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5 basic categories of chicken incubators, ideal egg incubators For Chicken Entrepreneurs, their famous suppliers

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An incubator is a special device that provides an egg with the best and most suited conditions for its growth and development. It achieves the process by making use of certain mechanisms which are environmentally controlled. At the time of buying an incubator, you should make sure that you have the best device so that the egg may develop properly and completely. There are a number of varieties and types of incubators that are available in the market, so doing some research in this regard is going to guarantee the least harm. Now here, there are some people who prefer borrowing incubators from their relatives and friends, so that they may have an idea about the hatching of thee eggs. In other word, they plan to gain some basic idea about the incubation process in advance. Cheap incubators and devices are supplied at low rates, but with little or no customer services and support, which is indeed an important factor that you should consider. Buying an incubator, from a reliable and reputed chicken incubator or a turkey egg incubator supplier is all that you need. Below are some of the types of the poultry egg incubators which are being used these days.

Household incubators

As the name suggests, these incubators are most utilized by the people who plan to hatch the eggs within their household or on a very small scale. So, as they are designed for the household settings very little monitoring is required for them. Now these incubators may be fully automatic, semi-automatic and manual incubators, all of which are readily available in the markets. The exact temperature to be used for the incubation process depends on the control and other characteristics of the incubation machine, which is a factor that all the farmers and specialists should always keep in mind.

           

Multi-Sage Incubators

Multi-sage incubation relies on the constant operation of the machines for a set period of time. These incubators are operated continuously in which the eggs are added into the settings once or twice a week. A constant supply is maintained for the eggs at all times for their growth. One of the main advantages of making use of these incubators is the low maintenance and production cost and the simplicity of the entire operation. The core process of these incubators is the transformation of the heat generated by the old eggs and the use of this heat for the new eggs that are to be processed in the incubators. Another important thing here is the use of the same size and types of eggs for the incubation process. Furthermore, the aspects of ventilation and incubator temperature should always be given due importance for the successful completion of the hatching eggs and all other incubation processes.

Single Stage Incubator

Considered to be one of the most natural mechanisms for achieving incubation, the single stage incubation is also used these days. It has been named as single stage incubation because all the eggs inside the device are kept and grown at the same stage of development. The machine is filled in for each setting and then emptied out for the each of the transfers. For those who do not know, this type of incubation is also known as the all-out incubation process. Moreover, the incubator also works on the principles of ventilation, humidity and all other important aspects necessary for the growth and hatching of the eggs.

Tunnel and industrial Incubators

These incubators also make use of the multi-stage mechanism for achieving the process of incubation and hatching of the eggs under environmentally controlled conditions and processes. They are mostly used for the large and commercial poultry farms in addition to the industrial incubators which are also used on a large scale. It is because of their large scale used that a number of mechanisms are used for maintaining the productivity and efficiency of the process at all times. The prices of the industrial and tunnel incubators also vary depending on the quality you plan to buy. Furthermore, you should also try to consider the reputation of the supplier from whom you plan to buy these incubation machines.

Top 5 Chicken Incubator Suppliers

1)      Dayal Poultry

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2)      Ali Baba Chicken and commercial incubators

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3)      Panda Poultry

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4)      Wuxi Sinopfe International Trading Corporation

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5)      Stromberg Incubators

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Ideal chicken Incubators,egg candler For Chicken farmers

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Advanced Chicken equipments Are Ideal For Chicken Entrepreneurs

Wanting to possess your personal chickens or ducks? Are you currently searching to spread out a chicken business? The great procedure for incubating and hatching eggs could be a fantastic project in class or everyone or perhaps a rewarding business enterprise. Within this venture or hobby, watching eggs hatch and turning from its eggs truly provides an amazing feeling and experience.

Egg incubators/candler are wonderful equipment and supply not just fun but rewarding experience too. Such equipment introduces you and also allows you have the astonishing realm of hatching eggs. Before starting on any egg hatching project, you should know using such equipment correctly.

If you have been different types of incubators with assorted dimensions for several types of creatures eggs like turtles, wild birds, and snakes which will match anyone’s budget and space. These come in a number of form, size in addition to cost yet they have got only one goal which would be to hatch eggs. It keeps the eggs warm and offers a appropriate atmosphere on their behalf.

You will find several incubators in addition to farm, incubation and reptile supplies in big selection from plenty of local or online farm supply stores. This equipment includes instructions and knowledge on incubating and hatching eggs. Fanatics attempt to hatch and lift their very own chicks, turtles, wild birds, ducks another reptiles by utilizing small incubation equipment. While chicken business proprietors take advantage of chicken incubators to hatch 100s of eggs at any time, consequently making the arena of egg incubating and hatching available.

