8th-annual-byc-new-years-day-2017-hatch-a-long

[ChickenCanoe]

...
I am using water bottles. I made them using vertical water nipples. It seems to keep them from getting cocci. I also have one from premier one:

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...MxAofEtGmkB3L0KyjL-d3Z0cJZzDCbMAmcaAuFn8P8HAQ

I like that.
I'm making something similar with horizontal nipples for this year's hatches.

 

[ronott1]

I add a probiotic powder to chicks first water. Chicks raised by mother hens will get probiotics from her feces. Hen raised chicks don't get pasted vent and mine haven't had it in the last 3 years since I've been doing it.
The probiotics I add is Gro2Max.
http://www.gro2max.com/#!why-probiotics? With 5 strains of bacteria, itt is formulated specifically for chickens from research done in Egypt.
If they seem stressed, I may add some agave nectar for energy.
I don't use visible lights any more. If brooding a bunch of chicks I use ceramic heat emitters or for just a few, I use a premier heat plate. That way I can give them hemeral lighting with a dark period each night.
Red light hides wounds but blue light is more calming to chickens.

I use plates from premier 1 now. The brinsea plates keep falling apart--I use them when I have to though. They need to have the wires replaced--The chicks keep breaking them. The wires on the premier plates are a higher guage and do not break

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use plates from premier 1 now. The brinsea plates keep falling apart--I use them when I have to though. They need to have the wires replaced--The chicks keep breaking them. The wires on the premier plates are a higher guage and do not break

Thanks. I'm glad I opted for the premier.
I fought buying them for a long time because I thought they were pricey. But I think it was you and bamadude that convinced me to take another look at them.
I did the math, comparing electricity used with that in my big Ohio brooders. I realized I would save the cost of them part way through the second brooding. I ended up getting a small and an extra small. I figured if I had many more chicks than that I could still use my big brooders. 2 of them have been collecting dust in the coop loft for a couple years.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Congrats! And what a nice thing to be able to get your friends set up  

X2!!! Sooooo jealous of the Bielefelder babies! Want some so bad!!! It's very cool of you to be helping out your friends like that.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Okay, I set up a heating pad to put the eggs on while I removed the turner tray and candled the eggs for air cell development. I think they look okay, but what do I know?? LOL

Anywho, dare I post the pics here? Eff it, why not? It may help the discussion regarding air cells and how they may or may not be a good gauge.

Some of the air cells are moving along at an angle like is typical, but others seem to be going down the egg evenly on all sides. Not sure if that makes any difference lol

they look good to me

Looks as my error of not plugging my turner in is not
the horrid thing I thought at first seems may have lost one the others are
all still moving getting ready to lay

Yayyy!!! congrats!!

Just put my eggs in lockdown. Have seen movement in 3 of the 6. Air cells look good in all but two of them size wise. Not a lot I can do about that though. I only candled them quickly as I didn't want to have them out for to long. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Some good news - after (horrifically) dropping one of my eggs during the final candling, wrapping it with the only thing I had on hand (athletic tape) and mourning its eventual decease - this has happened!

Hooray!

awesome!!

congrats!!! I can't wait for mine to hatch

By the way, do you guys add anything to their water? A million years ago (haha) when I used to raise chickens I never gave the newly hatched chicks medicated starter or didn't add anything to their water, but now that I am older I realize how important those things could be so for this hatch I bought them medicated starter for the first 8 weeks, then will switch to regular feed. I want to add vitamins to their water as well, but what do I add? I've heard about electrolytes (which I don't know how to get or make lol) and apple cider vinegar.

i wouldnt do the ACV until they are older, i dont give electrolytes unless they are sluggish but here is a link to a recipe
Homemade Electrolyte Recipe for weak/ill chicks post #3876

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Good luck to everyone in Lockdown!!!

 

[BantyChooks]

Liz-

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Liz-

you know you love it!!

 

[eldonrgv]

 

[Chicken5555]

Take a video and share! I'm about to go watch mine, before I slip off to bed. Bah. None have showed signs of doing the dance though. I haven't been hovering either. Maybe that's my problem LOL

Here is a 30 second clip of one of my "Men in Black" girls's eggs wiggling. When the three blue girls were babies my youngest son wanted to name one of them "Men in Black" but we made a deal and named the them Jay, Kay and Wormy instead.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1245677955497813