Hands on hatching and help

tracyjg said:

I wouldn't force an autism child. My older son nineteen has it . Some days he is fine and a big help other days he is not. I get that, do you have a neighbor or friend to help maybe a relative . Who can turn eggs while your gone. I was in a little situation similar when I was in hospital 6 times these year with eggs.!it didn't go will with no one here to hold the fort 5 times gone 24 hrs the sixth time I was in hospital 3 days.

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Never, ever would I force Katie or Kendra to do anything, honestly I wouldn't. Their stories are here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/kids-with-disabilities-can-enjoy-chickens-too , and anyone who is familiar with the relationship I enjoy with them would tell you the same thing. I'm glad to hear of your experiences, though sorry to hear of the reason why.

WVduckchick said:

I would risk not turning, so as not to worry her, but would it be possible to put them in cartons or something to make it safer for her to do? Like when she is just tilting the other bator? Just to give them at least a little movement. Just a thought.

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WVduckchick said:

Another thought, would it be possible to line them up to where she only has to rolllll them back and forth, and not actually pick them up?

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Those are both good thoughts...I do believe I'll give that a shot. Thanks! Jenny (the girls' mom) said she'd come over and take care of it too, but I wanted to give Katie the first shot since they are her eggs. Jenny's got a heck of a full plate the next couple of days. This afternoon they take Kendra to Billings to start a bunch of pre-op stuff for Kendra's upcoming surgery in Denver and I hated to dump anything else on her, but if all else fails...... I just thought if that 24-26 hour period of not turning wouldn't hurt anything, that would be the ideal so I don't have to impose on anyone, but it doesn't sound like that's feasible. Thanks everyone.

Blooie said:

Those are both good thoughts...I do believe I'll give that a shot. Thanks! Jenny (the girls' mom) said she'd come over and take care of it too, but I wanted to give Katie the first shot since they are her eggs. Jenny's got a heck of a full plate the next couple of days. This afternoon they take Kendra to Billings to start a bunch of pre-op stuff for Kendra's upcoming surgery in Denver and I hated to dump anything else on her, but if all else fails...... I just thought if that 24-26 hour period of not turning wouldn't hurt anything, that would be the ideal so I don't have to impose on anyone, but it doesn't sound like that's feasible. Thanks everyone.

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I would be more inclined to say definitely no harm, if you were further along, but day 7ish is in the critical range. But still, I wouldn't worry too much if you can't work something out. I'm sure there are folks that forget for days at a time with no issue.

Heck, I realized this morning I hadn't candled in 2 whole days! UGH. So of course, I ran in to do it quickly! All 6 doing great.

WVduckchick said:

Yes, that doesn't look bad at all.  It will fluff up on its own real soon.  What is it?  Lav Orp?  Cute little booger... 

I have a single Golden Sebright, I'm still debating how to handle... 

Oh, one other thing... I notice you have the wire mesh grate on the bottom.  You may want to consider next time adding some rubber shelf-liner stuff, or something on the grate.  So many horror stories of little chicks getting toes and legs caught in those things.  Especially smaller chicks.

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Thank you! I'm such a nervous nelly right now. I've never hatched eggs before and no amount of research can prepare you for when you're actually physically looking at the babies! It's like having kids all over again!

Yes it is a Lav Orp. Love the lavender coloring. Getting ready to order some Lav Ameraucana and more Lav Orp eggs and try this craziness all over again!

That's great advice on the metal. When I saw it starting to walk on it, I wondered if there was something better. I'll have to get the liner for the next batch.

cvala1015 said:

Thank you! I'm such a nervous nelly right now. I've never hatched eggs before and no amount of research can prepare you for when you're actually physically looking at the babies! It's like having kids all over again!

Yes it is a Lav Orp. Love the lavender coloring. Getting ready to order some Lav Ameraucana and more Lav Orp eggs and try this craziness all over again!

That's great advice on the metal. When I saw it starting to walk on it, I wondered if there was something better. I'll have to get the liner for the next batch.

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I have a flock of lav orps. Just hatched some last weekend, and some several weeks ago.
Sold them, plus a dozen eggs last night.

WVduckchick said:

I have a flock of lav orps. Just hatched some last weekend, and some several weeks ago. Sold them, plus a dozen eggs last night.

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Oh my gosh! Aren't they the cutest stinking things??? I can't wait for mine to really fluff out. We named it Uno because it was born on Cinco de Mayo and it was the only one to make it full term. Plus it works for boy or girl.

cvala1015 said:

Oh my gosh! Aren't they the cutest stinking things??? I can't wait for mine to really fluff out. We named it Uno because it was born on Cinco de Mayo and it was the only one to make it full term. Plus it works for boy or girl.

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That's very sweet. Uno. I hope you find it a buddy.

This is the prettiest one I ever hatched, 4 or 5 weeks ago. I love them.
Wish I knew which hen laid this egg

They adorable, the egg I cracked produced one of those, darker blue though, bred to blue. Cute buggers. This week's hatch prodced a black, a blue silkie mix, a partridge cochin, a blue/lav orp mix, and a sizzle. Nearly all hatched a day apart w me opening the incubator to take out chicks to dry and turn the eggs not ready. My brooder is setup to dry chicks better than the tiny Brinsea. Ive said tiny a lot, haven't I?I feel an incubator build coming on. Pics later.

@Blooie
When I have too many eggs to fit in my auto turner, I just put all the eggs in neat lines starting against one side or the other of the incubator. . Then I just roll them gently to the other side.. it's easy to know which direction you are rolling each time bc you only have one option (towards the empty side).. using the rubber shelf liner is great during this too bc it keeps them from rolling fast, bumping each other, etc..
Best of luck.. if none of those options will work, I'd just turn right as you're walking out the door, and then as soon as u walk back in.. I've forgotten to turn at every stage and never killed them all off..

@WVduckchick
Can Orps ever show a frizzle gene???
I have one chick, that should not be, and may not be but has a few feathers coming in that make me think frizzle?? I'll get a pic.. it may just be the way it looks with only a few feathers over fluff. .

Okay, off topic but I have to share this:



THIS is why I will never, EVER use a heat lamp with my chicks. This was not too far from me - we saw the smoke and wondered what it was. Now we know. Besides the benefits to the chicks (immediately learning day/night cycles, fast feathering, far less pasty butt - I've had it in two chicks and they both arrived here with it - less food consumption, and no need to get them used to a big, scary world without the security of lights 24/7) heat lamps scare the pee-wadding out of me. They heat everything around them - the air, the walls, the floor, the brooder, the food, the water, the dust - and I can't think of anything more UN-natural to do to these little babies. Yokel and Sweet Pea have been living outside for 2 weeks, and Sluf has been out there since he was a day old. They went out practically from the incubator. All are thriving, and my setup will still be out there every single morning. So sad.