and Amphibians are becoming popular pets these days, and many people like to try to raise their own instead of just buying one from a pet store. It can also be very informative for a classroom learning about reptiles to have a class project to hatch a lizard. If you are trying to hatch a reptile egg in an reptile egg incubator, there are some important procedures you need to know first. <br /><br /><b>Choose Your Medium</b><br /><br />The first thing you need to do is choose a medium to rest the egg on while it incubates. There is a lot of debate over what is the best substance to use for this, but the top two candidates are perlite or vermiculite, which should each work just as well. Both of these materials will expand around the egg to ensure proper airflow and prevent mold (which is the biggest concern when incubating reptile eggs).<br /><br />Your medium needs to be moist too. The rule of thumb when determining proper medium-water mixture is to allow the medium to get wet to the point where is barely clumps, but so it won't drip water if squeezed. Try to maintain this consistency until the egg hatches.<br /><br /><b>Egg Container</b><br /><br />This next layer will keep the egg and medium enclosed while inside the incubator. You can decide whether or not your container will have a lid or not, although having a lid can affect the humidity. Be sure to check the humidity settings on the incubator and set accordingly by what species you are trying to hatch. A Tupperware works just great. Holes should be punched in the lid if you use it.<br /><br /><b>Reptile Egg Incubator</b><br /><br />Any properly made homemade or commercial incubator will do. For plans on how to build your own egg incubator, see the link below. If you want to buy an egg incubator, I would suggest the <a href="http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?ref=246&products_id=395&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Hova Bator Thermal Air Flow Incubator</a>Just place the egg, in the medium, in the center of the incubator and set the device to the settings required by your specific species of reptile. Monitor your egg(s) closely, watching if they are too hot, too hot, too damp, too dry. If the eggs seem too wet, and are in danger of molding, remove the cover from the container and reduce water moistening of the medium. Eggs that are too wet may begin to grow mold, and eggs that are too dry may begin to collapse (not to be confused with the normal dimpling of the egg that occurs before hatching). Again, be sure to know the specifications for your species.<br /><br />For more information about making your own egg incubator, see <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators</a>. For more information about choosing a commercial incubator, see <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators.htm">Classroom Incubators</a>David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-29274386311860671722009-05-09T00:21:00.006-04:002009-06-18T01:07:14.148-04:00Candling Duck Eggs | Canding Chicken Eggs<a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://www.classroomincubators.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/tech-fav-1.png" alt="Add to Technorati Favorites" /></a><br /><br /><b>What is Egg Candling?</b><br /><br />Egg Candling is the process of using an illumination source to determine whether or not the eggs you have are fertile. For this, all you really need is a flashlight and a dark room, although if you want to get really precise and well-lit, you should buy an egg candler. For candling duck eggs, candling chicken eggs, and candling quail eggs, the procedure is pretty simple:<br /><br /><b>What to Do- How to Candle Chicken Eggs</b><br /><br />For chicken egg candling and duck egg candling, just hold the beam of the flashlight behind the egg while you are in the dark room so you can see clearly through the egg. You should see one of several things...<br /><br /><b>A faintly visible yolk in the center with an air space on the wide end:</b> This is a freshly laid unfertilized egg. It is approximately a week old or younger, but it has not been in contact with a male of the species.<br /><br /><b>Many thin red veins in a soupy yellow mixture:</b>This is a fertilized and developing egg. This is what you will see for a fertilized egg up until about 10 days after fertilization, when the chick's development will actually fill up the space available and cause the shell to become opaque.<br /><br /><b>Opaque, dark mass in shell, unable to see through:</b>This is a fertilized egg. The chicken growing inside has blocked light from passing through. This egg should hatch after the prescribed amount of time for the species you are trying to raise. If it does not, the chick has probably died inside the egg and the egg should be disposed of.<br /><br /><b>Opaque, but with a large air bubble off to one side of the egg:</b>This is an egg that was fertilized, but the chick has since died. It can be disposed of.<br /><br /><b>Not opaque, but no yolk, and a large air pocket:</b>This is an old, unfertilized egg. It can be disposed of.<br /><br />Candling should be performed once every few days at the very minimum to keep germs and bacteria from broken shells, dead chicks, or rotting to spread throughout the incubator.<br /><br />If you're looking to buy an egg incubator, my suggestion would be the <a href="http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?ref=246&products_id=395&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Hova Bator Thermal Air Flow Incubator</a>. You can't beat Hova-Bator for the good name and product reliability!