A long-term chicken keeper saying hello for the first time :D

[GreenRunner]

Hi

Geoff from Yorkshire!!

Glad you could join us here!! I totally get the "Oik" I too worry about things like that and I have a few choice words about them but I think best kept to myself. We have dogs at the moment being taken from gardens, even when the owners are in. Sorry to hear about your last hen being snatched that is really horrible

Is your hatch done now? How many did you get? My new chicks are a week old now and I've already got itchy fingers to get the incubator back out again. I've got a broody polish at the moment and her eggs are due this coming weekend. Not going to be nice for her in the heat that is forecast. Should keep my addiction at bay for a while if her eggs hatch.

Good luck with your new chicks, would love to see some pics of them

I can't get enough of polish they are a fabulous interesting breed to keep and very funny with their quirky ways.

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

Hi!

It's awful, isn't it? I mean, you'd think you'd be able to let your dog into the garden. I let mine run around when I'm in and have the backdoor open, but never shut her out just in case. Sad times.

Yes, I think my hatch is almost done - day 24 now and no sign of any more pips. 4 Polish and the second and last d'anver is on its way out now - with a little help. For some reason it pipped the shell and the membrane came away and stuck to it like concrete. It's not completely out but I've freed it so that a few good pushes will get it clear.

This is addictive! I need more space and new runs!! LOL. Can't wait to see these littl'uns grow

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Oh yes more space is always needed!! As your on day 24 have your temps been a little low? This can cause a delayed hatch. Your chick that has membrane on could have become shrink wrapped. Did you open the incubator a lot during hatch? Drops in humidity can cause this. I don't open untill hatch is done or the incubator looks fit to burst. I put too many in because I can't help myself!! My last hatch 26/27 hatched and I had to move some to the brooder as there was no room left in there. I don't like opening but needs must.

They grow fast, faster than you think but I'm sure now you have bug you will want to incubate some more.
Here are a few of mine from previous hatches ~

Good luck hope your d' anver gets out ok

 

[N F C]

All chicks are cute but Polish chicks are something else! Thanks for sharing @Yorkshire coop !

 

[GreenRunner]

I love those pics - I have to say; I looked through all your albums last night!!

Yes - I think shrink wrapped may have been what happened. I only opened once to take out the Polish as they all hatched earlier and were playing football with the other eggs. They hatched on day 21/22 - I didn't candle the eggs, so I'm sure there's some infertile ones. We got them as hatching eggs on eBay, and I've heard that eggs through the post can have reduced hatching rates.