anybody in lockdown?

[Kricket638]

How is everybodies eggs doing? I had two hatch and two that are close to hatching ! Candle the others the are still working on trying to pip.

 

[Alitown4]

No babies fully hatched yet but two are working really hard. I was surprised when I woke this morning and my first little pipper wasn't hatched yet...but he is very, very close! I'm getting nervous about my other 5 eggs...no movement and no pipping so far today and yesterday I had movement in three and chirping coming from one egg.

As I'm typing baby # 1 hatched!!! He is OUT!!! WOW!!!! #2 is coming anytime now. Better go and get my camera!

 

[Kricket638]

Congrat ali! Post pictures soon. What do you use for litter in your brooder?

 

[Alitown4]

WooHoo! #2 is out!!! The two little ones have found each other and are snuggling...so cute!!! They aren't at a good angle for pictures yet but hopefully soon I can get a pic. My girls named them: #1 is Buttercup and #2 is Stawberry Shortcake

In the past I have used both shavings/sawdust (the same we use for our horse stalls) and the small wood pellets. As I have the shavings on hand I will probably use those in the brooder. I saw a trick for ducklings waterer - in the brooder use a milk carton and cut a hole in it big enough they can get their heads in but not too big they can fully get their bodies in and drown. I'm going to try that in hopes that will help keep the water free from shavings - as that has always been my biggest problem and keeps us going back and forth from the barn cleaning the waterer several times a day. I may keep these little guys in the house for a few days and then move them out to the barn.

Any opinions on candeling my other eggs at this point? I really want to take a peek but don't want to compromise my hatch. What do you think?

 

[TXTiffany]

Congrats to Kricket, and Alitown!! Hope you guys can upload some more pics soon. I just finished candleing mine, and I really thought I would have a internal pip this morning. I don't have any internal pip. Still some wobbling though.

 

[Kricket638]

I have seen people use corn cob litter but several books say not too. So I think I will use old rags and hay? I have three close to hatching and saw one has finally pipped. have you tried playing music to them alitown? I started playing music for mine and it would get going. I know it sounds crazy but it kept me from opening the bator and compromising the hatch. @ tiffany how are the air cells looking?

 

[TXTiffany]

@ Kricket...........The air cells really haven't changed much. I thought running my bator dry would speed up them up. Today is day 29. I still have hope

 

[Kricket638]

You are probably looking at another two days before they start getting ready. When all you see is black then it will be time for lockdown! They are just taking their sweet time. Hubbie says the must all be girls lol . Check you temp. Might need to bump it up a tad.

 

[TXTiffany]

Okay with the thermometer laying on the bottom of the bator. What temp would you want it to read?

 

[Kricket638]

I have mine propped on its side so it reads half way up the egg and mine reads 99.9. You are using the one that is stapled to the piece of plastic right?