If you buy an incubator, make sure to frequent reliable online farm supply stores offering a range of egg incubators at best prices. Whenever you are trying to find bird incubators or reptile incubators make sure to choose individuals that provide convenience, efficiency and cost. You may even find some that are created to be utilized by kids for varsity experiments, family club activities, scout clubs or small at-home project. Bear in mind they aren’t toys, hence children should be always supervised when you use such device.

But they must be utilized by children under adult supervision because they are not toys.

It is best to buy individuals that include fan, thermometer, automatic turning and alarm since you can leave your eggs and know your hatching status. Additionally this can help you save time and effort checking and assisting the entire process of incubation. For big incubation projects specifically for chicken farm work, automatic incubators are created using the professional chicken or bird raiser in your mind and therefore are excellent because they can hold a large capacity of eggs, have advanced features, electronic components and systems, delivering incredibly precise and effective egg incubation.

If however you are an operating kind of person you have careful analysis help make your own incubation equipment. You’ll find numerous sites that provide information about how you may make your personal quite simple incubation equipment from common electric container or materials throughout the house.

Artificial incubators are perfect for any incubating and hatching project because they prevent bad batches of eggs, saves effort and time plus produce great results.

Whether you are an enthusiast or perhaps a professional breeder it is usually better to use quality chicken incubators and reptile supplies.

Ostrich Products, Characteristics and Breeding

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Surely, the ostrich can be classified to be the largest among all the living birds on the face of the earth. The adult males can reach to the height of about 2.4 m together with a weight of about 100 KG. Although they are categorized among the birds, they are unable to fly. The reason for this can be linked to their huge body size due to which they are unable to go for a flight. Other Ostrich Characteristics include a long neck, lengthy legs and their running speed. Their long legs are what that enable the ostrich to run at a speed of about 70 KMPH. Not to forget their strides which are extended up to 8m. Below are some more Ostrich Facts.

Sexual Features and Characteristics

At the age of 4 to 5 years, the wild ostriches are able to engage in the process of reproduction. On the other hand, the domesticated ostriches are able to do the same at the age of 3 to 4 years. The black and white plumage appears on the body of the male ostriches at the times of maturity. For the females, the plumage appears to be of a dull coloring. When the ostrich mating time arrives, the plumage attains a more bright color while the skin transforms its color to bright red.

ostrich characteristics

Soon after the birth, the male and females appear to be quite the same, but can be distinguished through the examination of their sexual organs. It can be quite difficult at that time because the size of the penis in the males is quite small, thus it can be confused with the female’s clitoris. When the birds reach the age of about 7 to 8 months, the gender can be determined on the basis of their urination styles. A complete distinction among them is possible at the age of 2 years. The wing quills among the males turn out to be pure white, while for the females they are marked in terms of the grey and black colored rings. Moreover, the feathers on the tail happen to be white or yellowish brown for the males and mottled light and dark grey for the females.

Mating or Breeding of Ostrich

In terms of the breeding patterns for ostriches, the males are polygamous i.e. they are well able to mate with more than 1 females at the same time. This pattern also holds true for the domesticated Ostrich Farming settings where the ostriches are mated in pairs, duos and trios. At times of the breeding season, the male ostriches make stylized sounds and wing movements in order to attract the females towards them. At the same time, the females place their wings in the horizontal direction, thus signaling the male for the start of the Ostrich Mating process. In order to initiate the process, the female crouches so that the male might be able to allow his penis to enter into her cloaca. The process of consummation continues with the male’s groaning sound while the female shakes her head during the process.

ostrich mating

There are special environmental settings in which the Ostrich Eggs are laid. The female is able to lay the eggs soon after the mating process is complete. The females which are highly fertile are able to lay around 80-100 eggs sequentially while the breeding season progresses. Now if the eggs might not be removed, the female will prefer to incubate the eggs during the day time, while the male would incubate them till dawn for facilitating the Hatching Eggs. So, for the commercial farming, it is imperative that the eggs are removed at least twice a day. Now here, if the female would be allowed to incubate the eggs, she is going to stop the egg laying process for a period until her chicks reach the age of about 4 to 5 weeks, thus leading to an increased financial loss for the farmers.

The Breeding Season

Ostriches are categorized to be seasonal breeders, as they are only able to mate at specific times of the year. On an average pace, the breeding season for the birds last for about 6 to 8 months on a yearly basis. This timing can indeed vary depending upon the factors of latitude and longitude at different locations. In the regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the breeding process starts during the month of March and ends in August/September. For the regions of the Southern Hemisphere, the season commences in Aug/July and lasts till March.

How to Breed Ostriches

Before you plan to invest in the ostrich business, it is better to have an overview of the market saturation and the profits that are linked with it. For the purpose of breeding ostriches successfully, below are some instructions which you would need to follow.

