APRIL Hatch a long ......Anyone?

[pogmobum]

Oh, I know what you mean, it's the same with mine. With my homemade incubator, I was up every 2 hours putting water through the holes to wet dish towels I had in it. Pain in the butt! Brinsea has one with a programmable temp & humidity pump & automatic egg turner. The one I would like would be about $500. In my dreams lol!
Hubby took me out to get some chicks. I got a couple leghorns & some silkies. I'll definitely won't need an incubator if I can get a few hens out of this batch
You know her best, will she tolerate you cleaning the nest? My broody isn't a very good mother (blue copper marans) but she tolerates me around her & will continue brooding despite my frequent interruptions lol. I know if you disturb them too much they will give up the nest. Knowing my broody, I would clean up the mess & keep a close eye on her.

Its my first time hatching with this hen but i can already tell that shes one of those no matter what you do she will go back to the nest and sit forever hens. Its late here now so i will clean it 2 moro thanks

 

[subhanalah]

Oh, I know what you mean, it's the same with mine. With my homemade incubator, I was up every 2 hours putting water through the holes to wet dish towels I had in it. Pain in the butt! Brinsea has one with a programmable temp & humidity pump & automatic egg turner. The one I would like would be about $500. In my dreams lol!
Hubby took me out to get some chicks. I got a couple leghorns & some silkies. I'll definitely won't need an incubator if I can get a few hens out of this batch
You know her best, will she tolerate you cleaning the nest? My broody isn't a very good mother (blue copper marans) but she tolerates me around her & will continue brooding despite my frequent interruptions lol. I know if you disturb them too much they will give up the nest. Knowing my broody, I would clean up the mess & keep a close eye on her.

be mindful of this mix you have. Leghorns can be too much for the meek silkies.

 

[Gen9]

be mindful of this mix you have. Leghorns can be too much for the meek silkies.

I'm keeping a close eye on them. Silkies outnumber the leghorns
I wonder what they will look like when they're older. I've never raised silkies before, but I hear a lot of great things about them. They're all in a cuddle puddle right now lol

 

[pogmobum]

I'm keeping a close eye on them. Silkies outnumber the leghorns
I wonder what they will look like when they're older. I've never raised silkies before, but I hear a lot of great things about them. They're all in a cuddle puddle right now lol

Is it at all possible to raise silkies in a wet climate like Ireland, or would i just have to keep them indoors completely??

 

[Gen9]

Is it at all possible to raise silkies in a wet climate like Ireland, or would i just have to keep them indoors completely??

I can't really answer that question, but I live in a very wet climate (North Carolina) & lots of people have silkies out here.

 

[matlock585]

Guess I'll be following along with everybody here. I have 5 turkey eggs in a home made styro bator. They are due to hatch around 15th. My turkey hen is possibly going broody on me, so if she's still sitting tomorrow I think I will give her back the eggs I've collected since these have been incubating.
I don't have the highest of hopes for the ones in the bator. I've had several temp swings that I didn't see when they happened, but the high temp is recorded on my thermo so I know it happened.
Night before last I decided to candle them to look for movement because the high temp recorded was 108. The first egg I picked up I not only saw movement, but I actually saw both feet press against the shell! I was so amazed. They were tiny, probably about 1/4 inch or so. I've candled eggs hundreds of times but never seen anything like that before. I decided to take that for a good omen and didn't candle any of the others. Today is day 15 for them.

 

[subhanalah]

Thanks for the update matlock!
Looking forward to seeing those poults!

 

[DiamondDust]

I live in Western Washington state, USA and it is WET here, probably much like Ireland.

I raise silkies and they do very well as long as they can get out of the rain whenever they want. Mine usually stay under shelter when it's really raining but in a drizzle (which we get a lot) they will go out and forage with the other chickens. Actually, none of my chickens will go out in a downpour. I just love my silkies as broodies. I'm down to just one hen though as they are very susceptible to predators of every kind, including the neighbor's dog. The last time my silkie went broody I took her eggs away and just gave her some chicks I had hatched out one night after dark. In the morning she really thought they were her own. She's been raising them since.

Hope that helps!

DD

 

[CSWolffe]

I'm a little late to the party, forum wise, but I'm set with 9 assorted Marans in the 'bator, due the day before Easter. Second batch this year, only 2 of 15 from the last batch hatched, one BCM and one Lavender Americana. Ordered a second shipment, and just by coincidence they arrived perfectly timed to set for the Easter hatch. I'm taking that as a sign that more than 2 will make it this time.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Can I jump in here? Came home Wed to find my Broody sitting tight (she was over the weekend too but I didnt realize and took the eggs, now I realize she is sitting) my hatch date is the 22nd at the earliest or more likely the 23rd....

Silly girl is under the roosts in a corner of the coop. Weather is improving though so should nt be too bad....She is on 7 eggs.... I guess I could have move more under her (she is a Jersey Giant) but wouldnt ya know we have 17 in the brooder ready to go outside in the next coupla weeks....