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

[ChickenCanoe]

It may be late for this commentary and it may not be well accepted.
Not all offspring from all species of animals will survive, nor can they be saved. That's just reality. This includes the human species. I think everyone hatching, tries to do their best based on what they know and their available equipment. It is difficult to mimic nature. Hens have a very good success rate. But even with a seasoned hen in optimal environmental conditions, she won't hatch them all. This stuff isn't easy to do artificially. Don't beat yourself up if you didn't have a good hatch, especially from shipped eggs.
Not all offspring are meant to survive. That's why prey species produce so many offspring.
As the Alaska guy said, survival of the fittest. Wild animals are fit because no one is coddling them. Coddling weak birds makes the species and breed weak.
It's a judgment call for rare species and breeds but saving all the offspring doesn't do the survival of the species any benefits.

That's my soapbox moment.
Don't be surprised if there are others.

 

[JDchicks]

She pipped last night. She has been like this most of the day. The liner was white but now it looks brownish or wet.

Is this right or should I do something?

 

[Myfourladies]

It is pouring the snow here, and they called school off early because of the impending storm here. I can't wait for the next hatch a long where I am going to try my hand at ducks!

I am getting a brinsea 20 advance. I just really want an incubator that has a digital display for temps and humidity to help me with that. I think that is where I am going wrong....
I have hatched chickens 3 different times. First time I literally got 0 chicks, nothing. Second time I got two chicks, one had something wrong with him and failed to thrive and the other was just dead one morning in the coop when he was only about 6 months old. This time, just 1 little chick that seems fine for now and I pray to be a healthy pullet soon, but it is so disheartening. Especially since I have hatched guineas with no issues- 7 out of 12. From my egg topsies most of my chicks die around 10 days, if the make it past this point die around day 15.... what am I doing wrong!? Is it in fact the humidity and temps?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've been trying to avoid "shrink wrap" by moistening the inner membrane with warm water and a q-tip. I take it that won't help?

You can only affect the membrane at the hole with q-tip moistening. The shrink wrap happens to the whole membrane almost instantaneously when humidity drops.
It helps but isn't the be all and end all.

can any of you also tell me if im right?

Girl?

Boy?

Girl?

Don't know about the boy but you are on the right track.
You are so smart.

 

[bantambury]

Don't know about the boy but you are on the right track.
You are so smart.

WOOOO WOOO! hoping that little white silkie was a girl! I have a roo to go with her!

but would his wing feathers be TOO messed yp for breeding? I think his wings grew like this...they are relly MESSY

 

[ronott1]

It may be late for this commentary and it may not be well accepted.
Not all offspring from all species of animals will survive, nor can they be saved. That's just reality. This includes the human species. I think everyone hatching, tries to do their best based on what they know and their available equipment. It is difficult to mimic nature. Hens have a very good success rate. But even with a seasoned hen in optimal environmental conditions, she won't hatch them all. This stuff isn't easy to do artificially. Don't beat yourself up if you didn't have a good hatch, especially from shipped eggs.
Not all offspring are meant to survive. That's why prey species produce so many offspring.
As the Alaska guy said, survival of the fittest. Wild animals are fit because no one is coddling them. Coddling weak birds makes the species and breed weak.
It's a judgment call for rare species and breeds but saving all the offspring doesn't do the survival of the species any benefits.

That's my soapbox moment.
Don't be surprised if there are others.

all very true!

some chicks just do not make it and there was nothing we could do.

 

[ronott1]

can any of you also tell me if im right?

Girl?

Boy?

Girl?

Somewhere I have a feather sexing link. Feather sexing words with Leghorn crossed breeds for sure. Not all Breeds will feather sex correctly.

 

[Myfourladies]

QUESTION for all you peeps who fix crooked toes....

I realized my baby silkie, I want to show if it has potential, has a curled toe.

PROBLEM: the toe is one of the toes that is on another toe f this makes sense....how do I tape this toe straight without hurting her?



HOW THE HECK DO YOU TAPE A TOE LIKE THIS? lol





bad toe....(sorry its the blurry one)the other toe opposite...good toe.


standing

walking

If it isn't effecting her walking and getting food and water leave it be. I might straighten on its own and maybe not, as long as she can walk.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is pouring the snow here, and they called school off early because of the impending storm here. I can't wait for the next hatch a long where I am going to try my hand at ducks!

I am getting a brinsea 20 advance. I just really want an incubator that has a digital display for temps and humidity to help me with that. I think that is where I am going wrong....
I have hatched chickens 3 different times. First time I literally got 0 chicks, nothing. Second time I got two chicks, one had something wrong with him and failed to thrive and the other was just dead one morning in the coop when he was only about 6 months old. This time, just 1 little chick that seems fine for now and I pray to be a healthy pullet soon, but it is so disheartening. Especially since I have hatched guineas with no issues- 7 out of 12. From my egg topsies most of my chicks die around 10 days, if the make it past this point die around day 15.... what am I doing wrong!? Is it in fact the humidity and temps?

Most of that may not be your fault and it could very well be you aren't doing anything wrong with the incubation process.
You're obviously conscientious and diligent. Look at all the variables.
Shipped eggs
Breeder nutrition
Breeder disease,
Lethal genetics
Contamination
Egg storage


IMO accurate thermometers cover a multitude of sins. Digital readout incubator controls don't necessarily solve the problem as they may be as flawed as the thermometer.

 

[Myfourladies]

can any of you also tell me if im right?

Girl?

Boy?

Girl?

Bantams.... silkies especially don't feather sex correctly. This is what I was told when I bought my cochin bantams.