They’re lovely little babies, as long as they’re eating and drinking fine and the brooder temperature is good they should be fine. I had two chicks that would chirp non stop until I picked them up, they did fine we’re just quite vocal. So as long as they look healthy and the temperature is right...
That’s great news! As long as the other eggs haven’t pipped opening the incubator to remove shells is not an issue. I used to have a brinsea mini incubator and used to open it throughout the hatch to remove shells and chicks that were fluffed up. I found that because of its small size the...
I know what it’s like I stand there staring through the incubator looking out for them wobbling :lol:. I’ve got a broody hen outside who will hopefully be taking care of them so saves me stressing over brooder temperatures and so.
No it’s too early to worry! If they’re peeping they’ve pipped internally and are probably resting as hatching is very tiring. I’ve read that it can take 24 hours and in some cases even longer for them to go from internal pip to external pip. Be patient and look forward to welcoming your new...
I just went into lockdown yesterday with some shipped Orpington eggs which have some very funky air cells. I tried to lay them so that the largest part of the air cell was facing up, it wasn’t easy deciding where that was because of the saddled air cells. I find that they do typically pip where...
That’s unlucky but I’m sure you’ll have better luck next time. It was also my chickens first time being broody but luckily she turned out to be a good mother hen. Did you introduce the chick during the day because from what I’ve been reading it’s best to introduce them at night when the hen...
Thankfully everything went great! The chicks hatched out just fine and broody hen accepted them straight away. I gave her the chicks in the evening so they were under her all night. In the morning she was clucking away teaching them how to eat and drink. How did your hatch go?
Ensuring air cells grow to an adequate size before lockdown is important. If you haven’t done already calibrate your thermometers and hygrometers so that you get accurate readings. Try not to stress too much I’m sure you’ll get some chicks if you keep trying, it’s a learning experience and...
It may be that although they looked okay inside the egg no movement would suggest that they weren’t alive on day 18 when you candled. Whenever I’ve candled on day 18 Ive always seen movement in eggs that. However this may be different for you.
I had to do the same she kept going back to the wrong nest because another chicken was in hers. it’s still cold outside so the broody only had the eggs for a few days before I decided it’s better for them to be in an incubator.
If you give one of the hens both of the chicks what do you plan on doing with the other, get more chicks to give to the other? If not I’d stop her being broody now because she’d be sitting for no reason and losing weight
I’m in a very similar situation to you, I’ve got 6 eggs in the incubator 2 of which have saddled air cells and a broody hen outside waiting for some chicks. In the past I’ve hatched eggs with saddled air cells lying flat how they normally would under a broody and they did fine, I’m going to...
How many thermometers did you use to check the temperature? I've used various Brinsea incubators for quite some time and found that they are very good at holding temp. Mine usually only fluctuate + or - 0.1c. Whenever I do check that they are accurate I use 3 calibrated thermometers to get an...
I just installed the standard version of the chicken guard on my coop, I got it as a bundle with the self locking door kit. Its not the cheapest but it works very well and was very easy to install and set up. I went for the standard one because I don't think I would use the automatic light...