My first 2 hatches (one in March, one in April) I struggled with low humidity in lockdown and had shrink wrapped chicks that died before or after pipping. This hatch (today is day 23) my babies drowned. I had 5 out of 17 chicks hatch, the rest didn't even pip. I cracked them open and all were...
Well, after nearly 48 hrs of eggs pipped or zipped with little to no progress, and only 4 of my 10 Dorkings hatching successfully though arduously over many hours, I helped out 5 of the remaining 6 and here's what I found: SHRINKY DINKS!!!!!
I dry incubated these rascals following the...
Okay, now that my second hatch ever is officially in lockdown (Dorkings, Australorps, Buff and Light Brahmas plus a few surprises thrown in), and I'm sort of high from the thrill of the hatch days finally arriving (tomorrow through the 8th), I am obsessing about the next breed I should hatch...
Okay, I am not organized enough to do this!
I am working out of town from the afternoon of day 17 until mid-morning of day 19. When should I set up my incubators for Lockdown? Day 17 or 19? The eggs were set late in the evening of March 18 (about 9 pm), which by some accounts makes the...
I just candled my ever so rare Red Dorking eggs and I have 12 out of 13 gorgeous kicking embryos!
I'm so eggcited and !!!
They are on day 7 from the day the hen went broody, but the embryos are so well developed and easy to see. I wonder if that hen went broody sooner than we...
My silly LG still air has me in a fit. I used 3 thermometers in different locations in the incubator, plus 2 hygrometers, and finally thought I had it stabilized by closing off the vent hole and setting up a water wiggler.
BUT, today, the temp crept up to 102 on top of the eggs, 100 inside...
What's your favorite broody breed?
I've heard plenty about Silkies and bantams, but wonder what you BYC-ers like. I've never hatched from a broody before, but had a gorgeous mixed bantam go nutsy broody over a bunch of infertile eggs (no rooster near her in months). Very impressive behaviour...
I'm new to chickens and their genetics is quite confusing, but I understand you can frizzle any breed, right? So, I bought these chicks as Light Brahmas off a local oldtimer who hatches hatchery chicks for extra cash. He's not the best at remembering what breeds he's got, but he put all these...
I am getting some pretty bantam hens and am hoping to use them to hatch shipped eggs. How do I go about this? Has anyone ever done this before? I figure I could let them lay, leave the eggs, then sneak in the shipped eggs the day she gets broody. Any thoughts on this? Or will a hen with the...
Is it normal for baby chicks to frizzle or put out "helicopter" feathers? I have 6 Brahma chicks, 12 days old or so, that I bought locally (hatchery eggs he incubated) and 3 of them have very curly feathers growing out. Any thoughts/worries? I had one chick that did this from a batch of...
Hey there, BYC!
Any favorite ideas on how to best protect against raccoons?
I have one large mobile coop I want to use for permaculture in the garden and around the house. I am considering poultry net fencing for that but know nothing about electric fencing, how to set it up, etc.
For my...
After a terrible series of massacres 5 months ago, (mostly coon) I am finally ready to replenish my flock. I am very anxious about preventing further raids and am considering poultry net fencing for use with my mobile coop, plus electric supplementation to my permanent yard. My coops are very...
After a sad first hatch (see "they died" thread from a few days back) that taught me A LOT about this whole wonderful process of incubating eggs, I have set my second batch of eggs.
My incubator: Hova-Bator 1583, forced air, automatic egg turner. Temp 100, humidity 58%.
The eggs: 13 Red...
I feel the need to vent some first timer woes and hopefully get advice from experienced hatchers so my upcoming eggs do not suffer the same fate.
I was asked by my kids' school if I'd like to incubate chicken eggs as part of the science curriculum. I was more than happy to take this on as I...
Hello all you BYC folks! I'm a chicken semi-newbie and have some worries I'd love your help with.
I'm on day 22 of my first hatch, mixed layer eggs I bought from Local Harvest. These babes were for a school project and unfortunately conditions were not as ideal as I would have liked. This...