1. Properly allocate a breeding space to the ostriches and replant the paddocks so that the chances for the microbes to infect the eggs might be reduced. Bags.

2. Keep the males and females separately before the breeding season in order to notch up their moods for the mating process.

3. Allow the ostriches to select their partners freely and naturally by allowing to be the grouped with each other.

4. Try to be careful at times of collecting the eggs, as the males can turn out to be aggressive while protecting their eggs.

5. Use a good quality incubator for the process of incubation. Furthermore, the temperature should be maintained around 96 to 99.5 Degrees F.

6. Turn the eggs for 5 to 24 times on a daily basis.

7. 3 to 5 days before the hatching time, you should transfer all the eggs to some separate incubators.

incubating of ostrich eggs

Ostrich Products

A large variety and classes of ostrich products are now being produced for the Ostrich Markets, due to which they are now being referred to as the Farms of the Future. The reason for which they are preferred these days is due to their meat, feathers, eggs and the hide. The feathers are used for cleaning of machines, equipments and for decoration as well as in fashion industry. The ostrich leather is the most expensive among others and is used for making shoes, jackets and bags. The meat that is produced by them tastes similar to beef and related products. Moreover, the meat also contains lower levels of fat in comparison to other types of meat. The eggs that are laid by the ostriches are the largest in size among all the birds in the world. In addition to their usage for meat and leather, they are also being studied and explored for medical purposes.

ostrich products

Bio Security Guide for Poultry Farmers

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Bio security in poultry farms is designed for the protection of the animals against the outbreak of a number of diseases. It is achieved by making use of several strategies and practices that the minimum levels of contagious organisms are able to farming settings. It is a fact that bio security is indeed the cheapest of all the methods which can be used for the prevention of any disease. There is none of the disease prevention that is going to function without the use of this mechanism mentioned in almost all of the poultry farm guides.

Defining Bio security

There are three different components through which bio security in poultry production can be understood. These include

  • Isolation
  • Sanitation
  • Traffic Control

Isolation refers to the process of keeping the animals confined and protected in a specialized environment. An example of this might be the use of fences which help in keeping your animals protected and at the same time also help in keeping the predators out of the specified area. The in and out management styles also come in handy in taking the animals out at certain times, so that the cleaning process might be performed.

The second crucial component here is the use of traffic control for controlling the traffic that goes into and out of your farm.

traffic control at farm

The processes of sanitation ensure that the materials are never disinfected. Furthermore, it also makes sure that the personnel entering the farm from time to time are also infection free.

It is due to the size of the larger farms and the number of animals imported and exported that the bio security measures are of extreme importance for maintaining the productivity of the farm.

The poultry bio security personnel should always be vigilante in working the health maintenance professionals at the farms for the purpose of providing a better environment to the animals for their growth and protection.

Spread of Microorganisms

The contaminated equipment is one of the major reasons for carious microorganisms  that are able to effectuate the cleanliness of the environment and the health of the animals. The same also applies to various animals including rodents and wild birds that might come to cause the spread of these minute sized organisms. Moreover, the animals such as dogs, cats, beetles and flies also come to cause this diffusion of viruses. So, for the sake of enhancing the bio security of their farms, the poultry producers should make use of the following tips and poultry management practices.

wild birds

Minimal Visitors

You should always try to ensure that the minimum numbers of people are able to enter the farm. Furthermore, you should also ensure that the people who do enter the farm have a protective layer of materials and some special clothing so that they might not initiate the spread of infections. The people who should be restricted at the farms include friends, relatives, utility service personnel and many more. In simple, allow only those few number of people who are responsible for managing the devices and instruments for keeping the environment clean and intact for the growth of the animals. Now here you can make use of the method of record keeping at your farm. This might come in handy in knowing the people responsible for the spread and in taking the actions necessary for the disease prevention in poultry.

kepp restricted visitors

Limiting the visits to other farms

Poultry farmers and professionals should also ensure that they do not frequent visits to other farms, as this might increase the chance of diseases transfer from one farm to the next. But if the visit is inevitable, then do take some necessary precautions for limiting the effectuations of the viruses and microorganisms on other farms.

how poultry diseases are spread

Pest and Rodent Control Programs

The poultry farmers should consult with the poultry health professionals and personnel for introducing and using several pest and rodent control programs, as these animals might come to cause a great deal of damage to the health of all the domesticated animals and birds. It is through the elimination of these pests and rodents that you would be able to reduce the levels of risk linked with the spread of contagious viruses and disease control measures.

Inspection of Flocks

Make all possible arrangements for the inspection of your flocks at regular intervals. It is recommended here that try to carry out this inspection 4 to 5 times a week, so that any emerging disease might be grappled and dealt in time. This process would also ensure that the diseases and viruses are not diffused from one animal to the next. Moreover, the detection procedures used should also be efficient enough for pointing out even the minor presence of microorganisms and other transmissible viruses.

