This morning as I was prepping the incubator for lockdown I started candeling all of the eggs and one of them was popped open at the top. I didn't notice any movement inside so I started "investigating" gently and picked away at the membrane, which was pretty thick by the way. I can clearly...
Well I think I've figured out why my previous hatches failed so badly, when I bought my incubator I thought I had bought a still air incubator so I adjusted my temps accordingly. Well today (day 6 of this hatch attempt) I was just sitting there looking at the eggs when it dawned on me, my...
Just over a month ago we had to rehome our Pekin drake, which left my little call duck very lonely. About 3 weeks ago she went broody and rather than discouraging her I decided to let her hatch some eggs, so I ordered 18 from eBay. After doing some reading up on hatching them I found out how...
I ordered call duck eggs to set under my broody little call duck. We checked a few days ago and she apparently made a nest and is sitting on her own eggs, we aren't sure if they are fertile or not because we had to rehome our Pekin drake a month ago. I don't even know if a Pekin can mate with a...
I'm searching for Magpie eggs to hatch in my incubator. I would like to buy 12+ if possible. My kids have been begging for some ducks and since we can't afford to go on a vacation (military) I thought watching some hatch would be a wonderful way to start our summer vacation. I have been...
Are there any BYC'ers in the Hampton Roads VA area? I won't ask what city because a in a few HR cities chickens are outlaws. I have RSL's, a BO/Wyandotte mix, some EE's and now runner ducks. What do you have? I'm looking for some eggs to hatch out in my incubator, I bought some thru BYC but...
Over a month ago I tried to add my 3 12 week old pullets to my established 2 year old flock of 4. My BSL was very unfriendly to the pullets, she kept them cowering & terrified in the coop and they wouldn't eat or drink. One of my RSL's would sit out and loudly protest the pullets, if there was...
I went to a poultry swap today planning to buy 1-2 silkies & maybe an Easter Egger but I found some adorable runner ducks. I said no 3 times and then held one. I decided to buy 2 females and since there would have been one lonely male left alone they gave me the male for free. I'm new to...
Right now we have 2 RSL's, 1 BSL, and a BO/Wyandotte all 2 years old. I bought some RSL chicks back in March and recently tried to integrate them into my flock. The older hens were not happy. I managed to stop the pecking quick, but the hens would sit out there and bock (very loud almost like a...
So glad I decided to start it up early, what a pain lol. It has been on for over 5 hours now, the temps on the digital, old school & incubator thermometers are closer now 98.6 (digital), 99 (bator) and 99 (old school). I know it's still low but I'm adjusting every 15-20 mins, it has been as high...
Ok so I bought this last week and immediately took out the instructions to read them and make sure I knew what I was doing. I left the instruction manual on the couch and went to get dinner going and now it's gone. I have 4 kids and I'm not sure if someone accidentally put it away, threw it away...
Ok I ordered some eggs from MPC and they are due the week of the 13th. I also won an auction thru BYC and I'm unsure yet when the eggs will be arriving. My question is, what if they are a week or two apart? Will I need 2 incubators? I'm buying one as soon as I find out when the first batch will...
I ordered blue Orps, blue silkies & white silkie eggs TBD around the 3rd week in May. I've never hatched eggs so I have no idea what to do. I'm going to buy an incubator but wanted advice, tips ect on how to have a successful hatch. I know there are no guarantees I just want to make sure I do my...
For the last 3 years I've planted potatoes and not gotten any big enough to eat. The first year I messed up bad, I tried to grow them in a pot and the holes in the bottom weren't big enough, so they stayed too moist. The second year I made larger holes and it had better drainage but we didn't...
I bought 6 three day old chicks @ the feed store yesterday. They are gold sex links & completely adorable. Two of them seem to sleep a lot more than the rest, one of those we think may be dying. It lays down to sleep and only moves when we touch it or the other chicks bump into it. Is this...
I have a Buff Orpington Wyandotte mix. She went broody about 3 weeks ago but I accidentally scared the heck out of her while trying to collect eggs and she left the coop. She went broody again Monday and hasn't left the nest box since. She doesn't seem to be eating or drinking and it is really...
I know the bedding question can be a hot topic so I appologize for bringing it up if it causes controversy. I normally use pine shavings in my coop and have loved it. It composts easy and never has an odor. My chickens keep dumping out their food and then they scratch out all of their bedding...
It has been very cold here lately, so I have been keeping my chickens cooped up in a dog crate in the garage where I can keep a heater going to keep them warm. The high for the day has barely been above freezing for 2 of the days so on those days I didnt let them out to range at all. I saw this...
I have not treated my chickens for worms, we have used the DE, lately I have not been using with every feeding like we did before, more like once a week or so, when I put it in the litter the girls just toss it all out of the coop and into the run. I sprinkle it onto the poop board every other...