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

[scotter]

This morning greeted us with 9 chicks and 3 that are starting to zip. One of them is a Faverolles egg and I can see that it has yellowish feathers on it's face. I think it may be mispositioned and stressed.

I'll be keeping a close eye on those little Faverolles eggs because when I candle yesterday they didn't look like there was going to be much room for the chicks to move. most of them pipped last night only on has started to zip and its not really a zip, more of a porthole.

I Had several eggs in my last two hatches that were fathered by my CX roosters that needed help because they simply filled the egg and could not get in position to zip. I think history may be repeating itself.

 

[Myfourladies]

Is my humidity too high also? Its only on this one window.

I can take out a plug or two, would that help?

Yes, if you have your plugs in take them out..... the oxygen exchange is important and the condensation means you need more air movement.

 

[champer]

I am recording so the video will be on the site too.

I just saw it hatch! Cool!

 

[Pozees]

Many people suggest a red heat lamp. Red light has long been used to reduce cannibalism and feather picking. Some are starting to use blue light because it has been reported that blue light has a calming effect on birds. It has also been shown that blue-green light stimulates growth in chickens.
If you are brooding in a small space, like a Rubbermaid tub, a heat lamp will be too hot. If you truly are able to have a cool zone, 95+ in the warmest spot is ok.

Quote: I have also violated my rules about brooding in the house this past month, and I am really interested in the outcome of your three groups!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

thank you! do you think a regular light bulb would be better? I have the light in the corner so I think they can still get a cooler spot. ill see how they are acting and adjust from there.
hmm that might be too big for me right now

I don't have a lot of room inside. I'm going to see how they are and if it's too crowded I'll go out and find something bigger and maybe just have to take over the laundry room or something lol

A regular light is much better in a small brooder. If I just have a few chicks in a small space I use a 75 watt bulb in a drop light. A drop light has a shield so it blocks some of the light but not the heat.
The first time I was going to use a Rubbermaid tub. I hung a heat lamp over it, put the thermometer on the bottom and the thermometer exploded.
I was leaving on a trip and had a chicken sitter. He let the light get too low and the chicks baked and died.

another question i have, if you're doing everything right and no diseases pop up,are there high survival rates?

Should be nearly 100% if they aren't genetically or nutritionally challenged. Check for pasted vent as well the first couple weeks, that will kill them.

 

[JDchicks]

Who is pipping/hatching today?

Tracking:

Chickin Pickin MontanaDolphin
Insanity Jlynnet
Msjp Jdchicks
Pozees Ronott1
Scotter Nicky-the-witch
Draye All Henned Up
Michaelf GerbilsOnToast
Kiniska Gage
Abmaddox1981 Coopsbyty
RonnieWayne Chase Family
LogCabinFarm Marmca
JLaw ChickenCame1st
Mstricer AK FLOCK SWAP
FeyRaine Bantambury
Gardeningmama Wunjo

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Still no zipping or hatches. The two that have pipped are just making their holes bigger.

None here either. Mine aren't even making their holes bigger. 2nd egg to pip made another "pip" hours ago...thought it might be the beginning of a zip, but nope...nada. I've been staring at them since 6 this morning...getting up ONLY when I have to refill my coffee, have to pee, or need to check this thread .

Lots of rocking going on, and I hear peeps every now and again...but they seem to want to take their sweet time Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Myfourladies]

I am recording so the video will be on the site too.

I was wondering.... I would like to watch it again with the girls. My 4 year old sat with me and watched the 6th open break out, but she wanted to see more. LOL

 

[Wunjo]

6 pips of 31 now!

 

[ronott1]

I just watched your little chick hatch, so cute. My 3 daughters were watching also they were like AWWWWWWWW.

It was great! I was asleep for the others.

I just saw it hatch! Cool!

I recorded it hatching. Click the video link at the top right.