Keeping the Outside Environment Clean

The poultry owners and farmers should ensure that all the grass and weeds are cut in time, especially the ones that surround the farm. It is in these grassy environments that the rodents seek refuge and come to attack the animals in times of high susceptibility.

Inspecting disease symptoms:

The poultry farmers must be aware of disease symptoms that might appear in the flocks because of virus’s spreadation. Early detection provide a better control on further spreading of disease, symptoms that might occur are

  1. lack of appetite and energy
  2. reduction in egg production
  3. misshaped or soft-shell eggs
  4. swelling of eyes, head, comb, hocks and wattles
  5. discoloration of legs, combs and wattles
  6. nasal discharge
  7. sneezing, wheezing and coughing
  8. diarrhea
  9. excess or sudden mortality other  than clinical signs

 

Types of Chicken Breeds

4 Basic Types of Chicken Breeds for Your Backyard

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There are limitless and infinite reasons for backyard chickens. In addition to making coop arrangements, you also need to consider the type of chicken breeds that will be most suited for you. Today, there are nearly 60 different chicken breeds that are distributed all over the planet. Moreover, the same applies to their variants that have been produced by using the different techniques and procedures of genetic engineering. For your ease, I have also included chicken breeds with pictures.

It is quite corroborated that your decision about selecting the backyard chicken breeds should be based on what you want to have out of them. There are numerous facets because of which people love to buy chicken breeds for themselves. Below I would be sharing with you all about the 4 dominant types of chicken breeds which are going to be helpful whether you plan to keep a chicken breeds for eggs or just some broiler chicken breeds . It is imperative for you to be clear in your head about the prime motive or purpose for keeping the chicken breeds. Without any further ado, here are the 4 basic types of chicken breeds.

You may like to see other types of chicken breeds such as white and black chicken breeds, heritage chicken breeds, rare chicken breeds, egg laying chicken breeds and small chicken breeds.

Egg Laying Breeds

The egg laying chicken breeds can be linked to the Mediterranean class of chickens which lived hundreds of years back. In other words, these egg laying chicken breeds trace their ancestral origins to these specific classes of breeds. Moreover, these chicken breeds are selected in lines to their genetic makeup which makes them the most optimal for the purpose of egg production. At the same time, they have small bodies due to which they are undesirable for meat production purposes. It is also due to the size of their bodies that they are able to direct all the nutriments towards the egg production, which is another reason for their increased egg production. In addition, these breeds are also classified in terms of the color of their eggs. There are those which produce white shelled eggs and the ones which lay brown colored eggs. Now here, the White Leghorns are believed to be the most prolific layers for the white eggs.  The Black and White Minorcas  and the Anconas  also lay white colour eggs.

Egg laying chicken breeds

Meat Production Breeds

The meat chicken breeds are in reality cannot be termed as pure chicken breeds after all. It is due to their hybrid nature, all because they are produced from the combination of different breeds. At the times of pairing the breeds, the genetic engineers and poultry producers prefer to obtain certain meat characteristics. Some of these breeds grow much faster in comparison to others and also come to have a larger body size. For the sake of meat production, there is no other chicken breed that can match the fast and multifaceted growth of the Cornish Cross (Including the White Cornish and Plymouth Rock). Moreover, the breeds are named after the breeding company that processed them or paired them like Peterson, Hubbard or The Arbor Acres. The prime weakness of these breeds is that they are not capable to lay some large number of eggs in comparison to the other different breeds of chicken.

Meat Production Chicken Breeds

Dual Purpose Breeds

The dual purpose chicken breeds include a number of American and English breeds include the Plymouth Rock, Sussex, Wyandottes, New Hampshire etc. In addition to giving a reasonable number of eggs, they are also optimal in terms of their meatiness. Although their meat production capacity is quite low in comparison to the commercial hybrid breeds, still they happen to much better for egg production.

Dual Purpose Chicken Breeds

Cold Weather Breeds

For the areas that are marked for their extremely cold weather, there are certain chicken breeds which should be preferred over all others. Moreover, it is also better to utilize a standard size chicken than the bantam chicken breeds. The breeds that do quite well in the cold weathers include Plymouth Rock, Sussex, Rhode Island Reds and some others. At the same time, you can also consult with a number of local sources and farmers in order to have a better idea about the breeds. Choosing a chicken breed can become a tough job, especially for those who happen to be rookies or novices in the domain of poultry breeding.