<br /><br />On way to prevent chicks from dying in the eggs is by egg turning with an automatic turning egg incubator. For more information about how to raise poultry from eggs using an egg incubator and turner, see my article about <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators</a>David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-44154945597735930032009-04-10T17:30:00.010-04:002009-05-17T15:06:41.622-04:00Build Egg Incubator | Homemade Egg IncubatorThis page will have plans for how to Build Egg Incubator<br /><br />First, your homemade incubator needs to have a way to control temperature and humidity. <br />Second, your egg incubator needs to be in a location that is protected from direct sunlight and drafts. <br />Third your egg incubator needs to easily accessible for cleaning and egg turning. <br /><br />Some of the best designs I've seen out on the web utilize some free materials to cut down on costs. Here are how you can obtain the materials to build your own egg incubator. <br /><br /><b>The Body</b><br /><br />The best material for the body of your homemade incubator is a discarded appliance. Microwaves and refrigerators tend to best for this, because they were designed to be airtight, so they aren't so susceptible to drafts or sharp temperature gradients. <br />If you don't have an old appliance handy, it's a simple matter of heading on down to the junkyard or dump to find one. Make sure you scrub it out with bleach and disinfectant, and then let it air out so there are no residual fumes. You can also check <a href="http://craigslist.com"rel="nofollow">Craigslist</a> for people near you dumping broken appliances. <br /><br /><b>Heat Source</b><br /><br />The heat source can be anything that puts out a continuous, steady heat. A 40W light bulb may suffice for your homemade incubator, as long as you can find a way to focus the heat inside the enclosure and maintain a uniform temperature. A regular light bulb, however, can only control the temperature of the homemade incubator to a certain degree. To this end, I suggest you purchase a special kind of lamp called a heat lamp, preferably one with a dimmer switch, so you can control the temperature. A heat lamp can also be used after your eggs hatch, for brooding chicks or other baby animals. You can buy a heat lamp from Amazon, shown on the sidebar.<br /><br /><b>Temperature and Humidity</b><br /><br />You need at least two thermometers, in different locations in your homemade incubator to keep a constant level heat. A standard wet-bulb barometer can be used as a humidity gauge. <br /><br /><b>Turning</b><br /><br />You need to build in a method to turn the eggs three times daily. This should be done with a minimum of open-air interaction, and you should never touch the eggs yourself. <br /><br /><b>Flooring</b><br />The most convenient type of flooring to use is a wire grill, that can be placed in the incubator a little off the floor of the homemade incubator. An egg won't roll excessively and it provides an easy way to access and clean the incubator. <br /><br />These are all the components you will need for successful egg incubation. You now know what it takes how to make a egg incubator. See ya next time!<br /><br />Find more information on <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators-quail-incubators.html">Quail Incubators</a> and <a href=href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators.html">Chicken Egg Incubators</a> try these websites. <br /><br />homemade egg incubators<br />how to make egg incubator<br />how to build an egg incubator<br />diy egg incubatorDavid F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-47653278291923169532009-04-05T00:57:00.009-04:002009-06-18T01:07:35.418-04:00Classroom Incubators Quail Incubators | Quail Incubator<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPnUN5wqLfI/SdhE1q8kQFI/AAAAAAAAABo/ihOx3RrhGl8/s1600-h/574px-Quail_eggs.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPnUN5wqLfI/SdhE1q8kQFI/AAAAAAAAABo/ihOx3RrhGl8/s400/574px-Quail_eggs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321078648590319698" /></a><br /><b>Quail Incubators</b><br /><br />One of the most common uses of a commercial egg incubator is for the hatching and raising of quail eggs. Quail is a species of game bird that is used to describe around fifteen certain members of the pheasant family. Because they are different species of bird, they all require different protocol when attempting to use a quail incubator. <br /><br /><b>Quail Specifics</b><br />Depending on the species of quail, different time periods will be necessary. Bobwhite quail take 23-24 days to hatch, and you should stop turning after 20 days. If you have an incubator that turns the eggs automatically, you will need to set this. If you turn the eggs manually, then just remember to stop turning them. Coturnix quail, including the very popular button quail take 18 days to hatch, and you should stop turning after 14. As a general rule, most quail require humidity levels between 50% and 60%. This should be raised slightly after you stop turning the eggs. <br /><br /><b>Preparing the Quail Incubator</b><br />Bobwhite quail, in particular, are notorious for being susceptible to disease and infection. The incubator should always be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized after use. Also, get the incubator running and functioning fully 24 hours before you expect your eggs to arrive, in order to test for any faulty parts, leaks, cracks, or dirt. When your eggs