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

[chickenmad129]

It has been so helpful, i have learnt so much from knowing nothing! Thank you!
http://mychickenblog.weebly.com/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I still only have two out and about from around 6 this morning. I do have 9 pips now. So even though they were due exactly 18 hours ago, so timewise, they're all close to each other. I tried to record temps throughout so if those due today and tomorrow are equally late, I'll probably try to add a degree F on the next hatch.
It is much less stressful when one has confidence in thermometers even if no confidence in anything else.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Do we have an ugliest chick hatched contest? Mine would win that one LOL. He's not fluffing up properly do to the slight shrink wrapping issue.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

simply because of the issues mine had. I wasn't trying to upset anyone! I have 3 kids, I work and my husband is an otr truck driver so if mine can't make it on their own I can't baby them like I would prefer. I just said that's what I would do not what you should do.

Oh, no, I wasn't upset!!! I guess my post must have sounded that way? I was just asking why you'd suggest it...what your reasons were. I respect everyone's opinions and advice...not meaning I agree with them all...but everyone has the right to do as they see fit for their situation!

I do have the time to baby the baby

so if her toes and feet don't straighten out by the time she's dry, I'll make her little sandals

 

[Cynthia12]

To ron and everyone that helped with this Hatch A Long. It went great! Was a lot of fun! Thank you soo much!!

 

[chickengirl1193]

 I hope they pip soon!
If they did not externally pip, then opening the incubator did not hurt them. The chick did not have enough energy to hatch. 

The things that we can control unless we breed them are:

Temperature
Humidity
Ventilation

These are the three main causes of late hatch failure. Flock health and shipping we do not control for shipped eggs.

What a nice thing to see in the morning!

okay. thanks so much! I guess I did all i could and with 8 healthy chicks i know that something wasn't completely off.
is it okay that some of the chicks are eating poop? I have them on paper towels and they are eating food but a few ate some poop. I just changed the paper towels so it's clean now. maybe ill pick up some corrid before the storm...

 

[ronott1]

How can Ron continue to be such a nice guy and a gentle soul after over 7300 posts and all the work he has done for this, not to mention that he's trying to hatch his own birds.
I'd be absolutely batty and be losing patience.
Do you even get any sleep Ron?

Yes I sleep! I slept through the last one hatching again last night.

I learned over 18 years of IT work here at UCD to answer questions simply and thoroughly. I also try to keep in mind that there is a lot we do not know. For many of us this is a very new experience that is not a common activity even for chicken owners.

This is all a very refreshing topic to me from Computer Techie stuff....

I've wondered the same thing. just trying to keep up with all of you has me nervous and exhausted, I don't know how he does it! Congrats to all who have hatched! I am so sorry for all of you who've had some misfortune. And THANK YOU, every one of you, for both the great questions and patient answers through all of this, especially Ron. I've learned so much! I definitely have the bug to join you in the future! You're all a great big bunch of enablers! in a good way!

It would be great to have you hatch with us next time!

I learned a lot this time too.

I was thinking the same thing! Very patient, gentle person! Chicken canoe, you aren't so bad yourself, you have so much useful information!!!!

Guy has been an inspiration during this hatch a long!

 

[Daisy9696]

Is it to late to join the hatch a long???

 

[Cynthia12]

She finally zipped and hatched. She had a really hard time, though, pushing out of the egg. That being said, I don't know if it is what caused this issue or not...hoping someone on here can shed some light and suggest a solution.

Her toes and feet are curled inward. It's been roughly an hour since she hatched. The first two to hatch were dry, and since I have no pips on the last two eggs, I took them out and put them in the brooder...all the four that had already hatched were trampling all over the newborn. Stepping on her head, on her feet, pecking her butt. So the first two are now in the brooder, which means two less to pick on her.

Anyhoo, here's some pics. One foot is worse than the other. Will it straighten itself out? I've never dealt with this before, please help!

Don't cull! She could still straighten it out and do fine once she starts walking. Can't see the legs too well, if the legs are separated too far, they could be splayed too. I had to tape my blue Marans leg...and put a boot on after a day of her not walking on the foot right, but I waited a day. I have photos of a bootie on one that I made last summer.
I trim the corners to a round look. I keep them taped for just a day.

 

[Cynthia12]

Is it to late to join the hatch a long???

New Years Hatch A Long is pretty much done..but...come join the Easter Hatch A Long...keep an eye open for it!