Cold Weather Chicken Breeds

Guide For Introducing New Chicks With Older Flock

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Since ages people have been raising various kinds of poultry birds in their backyards. True that, those are attached to this kind of work aim to expand their collections for fun; it’s indeed enslaving hobby. I have seen a live example in my family; my father is fond of keeping backyard birds. We have turkey, guinea fowl and lots of chickens there, but my father has special love and attention towards the chickens. Often he loves introducing new hens to a flock. With time he has learned a lot about the bird behavior and now he easily gets through the task of introducing the newer friends. Many of you must not know that the older flocks are not very much friendly, and they have adjusting issues with new friends.

If you continue to go through the excerpt, you would have a better idea how to deal with the issues and the harsh behavior of the older flock,there is some concepts which need to be understand

 Pecking order in the chicken - something you must know:

Poultry birds have some sort of their own developed psychic; if you talk about chicken only, they behave at their best when in smaller groups; in other words, they seem comfortable with a few friends and prefer squeezed social circle. Pecking order – if you are a backyard bird raiser, you must have an idea about this cliché – pecking order is not a scientific term, it basically means that the flock must have an order, or you can say a hierarchy. This would help all the hens know their standing and position; so, if you are looking towards to introduce a few more fellows in the already existing order, indeed you would face trouble, however, if you re-establish the order, you can overcome the issue easily.

pecking order in a chicken

Further, an established pecking order does not require any changes because the chicken at the highest level would be definitely stronger than the others. Even the maturity level would be different than the rest, so none of the bottom level chicken ever thinks of challenging the robust one. So, whenever introducing newer friends in the flock, think that you are somehow or the other destroying the family bonding; so in order to avoid the chaos, re-establishment of the pecking order would be the best tip.

Territory:

Another issue that requires immediate attention when mixing new chickens to a flock is territory; the older chickens which are now quite happy with their old members seriously doesn’t want any younger flock in their established kingdom. The sense of invasion makes them angry and they retaliate. So what can be done here is; you must establish two territories. For example, within your farm, you must carefully draw two territories and keep newer away from the older ones. They would look at each other daily and within a week or so their acceptance level towards each other would establish. This tip seriously works best.

territory issues

 Bulling:

How can you keep a small dog with a ferocious big one? Similarly, you cannot keep a big robust rooster (above one year) with a premature growing cockerel (male bird less than one year). The maturity level between the new inductees and the older flock must be more or less the same. This issue is quite sensitive and you must keep in mind the age group and the sex of the birds too. At the same time make sure those who are getting bullied still get their required food, water and proper space.

bulling in chicken

Other than the mentioned valuable options, quick tips that would help you in mingling the newer flocks with older ones include;

1- Introduce pairs:

First of all make sure the new chickens that you are adding to the flock are good friends. For this, you can keep them together for a week or so; once their bonding is good enough, you can introduce them to the new group of friends – by doing this, you will simply avoid the major threat that new inductees would feel lonely as even if the older flock is not accepting, they would be friend with each other.

2- Introduce new pairs at night:

Many times it’s more practical to introduce new pairs during the night when the older flock is sleeping. Experience says this, the older chickens barely pay attention to such entries and hassles are on minimum scale.

3- Expand the space:

If you would be entering new hens without expanding the farm space, then the fights between the birds would be nothing new. If the number of chickens would be more than space and food containers, then there would be a complete mess in the farm.

4-Divide run:

Use a roll of wire to separate their run area for a while to allow the new flock to establish their area. Your established flock will get use of their smell and sound.

5-New space:

If possible introduce them in a new place for both of them. This will discourage old flock making their territory claim.

6-Food and water adequacy:

Ensure your new flock is given sufficient food and water before introducing with old flock, they may temporarily leave their eating habit and may get be bullied so make sure there is adequate food and water there.

7- Different age groups must be kept separately:

There is no point off mingling a baby hen with the older aunties. Trust me; this would lead to severe fights and bullying. Make sure you properly differentiate between the age groups of chickens.

8- Never let the weak suffer:

Chickens have the habit of playing pretty rude – they always attack on the newer weaker fellows. So, in you are making the mistake of merging weaker with bigger ones, you will end up creating a fight between the flocks.

9- Create distractions:

New chickens can be introduced by making the older chicks busy; I have seen my uncle doing this. He used to hang some fresh pieces of lettuce inside the chicken coop; but they used to be far away from the birds reach. The older chickens will get busy with the distractions and that’s the point where you can add newer fellows.

10- Play the game to add and subtract:

What you can do is take out a few older chickens from the farm and then add newer ones. By doing this you would easily get away with the problem of chickens acceptance towards each other. For example, if you are removing two roosters then add one new rooster. This would help females in getting attached to him.

