Having the two roosters separated for now will make the final plan of putting them all together much more difficult. The boys need to stay together to know what place they have with each other. If they have been separated for a time they will fight to reestablish which rooster is dominant.
Your drakes maybe old enough to get a curly feather on the top of the tail. Sorry my eyes can't see it in the pics.
Voice sexing is an accurate way to sex even before drake feathers form. Girls are louder and more classic in a quack sound. Boys are raspy and quieter.
The humidity in the air around the incubator affects how much surface water you need in the incubator. Most times of the year I don't put any water in the incubator until lock down since the humidity here is usually over 80%. Figure out how to get humidity % that works for your environment (if...
Food and space looks good from what I can tell. That means the why is still unknown.
Is there a hen that doesn't seem to be on the receiving end of the picking? Wondering if you have a true bully and her copycat friends.
Yes, if a chick has internally pipped for more than 24 hours you can make what is called a safety hole. Use it with caution because sometimes getting a chick more air will lessen its need to escape the shell. I would probably wait 48 hours or use it if the chick appears to get weak. (Don't...
You can not just go by days to determine if it is time to assist. An assist would only be after a yolk has been absorbed and when a chick is unable to make progress on its own.
What day are your eggs on? If you think assistance is needed read the guide to assisted hatching first.
What are the breeds/temperaments of the rest of your flock? With a mild manner flock trim crests, so all birds can see and stand their ground. It is best not to keep mild mannered created breeds with more aggressive standard breeds. Hopefully you can figure out how to separate with fences or...
The behavior you describe would come if the chickens are not getting all the nutrients required. What else are you feeding? Brand, type, and protein percent? Or is it just the flock blocks. I'm not familiar with flock blocks, but I don't think they are intended to be a large percentage of...
First year layers can still slow there production when the day light hours shorten. (Most chickens over a year will take a break when daylight hours are getting less). Since your birds are young hopefully production will pick up soon, but no guarantee with live animals.
When the day light shortens to less than 12 hours a day most chickens over a year take a break from laying. Molt is sometimes at the beginning of the break. Ducks and guineas take breaks too. Getting 5-10 eggs from 23 hens is pretty good for this time a year. Your pullets could start laying...
If you leave them hungry at the end of a feeding, they are going to gobble it up fast the next time they are fed. I would do true free feed. Give them a week to catch up from you holding back feed. Then see how much they are eating. From that amount you could cut back slightly if weight is...
All eggs to be hatched should be placed in the incubator at the same time. After they have been in the incubator for 5 days or so veins become visible on viable eggs.
Only if feather damage is severe will the feathers grow back immediately. Most of the time feathers only grow back once a year. That time of year is about now, but each one goes at her own pace
Often people will refer to a hen that is mated often as being a favorite. That is not always the...
Are you trying to say a vet said this chick has Marek's? Or what chick had Marek's? Marek's presents in many ways, usually when Marek's is confirmed it is on a bird that has died. If one bird in the flock had Marek's the rest of the flock carries it also.
Nothing you mention about the chick...