2015 HALLOWEEN Hatch-a-Long, Join us IF YOU DARE!

[Lynn Manes]

Ok I'm out of the hatch a long for now. I was moving the quail tray and my dog barked (something he never does) scared the crap out of me and I dropped the tray. Lost all 90 eggs. I'm saving up more so hopefully I can join next week.

Oh geeze, that's awful losing 90 eggs. Sorry to hear that happened to you. Well I'm in for the contest as long as it doesn't matter if we choose to not incubate alot of eggs. At first I planned 45 but decided due to space to cut it down to maybe 27 or so. So I won't start holding back the eggs til about the the 11th, as we usually get around 9 quail eggs/day. Our coveys are not large.

 

[CGilbert]

Ok I'm out of the hatch a long for now. I was moving the quail tray and my dog barked (something he never does) scared the crap out of me and I dropped the tray. Lost all 90 eggs. I'm saving up more so hopefully I can join next week.

Oh

I'm sorry! I would be devastated. Hope you can collect back up and join back in a week or so.

 

[TJChickens]

Something I have done several times this year...I drop the egg that I'm candling onto the other eggs in the incubator. Almost always at least one breaks. Twice, I broke the only egg that was doing well after being shipped. Trying to get used to fast spreading rheumatoid arthritis.....needless to say, I've had to change some of my ways! I patch eggs with silver color nail polish. It has worked well. Just have to keep an eye on where they pip and if they need any help going through a patched area.

 

[sonshine15]

Wishing B a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear all the egg losses! Sure is going around........I leaned forward after candling some eggs dated the 10th yesterday and my cheap reader glasses fell off my face and smack onto them..........Not all were damaged and watching the rest.............I would be devastated too if I had lost them

I love the homemade plucker!

Project up next after I figure out what on earth I'm doing hatching eggs to begin with

...............staggered batches coming everywhere from every few days to a bit over a week........I like the 10 day method Sally shared!!! I read it after the eggs went into the bator of course.......

Update on the little chick (I'll share her name later after I give her more time) :
Yesterday I almost put her down. Got out the peroxide to use with the waiting baking soda I've had ready since she hatched........she's had that clicking noise from water in her lungs. I started her on antibiotics day before yesterday.......well, yesterday she took a dive, was clearly in distress and I kept giving her little drinks of the anti/pro-b mix. She was standing straight up and that was about it for me. DH is a bit attached to her too, (we've had numerous chicks and so far a Silkie is our only "pet" chicken due to rescuing her from a skunk attack n the Spring, she has one eye now and is layiing) so we decided to wait a few hours because she was still so durn active. I know her standing straight up is a very bad sign with the clicking going on.... Anyways, I went back in to check on her and her eyes had opened up wide again, she was eating, drinking and acting normal...........still the same this morning and clearly not in any distress.

Her naval stalk has shrunk even more so if she makes it she will be losing it soon......watching and waiting...........

There's something about the underdog.........I've put chicks to sleep before..........this one is special

 

[WVduckchick]

Wishing B a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear all the egg losses! Sure is going around........I leaned forward after candling some eggs dated the 10th yesterday and my cheap reader glasses fell off my face and smack onto them..........Not all were damaged and watching the rest.............I would be devastated too if I had lost them

I love the homemade plucker!

Project up next after I figure out what on earth I'm doing hatching eggs to begin with

...............staggered batches coming everywhere from every few days to a bit over a week........I like the 10 day method Sally shared!!! I read it after the eggs went into the bator of course.......

Update on the little chick (I'll share her name later after I give her more time) :
Yesterday I almost put her down. Got out the peroxide to use with the waiting baking soda I've had ready since she hatched........she's had that clicking noise from water in her lungs. I started her on antibiotics day before yesterday.......well, yesterday she took a dive, was clearly in distress and I kept giving her little drinks of the anti/pro-b mix. She was standing straight up and that was about it for me. DH is a bit attached to her too, (we've had numerous chicks and so far a Silkie is our only "pet" chicken due to rescuing her from a skunk attack n the Spring, she has one eye now and is layiing) so we decided to wait a few hours because she was still so durn active. I know her standing straight up is a very bad sign with the clicking going on.... Anyways, I went back in to check on her and her eyes had opened up wide again, she was eating, drinking and acting normal...........still the same this morning and clearly not in any distress.

Her naval stalk has shrunk even more so if she makes it she will be losing it soon......watching and waiting...........

There's something about the underdog.........I've put chicks to sleep before..........this one is special

Wow! Nice save... hope she continues to thrive for you.

 

[TJChickens]

I just listed Runner duck eggs on the 24 hour auction thread if anybody wants to try hatching ducks for Halloween! Their incubation is 28 days.

 

[sonshine15]

I just listed Runner duck eggs on the 24 hour auction thread if anybody wants to try hatching ducks for Halloween! Their incubation is 28 days.

I want ducks soooooooooooooooooo bad!! But, we are already in the 40s most evenings. My daughter got some babies for me a couple months ago but plans fell through to pick them up. What do you use for water for them in the Winter??

 

[Sally Sunshine]

My two hens are laying about one egg a week.

Ok I'm out of the hatch a long for now. I was moving the quail tray and my dog barked (something he never does) scared the crap out of me and I dropped the tray. Lost all 90 eggs. I'm saving up more so hopefully I can join next week.

Good morning @Sally Sunshine This is the plucker we built. It took about a couple of hours. We had the barrel behind the shed. We take stuff to the dump quite frequently and found an old washing machine that we harvested the motor. Bought the fingers from amazon. Found the pulley, belt etc from tsc. It plucks birds in about 3 seconds. You have to spray with water continously while using. You can find information online to build it.

thats awesome, what did you use for the drive pullies? and it looks like you used the bottom of the barrel over plywood for the spinner plate? We have an extra DE pool filter motor in the shed, and plenty of barrels on CL.

It's always hubby's fault...

I know RIGHT? muwahhaha

Oh

I'm sorry! I would be devastated. Hope you can collect back up and join back in a week or so.

x2

Wishing B a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear all the egg losses! Sure is going around........I leaned forward after candling some eggs dated the 10th yesterday and my cheap reader glasses fell off my face and smack onto them..........Not all were damaged and watching the rest.............I would be devastated too if I had lost them

I love the homemade plucker!

Project up next after I figure out what on earth I'm doing hatching eggs to begin with

...............staggered batches coming everywhere from every few days to a bit over a week........I like the 10 day method Sally shared!!! I read it after the eggs went into the bator of course.......

Update on the little chick (I'll share her name later after I give her more time) :
Yesterday I almost put her down. Got out the peroxide to use with the waiting baking soda I've had ready since she hatched........she's had that clicking noise from water in her lungs. I started her on antibiotics day before yesterday.......well, yesterday she took a dive, was clearly in distress and I kept giving her little drinks of the anti/pro-b mix. She was standing straight up and that was about it for me. DH is a bit attached to her too, (we've had numerous chicks and so far a Silkie is our only "pet" chicken due to rescuing her from a skunk attack n the Spring, she has one eye now and is layiing) so we decided to wait a few hours because she was still so durn active. I know her standing straight up is a very bad sign with the clicking going on.... Anyways, I went back in to check on her and her eyes had opened up wide again, she was eating, drinking and acting normal...........still the same this morning and clearly not in any distress.

Her naval stalk has shrunk even more so if she makes it she will be losing it soon......watching and waiting...........

There's something about the underdog.........I've put chicks to sleep before..........this one is special

oh wow she is what 5 days old now?

such a little pooper trooper!

 

[chicapee]

thats awesome, what did you use for the drive pullies? and it looks like you used the bottom of the barrel over plywood for the spinner plate? We have an extra DE pool filter motor in the shed, and plenty of barrels on CL.

I know RIGHT? muwahhaha

x2

oh wow she is what 5 days old now?

such a little pooper trooper!

Mr. Chicapee here....We traced the barrel bottom on a piece of 1/2 inch plywood to make a wooden disc. Drilled holes in the barrel bottom with a paddle bit to take the plucker fingers. Installed the plucker fingers in the barrel bottom. Got a 12 inch v belt pulley from tractor supply and sandwiched the large pulley, plywood and barrel bottom. Secured all three together using round head bolts and lock nuts, making sure that everything was centered to help reduce wobbling when it rotated. Also got a spindle and shaft assembly and mounted one side dead center on the plywood disk and the other side on a 2x6 secured within the frame of the plucker.
I think the best way for me to explain this is with photos and a description. As soon as I get a chance, Ill do a tutorial and put it in a PDF for Chicapee to provide here later.

 

[CaseyV]

Mr. Chicapee here....We traced the barrel bottom on a piece of 1/2 inch plywood to make a wooden disc. Drilled holes in the barrel bottom with a paddle bit to take the plucker fingers. Installed the plucker fingers in the barrel bottom. Got a 12 inch v belt pulley from tractor supply and sandwiched the large pulley, plywood and barrel bottom. Secured all three together using round head bolts and lock nuts, making sure that everything was centered to help reduce wobbling when it rotated. Also got a spindle and shaft assembly and mounted one side dead center on the plywood disk and the other side on a 2x6 secured within the frame of the plucker. 
I think the best way for me to explain this is with photos and a description. As soon as I get a chance, Ill do a tutorial and put it in a PDF for Chicapee to provide here later.

Thank you!!!