Chicken Eggs Hatching Accessories and suppliers

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Egg/Chicks Hatching Accessories

Incubating and hatching chicken eggs from domesticated individuals is one of the most famous processes when it comes to commercial and large scale farming. A number of accessories and kits are used for achieving the process, which is in a number of ways pretty complex. The accessories to be used vary according to the number of chickens and eggs to be hatched. If you plan to do the hatching in the home based settings, then the some large investments and purchases may not be required. Till now, a number of refinements in egg incubation have been done by the specialists and scientists who have done years and years of research. However, the fundamental techniques of incubation never seem to change. Below are the various kits and incubator accessories used for the process which are also mentioned in a guide to egg hatching accessories/machines.

EGG CANDLER & SCALES

These scales are used in order to test and review the weight of the eggs. For those who have some experience in the farming business, the importance of these scales and devices can never be denied, as the weight of the egg is also a determinant of the price. Candling eggs alongside weighing is very crucial for the success of the farming business. Candling mechanisms enable you to have some idea about the development of the egg and the various stages it passes through before finally changing to the chick, which is the last step in egg maturation and development.

Thermometers And Hygrometers

Taking regular measurements and readings about the egg temperature is of great importance in the hatching process. Some of these best devices are also able to record and measure any changes in the overall humidity and temperature changes that might be seen from time to time. The temperatures are displayed in Celsius and in Fahrenheit, both of which are the standards. So, getting a more accurate reading is something which you should keep in mind when purchasing these devices.

Egg Boxes and Egg Trays

When the eggs are fully prepared and ready for being sent to the markets, then you should look for the personalized boxes and trays in which they would be kept and stored. Using personalized trays is necessary for pointing out the consumers and other buyers about the types of eggs. In short, egg packaging and manufacturing is dependent on the use of these boxes and trays.

Incubator Inserts and Cradles

The type and form of incubator inserts and cradles to be used depend on the egg capacity. The larger inserts are more suitable for the bigger sized incubators. Furthermore, the larger inserts are also much stronger and durable in comparison to the smaller ones. These inserts are suitable for the chicken eggs no matter what the size of the eggs might be. The same also holds true for the cradles which are also an essential component in egg hatching.

Egg Washing

Farms and hatching houses all around the world make use of a number of egg washing procedures. Typically, more than 30 % of the eggs are dirty when they are collected. A number of abrasives are used in comparison to the usage of water which is much more typical. Loofas are also used when it comes to the cleaning of the eggs. Most of these procedures are most suited for the small scale eggs, but when it comes to the commercial modes, then it is better off to make use of the immersion washers and devices. But here an important thing to note is that a number of old and low quality washers are also available in the market, so try not to buy these cheap washers.

Plastic Nest Eggs and Egg Incubator Spares

In order to keep the hens broody, the plastic eggs would always prove to be of much use. They also come in handy for the indication of the best nesting sites. In addition to this, a number of egg incubator spares are also useful for the hatching process which is to say the least pretty complex. The kits might include fans, ventilators, motors and other modulators necessary for the air control.

Heat Control and Egg Washing Spares

For the purpose of egg washing, a number of variant egg washers are used including the Rotamaid and supawash sparers all of which are very effective for the washing process. The same degree of preferences and importance should also be given to the heat control mechanisms and temperature adjustments, all of which are dependent on the use of the heat control spares and devices.

Top 4 chicken eggs hatching accessories Suppliers

1) SolwayFeeders chicken eggs hatching accessories

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2) Maplin Chicken eggs hatching accessories

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3) Eggboxes.com chicken eggs hatching accessories

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4) Eggcartonstore.com chicken eggs hatching accessories

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breed of chickens

Guide to Select a Right Breeds of Chickens For Backyard

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At the time of launching a poultry farm you do have a wide array of choices to choose from. Chickens have been kept by humans for thousands of years now for a number of different purposes. Due to this domestication, a number of breeds of chicken have been resulted. In a similar way to animals that come in different types, the chicken breeds differ from one another in terms of their characteristics, about which you should be well aware. In other words, you should know about the specific characteristics of each chicken breed in order to have an idea about which types of chicken breeds would be best suited for your farm.

It is all by doing some research that you would be able to have an idea about the best chicken breeds for eggs and meat. When it comes to selecting the right backyard chicken breeds, the following are the breeds about which you should know.Here are some of the most preferred chicken breeds with pictures.

Plymouth Rock

In terms of the top ten chicken breeds, the first in line is the Plymouth Rock. Many years ago, this chicken breed used to be the most common in America. You can select this breed from a number of different options. One of the most common of them all is the black and barred ones. Moreover, these birds are of a calm and friendly nature, due to which they are best suited to being kept in any setting.

plymouth-rock-chicken

Rhode Island Breed

Next in line we have the Rhode Island Breed which is also very common and preferred among the backyard chicken farmers. They are available in two different types including Rhode Island Red and The Rhode Island White. It is their docile demeanour, which makes them one of the most preferred to farmers. Furthermore, it is also able to adapt very well to all forms of free range as well as combined settings. On a yearly basis, it is also able to lay around 300 eggs which are brown in colour. That’s not all, as it is also known to be the best chicken for laying brown colored eggs. The Rhode Island Breed is indeed one of the most famous egg laying chicken breeds.

rhode island

Light Sussex

 Another top chicken breed is the one known as The Sussex Breed. In addition to being present in a number of different types and colors, they are also quite adaptable to any environment. Moreover, it’s also their unique nature which makes them one of the most preferred among all the farmers. Their capacity to lay eggs on a yearly basis falls around 250, which is indeed quite good in comparison to the other different breeds of chicken that are found all over the world. Many farmers, especially the hobbyists love to keep this chicken breed at their homes for quite obvious reasons.

light sussex

Ameraucana Breed

Now moving on, we have another popular breed which you should also consider at the time of selecting the right chicken breed for your farm house or any other setting. The breed is known by the name of Ameraucana. They have a standard size and are mostly kept being one of the dual purpose chicken breeds. Now here, by dual nature it is meant that they are kept for eggs as well as for meat usage, thus making them quite useful in terms of meat chicken breeds. The eggs laid by these birds get really expensive at the time of the Easter Holidays. The reason for this being the beautiful colour of the eggs these birds lay. They are also quite constant in terms of laying eggs on a set schedule. Mostly, this breed is easy to handle and friendly, but there are some that can get really aggressive at times. The colors in which this breed is found include black, blue or brown red.

Ameraucana breed

Ancient Breeds

For those who plan to keep the breeds that are being used since the ancient times, The Anconas and Hamburgs are the ones to be used. These chicken breeds typically lay white colored eggs, but some of the farmers are of the view that these breeds might not be suited for backyard farming, all because of their changing temperament. Other breeds which are also very famous for egg laying include The Minorca, Campine, Orloff, Penedesenca and other broiler chicken breeds. So, now you know how important is it to have some idea at the time of choosing a chicken breed.

anconas chicken breed

Caring and Raising Ducklings

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Are you contemplating about raising these cute little darlings or how to take care of ducks? At times of the Easter Season, these ducklings do find their way into the beautiful gift baskets. For the purpose of caring and raising ducklings, you should always have all sorts of  information about ducks. In comparison to other birds, the ducklings are relatively inexpensive to bring up. Moreover, they can survive easily for a period of 20 years, but with proper caring for a duck and feeding. So, for taking care of ducks or raising a duckling below are some points that you need to ponder.

1. Try not to raise these ducks as house pets. This is because of their habitat that belongs to the open settings and not in the home based environments. You might feel happy in keeping them in your home, but what about the well being and happiness of the ducks. So, if you prefer not be cruel with these darlings, then it is imperative to raise them in the settings to which they rightfully belong.

pet ducks

2. An important personality trait of the pet ducks is their socialization. In other words, their growth is best guaranteed in the presence of other ducks. Moreover, they usually do not fight each other, which is another reason for which keeping them with other ducks is recommended. On the other hand, if you bring them up in isolation, then it is likely that they won’t survive.

ducks as a social animals

3. Make proper arrangements for fulfilling the needs of these animals. In addition to fulfilling their basic needs, you also need to give them with the life which they deserve.

4. In opposition to some misconceptions, ducks are quite intelligent and can respond to your commands. They are capable to play with toys, children and are also able to play a number of games. If they are handled with care and affection from the very start, then it is likely that they are going to become sociable with humans. The element of interaction is the key to raising ducks.

ducks with children

5. The backyard ducks do not demand an open pond or area for swimming. Furthermore, you should also not worry about the odor they give off, as it is quite pleasant in comparison to the chickens.

6. In terms of determining the sex of the ducklings, firstly you need look at their secondary characteristics. For example, the males are marked for having green heads in comparison to the females that lack this feature. For the sake of sexing, you can also consider the voicing style of the domestic ducks which becomes evident as soon as get about 6 weeks old.

male and female ducks

7. For the first few weeks, ducklings need to be kept warm and dry. For this purpose, you should make use of a box or a cage. The temperature of the place should be about 30 Degree C. You can also make use of a light bulb for the sake of heating.

8. Try to keep them away from the water, especially when they are alone. It is because they might become chilled and might also drown at times when the water is too deep.

9. In the winter season, you can let them wander outside if they have enough feathers over their body. These feathers appear at about 4 to 5 weeks after their birth. But in times of extremely cold temperatures, it is better to keep them inside.

Duck Feathers

10. Their shelter should have proper ventilation and area, keeping in view the number of ducklings that are to be accommodated in it. Moreover, the house should also be bedded with sufficient wood shavings and other necessary materials.

