5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[Aphrael]

Hello, day 12 here for me (Xmas day hatch) and we have some very hot days coming up (days 15, 16 & 17 of the hatch) temps due to be 38, 41 & 37C (100, 106 &99F)
Any advice on what I can do to help broody (Nell) and eggs through it? I always keep water and food next to Nell so she can reach without moving from eggs. The coop is technically mobile - but very heavy - we could move it to under the carport so it is in constant shade, but I am worried Nell will not take the move well and abandon the eggs - it would not be a smooth move! Will take 3-4 strong people to move it: -



Any advice gratefully accepted!

I had several go broody together right in the middle of the worst part of summer this year (temps from 100-115F). I tried to break them but they were having none of it. I finally caved and gave them some eggs. I keep 2 and 3 liter soda bottles filled with water in the deep freeze to lay out for the chickens in the worst heat. So all during the egg setting I put an ice bottle into the nest box (opposite of where they had the eggs) every morning and every evening. It really helped to make the air in the box more comfortable for them.

 

[mstricer]

Cleared cashe,,Still no tool bar,, Oh well Good luck everyone,,,Peace,,,,

Quote:

Hello, day 12 here for me (Xmas day hatch) and we have some very hot days coming up (days 15, 16 & 17 of the hatch) temps due to be 38, 41 & 37C (100, 106 &99F)
Any advice on what I can do to help broody (Nell) and eggs through it? I always keep water and food next to Nell so she can reach without moving from eggs. The coop is technically mobile - but very heavy - we could move it to under the carport so it is in constant shade, but I am worried Nell will not take the move well and abandon the eggs - it would not be a smooth move! Will take 3-4 strong people to move it: -



Any advice gratefully accepted!

As long as there are windows she will be fine. I won't put her food and water next to her, she will poop on the eggs and near the nest. Put the food outside of the coop. If she has been sitting for 12 days she should stay. Leave it (the coop) where it is. A hen will raise herself and even fan her eggs if she feels they are getting to hot. She's half way there, let her do her thing, she knows best. I usually just leave my girls alone and only check the eggs on day ten, only when she gets up to eat. I've had girls go and free range for a hour or more and come back sit on the nest and everyone hatches fine. Take a breathe and let nature take it's course.

 

[All Henned Up]

My hatch for this week has finished. 7 out of 8 eggs shipped from Fla to VA in 30* temps hatched, 3 last night and 4 today. BBS Orpingtons.
Somebody help me I have a hatching addiction.

e

 

[carriebain]

I didn't expect veining so early! Did I mention they are grocery store eggs!!!!!

I can't get pictures to post either

00/height/400[/IMG]

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hello, day 12 here for me (Xmas day hatch) and we have some very hot days coming up (days 15, 16 & 17 of the hatch) temps due to be 38, 41 & 37C (100, 106 &99F)
Any advice on what I can do to help broody (Nell) and eggs through it? I always keep water and food next to Nell so she can reach without moving from eggs. The coop is technically mobile - but very heavy - we could move it to under the carport so it is in constant shade, but I am worried Nell will not take the move well and abandon the eggs - it would not be a smooth move! Will take 3-4 strong people to move it: -



Any advice gratefully accepted!

Is it very humid where you are? If so, evaporative cooling won't work. If it's not real humid I would spray water on the roof a couple times in the hottest part of the day.
Put a canopy of shade cloth or tarp above the building to keep the sun from landing on the roof.

Anytime it gets hot where I am, I freeze a jug of water and put it in their water. It really helps them to stay cool. I have also given them watermelon and put a mister on. They are so spoiled.

They won't drink much if the water is hot. Cool water is good but not ice cold. It seems like a good idea but Ice water will constrict capillaries and restrict blood flow and make it harder for heat to dissipate from the body. I was doing the ice in the water thing till I want to a lecture by a Purina nutrition scientist. He recommended temperate water in hot weather for that reason.
A foot bath helps.

That will work for most birds but not a broody since she stays on the nest. If you have a way to run electric you can blow a fan through the window to keep the air circulating & help keep the coop cool. Just don't point it directly at the nest.

If it's 40C there, pointing the fan directly on the nest is exactly what I'd do.
Chickens don't sweat. The only cooling mechanism they have is panting and opening their wings.
Ice jugs in adjacent nests help.

 

[carriebain]

Or maybe I can.....

 

[msladyhawke]

My hatch for this week has finished. 7 out of 8 eggs shipped from Fla to VA in 30* temps hatched, 3 last night and 4 today. BBS Orpingtons.
Somebody help me I have a hatching addiction.

How adorable!!!

 

[ronott1]

I didn't expect veining so early! Did I mention they are grocery store eggs!!!!!

I can't get pictures to post either

00/height/400

Nice!

Wisher had a database error message. That is a BYC Site problem. It seems to effect some and not others.

I am so happy for you! You will likely see more developing over the next several days too!

 

[ronott1]

5. Number of egg set for Hatch a Long
Prize: 9 Black Penedesenca Hatching eggs donated by @ChickenCanoe

Click on the link and post your guess for the total number of eggs set. The contest is open from now until Midnight Tuesday the 10th. Winner will be announced by Friday. Open to all BYC Members.

Total set(as reported): 1637

Winner: chickenboy190 with a guess of 1594

Congratulations!

Will PM @ChickenCanoe

 

[JLaw]

My hatch for this week has finished. 7 out of 8 eggs shipped from Fla to VA in 30* temps hatched, 3 last night and 4 today. BBS Orpingtons.
Somebody help me I have a hatching addiction.

let me know when you want some hatching eggs i'll help your addiction out lol