arrive, ensure that they are also undamaged and fairly clean. A damaged egg can explode in the incubator, exposing the other eggs to contamination risk. If an egg is dirty, carefully wipe it off with a dry cloth. Do NOT use water, as this can be forced through the shell and cause contamination. <br /><br />These are the basics of using quail incubators and raising quail in an incubator. For more information about incubators, be sure to check out the page on <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators.html">Still Air vs. Forced Air Incubators</a><br /><br />If you're looking to buy an egg incubator, my suggestion would be the <a href="http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?ref=246&products_id=395&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Hova Bator Thermal Air Flow Incubator</a>. You can't beat Hova-Bator for the good name and product reliability!<br /><br />Learn how to build your own egg incubator at <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators.</a>David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-21195088624661665862009-04-04T22:31:00.006-04:002009-06-18T01:14:13.601-04:00Classroom Incubators Forced Air Incubators | Still Air Incubators<b>Forced-air vs. Still-Air Incubators</b><br /><br />BEFORE YOU BUY AN INCUBATOR: <br />Make sure you read my article about<a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/classroom-incubators-duck-incubators.html"> Chicken Egg Incubators</a><br /><br /><b>Still Air Incubators</b><br />Still-air incubators are the older, less fancy incubators on the market these days. Also known as thermal incubators, they operate by raising the temperature in an enclosure without circulating any air. A still-air incubator should be kept in a dry, warm place that does not get exposed to direct sunlight or drafts. A well-ventilated basement is perfect. The surrounding room temperature should be no less than 70 F. It can be difficult to maintain humidity in a still-air incubator.<br /><br /> <br /><b>Forced Air Incubators</b><br />Forced-air incubators are newer and more common these days. Forced-air incubators use a circulation fan to maintain a constant temperature throughout the incubator. This allows for more consistent temperatures and humidity levels. Most forced-air incubators can be modified to allow easy access to the eggs, to turn them. Always follow all the instructions that come with the incubator. Also do some research to find out specific temperatures that your egg should be incubated at, depending on what you are trying to hatch.<br /><br /><b>So What Company Should I Buy From?</b><br />If you're looking for a small reliable incubator that will meet all your small incubation needs, I suggest the <a href="http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?ref=246&products_id=395&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Hova Bator Thermal Air Flow Incubator</a>. You can't beat Hova-Bator for the good name and product reliability!<br /><br /><b>If You Don't Wanna Buy...</b><br /><br />Consider learning <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators</a> at my free guide.David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8423529910425265059.post-43757592821157454572009-04-03T13:59:00.012-04:002009-06-18T01:13:19.918-04:00Classroom Incubators Duck Incubators | Quail Incubators | Reptile Egg Incubators<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPnUN5wqLfI/SdgTpy93jiI/AAAAAAAAABY/cmNNqAtUSs0/s1600-h/chicken.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPnUN5wqLfI/SdgTpy93jiI/AAAAAAAAABY/cmNNqAtUSs0/s400/chicken.jpg" border="0" alt="This chicken was probably hatched in an incubator. ;)"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321024568515071522" /></a><br /><b>What is an Egg Incubator?</b><br /><br />An egg incubator is any device or enclosure that can keep the eggs of birds or reptiles at a constant, high heat.<br /><br /><b>What do we need an Egg Incubator for?</b><br /><br />A egg incubator is used for simulating the warmth produced by normal maternal care. In most cases, a female bird will 'nest' on the eggs, keeping them at a constant high temperature. For those attempting to raise their own birds or reptiles, at home, in a lab, or in a classroom, an egg incubator is crucial. You can learn <a href="http://classroomincubators.blogspot.com/2009/04/build-egg-incubator.html">Homemade Incubators</a> by yourself with my guide. <br />What an egg incubator is, is basically a large ventilated box that maintains the heat and humidity levels necessary for healthy embryo development. Birds usually turn their eggs periodically, to prevent the yolks from sticking to the side of the shell. More sophisticated incubators will do this also, but with more basic ones, you will have to do it by hand. <br /><br /><br /><b>What animals can egg incubators be used for?</b><br /><br />An egg incubator can be used to incubate the eggs of most birds and poultry, as well as reptile eggs. Especially common is their use for chicken eggs and quail eggs, although they can be used for more diverse animals like parrots and lizards.<br /><br /><b>What egg incubator should I buy?</b><br /><br />If you're looking for a solid quality product, I would suggest the <a href="http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?ref=246&products_id=395&affiliate_banner_id=1" target="_blank">Hova Bator Thermal Air Flow Incubator</a>. You can't beat Hova-Bator for the good name and product reliability!David F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00151034541131707023noreply@blogger.com0