11. In terms of feeding ducks, the young ducklings should be fed with started food for baby ducks. For those who are about 3 to 7 weeks, the grower food for ducks might be brought to use. It is also recommended to use some Grit close to them, so that they might use for grinding the food when required. Ducklings care should always be your top most priority. The same applies to the use of water for ducks.

12. In order to deal with the major issue of feces, it is best to make use of a proper diapering system. The diapers used should be changed after a period of 4 hours. But at the time of diapering, you should keep in mind that they should not interfere with their swimming needs. Nonetheless, you should also make all possible arrangements for cleanliness and minimizing the spread of diseases.

duck diapers

16 Reasons that May Lead to Decrease in Egg Production

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A large number of people love to keep backyard chickens for egg production. There might be numerous reasons for this habit. But it really feels amazing to collect eggs from all the next boxes. In other words, gathering eggs from the nest boxes is one of the greatest joys of keeping the backyard chicken. If dealt in a proper manner, then the process might lead to the increase in egg production, thus enabling you to grapple some large profits. At the time, there are a number of reasons that might lead to the fall in the rate of egg production. So, if you feel the egg production rate at your farm is falling, then you need to keep a number of things in mind. Most of the researchers are of the view that the fluctuations in the rate of egg production may be due to behavioral, environmental and emotional factors, all of which can be controlled. Here are the 16 reasons that might initiate a decrease in the rate of chicken egg production.

1. Lighting Conditions and Shorter Days:

One reason for which the egg production might be slowed down is due to the shorter days. On an average rate, a hen requires nearly 12 hours of sufficient day light for the stimulation of the ovaries.

light effect on laying eggs

2. Molting Issues:

During the phases of molting, most of hens stop laying eggs. In order to tackle the problem a number of proteins might come in handy, but it is better to let the molting complete its cycle. Molting in chickens should be dealt in an effective manner in order to ensure that egg production remains constant.

molting in hens

3. Broody Hen:

In this phase, the hens stop laying eggs. Moreover, they also spend the entire day sitting on the eggs, waiting for them to be hatched. The only thing that can be done here is to break the broodiness as soon as possible. Almost all classes of egg laying chicken breeds might suffer from this problem.

broody hen

4. Egg Eating:

There are some chickens that might engage in this irrational behavior. Furthermore, when one hen starts doing this, other hens prefer to follow. For substantiation, you can see a number of broken egg shells in the nest.

egg eating hens

5. Predators:

There is no end to the number of predators who love to eat and steal eggs. Moreover, the hens also get stressed out at the sight of these predators, so it is best if you make all sorts of conducive and safety arrangements for dealing with this issue.

6. Overcrowding:

Another common reason for which the eggs might stop laying eggs, is overcrowding. When you keep a number of chickens in a small area, then the hens might get stressed that will result in lower egg production.

overcrowding hens

7. Change in Nesting Area:

Hens like humans love their homes and the places where they usually lay their eggs. But switching the area from time to time can break their routines and patterns of egg laying.

8. Illness/Disease:

One of the first things to notice in times of decreased in egg production is illness. You must also know that chickens do love to hide their illness at times. So here it is imperative to schedule and perform medical checkups from time to time.

9. Extreme Fluctuations in Weather:

There are some optimal temperatures in which hens lay the most number of eggs. Normally, the temperature range should be from 50-75 Degrees F. Even the slightest of deviations from this range might lead to fall in the egg production.

10. Lack of Ventilation:

Lack of ventilation in the coop leads to the accumulation of ammonia, thus causing various physiological changes in the chicken and egg laying habits of the chicken through respiratory illness.

11. Poor Nutrition:

Those farms that utilize some low quality feeds face this problem more often. So, for having the maximum number of egg yield, you should make use of good quality feeds.

12. Overfeeding:

Just like underfeeding that might lead to diminished egg production, the same also applies to overfeeding. Chickens require a set number of proteins for egg production, but never try to offer them with more than what they require.

13. Lack of Water:

In terms of the internal composition of egg, it is evident that water makes up nearly 75 % of the total mass. Be sure to supply sufficient water for chicken egg laying at all times.

14. Free ranging:

Chickens should be offered with free ranging, but in a controlled manner. Otherwise, they are going to hide their eggs at places you might not be able to track. Mostly the hens lay eggs in the morning times, so it is recommended that you monitor them at these times.

15. Age:

The first 2 to3 years are the ones in which hens lay the maximum number of eggs. With the passage of time, the productivity is going to fall. So, it is best that if you continue adding new chicks to the settings.

16. Stress:

In the end, it is quite visible that a stress free hen happens to be the one that lays the most number of eggs.

stress in hens