7th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[Pensmaster]

Just candled again - my "suspect" early quitters were indeed early quitters.  Both eggs were fairly porous too.  I didn't candle before setting -but I can see why that may be a good idea.  


Several of my traded eggs are incredibly dark with candling.  I think its a combination of thick shells and good development! 


Now to troubleshoot our brooder problems!  We have an outdoor insulated brooder that we have a light and turn-off valve set to the thermometer to prevent it from getting too warm (it gets very hot in the summer).  However, it has not been holding heat well with the winter.  My husband added a second bulb which seems to help it retain heat.  The bulbs had been shutting off automatically, so he picked up a plug-in lamp to keep the brooder from getting too dark - 

However, this morning I went to open up the brooder (we have 4 thanksgiving chicks inside) and it was 102 degrees!  The lights didn't shut off :-(  The chicks were okay - but breathing like they had heat stress.  Hoping we can fix this before the new chicks arrive! 

I'm lucky in that I get to borrow/trade with my neighbors brooder plate. I've used it so much that I'm giving her a Marans hen that I know she wants this time of borrowing. Lol
What I've done to keep the heat in was wrap the cardboard box in shipping blankets. I also run a light non stop for a couple weeks while they feather. The box stays cool except at the plate and light. Beings this is winter and colder outside I might put another light in depending on amount hatched. I also put insulation under the box to help keep warm. The combo of warm area and cooler areas seems to keep them happy. Oh and I also check late at night to make sure they are staying warm. I have hatched in January before and it seems to work for me. Our temps only get down to 28* at night here so this may not work else where.
Does your brooder have a cooler area they can get to if necessary?

 

[Cynthia12]

 

[Cynthia12]

Here is a link on sex links

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/261208/sex-linked-information

NO LEGHORN'S? What?

Well, I am thinking they will be great layers any ol ways! I won't be able to sex them when hatched, but I am pretty good at looking at most of them and saying,,you are a boy! Or, you look girly. I get most right, I say..most.

 

[ronott1]

NO LEGHORN'S? What?

Well, I am thinking they will be great layers any ol ways! I won't be able to sex them when hatched, but I am pretty good at looking at most of them and saying,,you are a boy! Or, you look girly. I get most right, I say..most.

leghorns yes but not white. White is not usually true so it cannot be used reliably for sex links. Barring and other colors are often hidden in white.

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh well, my mixed little flock, will be...more mixed!

Except..that my RIR rooster is pure..he's gorgeous! And I do have a pure RIR girl in there ready to lay anytime now. I know what she will have.

 

[Pensmaster]

Thank you and a Merry Christmas and happy hatching New Year to you.

 

[venymae]

Oh well, my mixed little flock, will be...more mixed!  

Except..that my RIR rooster is pure..he's gorgeous!  And I do have a pure RIR girl in there ready to lay anytime now.   I know what she will have. 

I can't wait till we have property to do breeding. Right now I am simply borrowing my pops lackadaisical approach to do my own project birds (Greene eggers!) Our town only allows 8 hens, but dad is in the country.

 

[Pensmaster]

Here's a picture of my Lavender Rooster is this considered a squirrel tail?

He's just developed this recently

 

[Cynthia12]

Here's a picture of my Lavender Rooster is this considered a squirrel tail?
He's just developed this recently

Not sure what it's called, but it sure is cute..handsome. He really is nice looking.

 

[Jessimom]

Not sure what it's called, but it sure is cute..handsome. He really is nice looking.

x2