How much "white light" do you give week old chicks?
We have our red heat lamp on all the time for heat but we've been turning on the lights in our room that the brooder is in to give the chicks some "daylight".
Usually about 10-12 hours.
Is that the right thing to do, to much, to little?
I originally got the eggs with the intention of having my broody silkie hatch them. And 2 days before they arrived she was like. Nope. I'm good sucker. Lol. So we purchased an incubator.
The serama is the black one in the top middle. Then a black silkie laying right next to it
Hatching eggs shipped from Indiana to me in Illinois. Not sure how but they were from the same pen (all these came from the same pen except the serama). The other pens had no hatches.
Im not even sure where to look for a head or beak with these. Lol. Have to say a chick is much cuter coming out as fluff balls not plucked aliens. :) congrats on the hatch though.
Thanks and I agree. I'm happy we hath chicks at all. It was a good first experience and not upset one bit that we ended up with 5. That's much better than zero :)
Looks like our hatch is done. Still not giving up on 5 eggs in the incubator but no sign of movement just watching through the looking glass.
Started with 19 shipped eggs.
4 Silkies hatched. I screwed up humidity and caused 1 to get wrapped and didn't realize it in time. But was able to save...
Well learning the good and bad of hatching eggs.
Had one egg pip and died before it absorbed all the yolk. (Did an autopsy).
And took a chick out that was dry and fluffy. Which I guess is what caused 2 chicks to get shrink wrapped and die even though they were pipped. One was 100% ready to...
Our first chick we've ever hatched. 4pm today she officially made an entrance.
Should be a silkie looks like it might be a showgirl. Not totally sure as she's still drying.
got a 2nd pip. No zips just single pip holes on 2 eggs. And can hear quiet chirps every once in a while.
The suspense. Oh. Man. It's killing me. Lol. It's only day 20. Day 21 officially starts around 630-7 tonight.
How long does it usually take from pip to hatch? I'm assuming/guessing 12-24...
We are on day 20 now (since around 630 tonight). Hopefully we see pips by morning and at the latest tomorrow night).
We've got lots of wiggling around but no pips yet.
Ive read that people use those free range eggs at grocery stores and have a couple hatch out. Also it's ALMOST chick time at the local feed stores. Late feb range... much less heart break with eggs not hatching going that route.
My 2 chihuahuas came in limping and crying after the first snow we had here in illinois. Was heartbreaking! I felt bad that we hadnt cleared a patch of grass off yet. and that was long enough for them to go and pee... EEK!
so sadly we learned today that despite a completely enclosed run area. That a hawk can still get and kill our silkies.
Sadly this is the 2nd one we've lost to a hawk. 1st one disappeared, this one in guessing got too close to the fence and grabbed.
So sad. However still excited about our...
Added a second sponge. Humidity stopped at 54%. So added a 1/2" tall lid and another sponge to try and raise it up to 65% or so.
Now just waiting hoping it goes high enough. Ugh suspense is killing me.
All 14 have movement and progression in their air pockets. Starting lockdown now.
Waiting anxiously for the humidity to go up and temps to stabilize so we know we're ready for the long haul.
post got real quiet today... guess everyone is hungover or enjoying the new babies!
I'm sitting back here like, hey we go into lock down at 2000 tonight!
I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED!