Recent content by Cape Cod Egghead

  1. Cape Cod Egghead

    Day 10 blood rings mystery

    Thanks, I was looking suspiciously at the egg washing too, as I've never done it and haven't had this problem. I was thinking any egg smudges makes for more bacteria in the 'bator, but I searched egg-washing in here and found an even amount of comments for and against. Still feeling stumped, but...
  2. Cape Cod Egghead

    Day 10 blood rings mystery

    Thanks, no - classroom in our house! I have been like a fussy momma hen over this batch of eggs because I have it right on our first-floor living area. (I usually hatch in the basement, with good hatch rates, but that has been in the summer.) I haven't opened the 'bator except to quickly add...
  3. Cape Cod Egghead

    Day 10 blood rings mystery

    I'm using a forced air Hovabator with an egg turner, loaded with 42 chicken eggs from 3 separate sources, all with very good roo to hen ratios. Eggs were incubated within 7 days of collection, and were kept in room temp conditions before set. I resisted the temptation to candle early on, and...
  4. Cape Cod Egghead

    duck laying on his back (?)

    Has anyone ever had a duck that flips over on its back and can't get up again? I have a 2+ month old buff drake who has periodically been found upside down - and unable to right himself. (Think turtle, horseshoe crab...) At first I though he was stuck to something, or a wing was hung up on...
  5. Cape Cod Egghead

    got a new flashlight for candling

    That bright light can't be natural for embryonic chicks, but having someone candle once in a while and toss the stinkers is probably better/healthier (for developing chicks) than having one blow up beside you.
  6. Cape Cod Egghead

    Removing ducklings from hen question....

    Thanks for all the advice! I removed six ducklings by tricking the moms (there were 3 co-parenting, making it tough) into going out in the morning and trapping some of the ducklings in the hut, then taking them out the back doors Hens still had six, didn't seem to notice. The next morning all...
  7. Cape Cod Egghead

    lost ALL my eggs?!?!?!?!

    Sorry you lost your ducklings. I am new to hatching duck eggs, but wanted to share that I hatched out a dozen in a forced air hovabator with egg turner last month. They were 5 days early (!!) and three or four of them were standing and sitting in the egg turner when I discovered them. Luckily...
  8. Cape Cod Egghead

    Removing ducklings from hen question....

    Thanks for the advice! I am used to raising flocks of chickens and have brooders already set up, thus the relative ease of brooding them. I'm thinking everyone will be into their grain and water, and it will be unsafe for them to free range or go outside their pen, plus having to separate the...
  9. Cape Cod Egghead

    Removing ducklings from hen question....

    I've been searching the forum for previous posts on this, but didn't find any, so please excuse me if this is a repeat!! What happens to a mother duck when you take away her newly hatched ducklings? Does she just resume normal activity? I'm new to ducks, have 3 hens sitting on three nests mashed...
  10. Cape Cod Egghead

    How many pounds of grain to get a heavy breed to laying age?

    Wow, that is very interesting. Thank you for the help!
  11. Cape Cod Egghead

    How many pounds of grain to get a heavy breed to laying age?

    Hi folks, I apologize if this question has been asked/answered before, but I have searched and searched and not found anything on it. I am wondering if anyone has come up with an average (ballpark) figure of how much grain (pounds) is needed to get a chicken to laying age. I'd imagine you'd...
  12. Cape Cod Egghead

    Hi from Cape Cod

    I've been popping in to this forum every now and then over the years, usually to look for a clue to some chicken question or another. Thought I'd register and say hello. (1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens? I've had layers and broilers for about the past 8 years...
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