April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

[chickydee64]

Looks like I'm getting a 100% hatch from my broody! Out of 7 eggs, we have three chicks and four pips!!!
Question- if I leave everyone in the heated crate, can I give the 8 chicks from the incubator hatch to the broody? She'll have fifteen babies, and she's a tiny Japanese, but I'd like the babies to have a mommy.

I read somewhere on BYC that they imprint in the first four days..........
My concern would be her size?????????? 15 is quite a few even for my large hens.......
You can always try and watch real close to be sure everyone can get under her for warmth.
Good Luck

 

[Mtn Margie]

You said heated crate so if they can really stay warm, she could probably do it.

 

[redneckgranny]

Ok maybe someone can help us. We have 20 eggs in one nest. But there is not one hen setting on them. WHY??? THANKS

 

[Mtn Margie]

Ok maybe someone can help us. We have 20 eggs in one nest. But there is not one hen setting on them. WHY??? THANKS

Hummmmm! 'Cause they don't want to. Raising babies takes way more energy then laying eggs! LOL!

 

[MadamContrary]

All this is my last attempt at uploading photos from last weeks hatch...
Baby Barred Rock snoozing



1st two in the brooder



Australorp?



And the least blurry shot of the group.

If this works expect candid shots of each individual babe soon

 

[Loghousemom]

Loving all the baby pics. I will try and post some of mine as they are now a couple weeks old.

I haven't had much time to post, between 2 batches of chicks, 3 daughters and we took in two ducks dumped on a school's doorstep, I have been plenty busy. Was hoping my husband would help build my brooding box this weekend, but he is being a pain so my dad is coming over tomorrow and we will get it done. The ducks and oldest chicks need to move outta my house. I will let the girls keep the newest babies inside till they have a few more feathers or till the may babies hatch.... Then they will have to move and hopefully my 2nd pen will be ready to take all these babies! Eek!

 

[MadamContrary]

Just saw this elsewhere and thought I would share it here since I'm starting to get the "what is it" angst.


According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.
2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs The cockerels legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail The cockerels tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers.



Now if anyone knows offhand any breed exceptions or if you have your own your own easy reference guide you would like to share I would be be much obliged!



Top is my suspected baby roo..... Would be the sweetest bird too, now I may have to eat him.

 

[AusChook]

I have just candled my eggs. It is meant to be lockdown in 10 hours. One appears to have pipped. Should I lock them down now to be safe or still turn then tonight and wait until tomorrow for lockdown?

I tried to get a picture but couldn't. I looked on this site and it does look like some of the pictures but someone has written that it could be preparing to pip. What is the difference. In my egg it looked like a dark shape in the air cell. The chick was still moving.

 

[Tanichca]

I have just candled my eggs. It is meant to be lockdown in 10 hours. One appears to have pipped. Should I lock them down now to be safe or still turn then tonight and wait until tomorrow for lockdown?

I tried to get a picture but couldn't. I looked on this site and it does look like some of the pictures but someone has written that it could be preparing to pip. What is the difference. In my egg it looked like a dark shape in the air cell. The chick was still moving.

Sounds like a pip to me! Put your ear to the egg- you'll hear faint tapping and peeping if its a pip. If it is, lockdown starts now! Get that humidity up, cause when one pips, the rest follow closely behind!


My broody is doing fine with her babies so far. She has four now, and three pips. e

 

[redneckgranny]

LOL You may be right now. But they get on for about 30 mins to 1 hr then back off again. Just can not figure it out why. There is 3 hens in there and no one on them. What do I do now?