Arizona Chickens

[gckiddhouse]

ADC - I calibrated my hygrometer. My instincts were correct! It is reading 10% low. I had been trying to keep it between 25 and 35%, but it was hard to do so and I started thinking that there was just no way it was only 25% humidity in there with a full bowl of water. And sure enough, it wasn't. So, just on my hunch, I have been keeping it between 20 and 25% which is really 30 - 35% which is just where I wanted it. So just to get it straight, help me here.

In the bag the humidity is 75% (right?) and my hygrometer reads 65%. So if I want the humidity at 65% for lock down, then I should raise humidity untill my hygrometer reads 55%. Is this right?

Realized last night that we don't even have a brooder yet! Better get a move on! We are in the home stretch!

Waiting for more chickie pics!! So glad your hatch is going well!!!

 

[budkingston]

Quote:
Don't worry about it. And don't make the mistake I made on my first hatch.

Mine hatched over a period of 3 days. Once before, it was over 2 days. And you will be surprised that some of them, when it is time to come out, can pip, chop, chew, drag, and chisel their way out in about 5-10 minutes, I have watched it with my own eyes.

On my first hatch, at day 23, when no chicks were hatching any longer, I took the eggs out of the bator and cleaned it all up. I left the eggs on the counter, and figured that on Sat morning, I would open them up, as a kind of biology experiment for my kids. 2 days later, I can hear chirps coming from the kitchen, which didn't make sense. After about 10 times, I decided to investigate... the chirps were coming from the eggs!!!!!!!!!!!

I quickly reassemled the bator and decided to help the chicks out. 2 of them were alive, but one went into a hemorrhage and died within minutes. The other managed to hang on but was unable to stand and walk around. After 5 days, I realized that hewasn't going to be a track star and wouldn't be able to run, even if he was in Somalia. I don't know if he had some type of neural tube defects from the low temps, or if he was late coming out because he was a runt anyway, but I had a lot of guilt about the whole thing, plus I felt stupid for ending the show early.

I am somewhat ashamed to tell that story... I was/am stupid. BUT, if someone can learn from it, then maybe a few more chicks will make it.

In our primative incubators, and I say primative compared to the ones at Murry's and Welps, we are not going to have all chicks come out on day 21. a few days early and a few days late is common. Just let nature takes its course, and don't remove the eggs till day 25.

 

[budkingston]

Quote:
And this is based upon the premise that the teachers at a formal school know what they are doing...

When I was still thinking about what I wanted to do when I retired, I decided to be a teacher. So I figured being a substitute would be a good idea to see if I was a good fit. I got my lic and subbed about 2 days a week.

These kids were having trouble with division, and they had additional teachers from other areas of the school come and assist. These kids had no clue, like how to convert 21/5 to 4 1/5, so I started taking steps backwards in the process till I found a place where they had understanding. So I am teaching them how to factor... And this additional teacher, sent there for the "math press" (the political catch phrase for the "program"), was amazed and had this look like I was translating the collected works of Nostradamus! This was 7th or 8th grade and I was teaching 2nd-4th grade stuff. He said he had never seen it done that way before... I told him, if you don't understand this, then you can never understand how to do it.

I could go on, like the sociology teacher that didn't know what the 14th ammendment was... but the point is, teachers are no different than the guys you meet on a daily basis. Some know what they are doing, and some are clueless...

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Quote:
Yes, you're exactly right. Mine was 10% low too (also 65% in the test), but I didn't discover it till day 17. I don't think it hurt the chicks though - I think they are hatching fine. New pics will come later.


Budkingston -- I was thinking about it last night and remembered that my chicks didn't get set until 8 p.m. and then the next day was day 1, so my 8 p.m. chicks on day one should be slower and later than someone else's 8 a.m. chicks on day 1 (hope that mades sense). Last night and early this morning, we had some more hatch. We are up to 13 now, but... I do have one egg that has a pip on the small end just like yours did. I hope mine makes it too.

 

[LarryPQ]

I have had 2 eggs hatch from the small end, without issues. ONe egg zipped right down the middle of the egg too. Not sure how they had access to the air cell, but whatever. They wanted to come out, and they did.

 

[Enjaytoo]

Quote:
Yes, welcome...

And if the neighbors chicken tells you to do something, DON'T DO IT!

...dang, you are on a roll, that made me laugh....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to someone in Desert Hills

!!! Enjoy your day!

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

I'm really behind on all the posts!

Yeah for all the new the chicks!

Glad you're Ok Mahonri.

Welcome to the new people!

We homeschool too! My oldest is now at Chandler Gilbert CC getting her AGEC so she can transfer to U of A in 2011.


Our 19 wk old cockeral has started crowing! Gilbert ordinances say nothing about roosters, just noise. The neighbors say he isn't bothering them. We may actually be able to keep him! My 11 year old is very excited. He is her favorite.
She usually does her math and reading in the backyard with the chickens.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

15 chicks

- 3 eggs to go - 1 egg has a pip at the wrong end, isn't moving or cheeping, egg #2 has a pip at the correct end (still hoping), egg #3 (?? can't see a pip, but the chicks moved it around, so who knows)

#15 is still in the bator with the last 3 eggs:

I can't wait to see what they'll look like.
The spotted one is from a splash hen & a BW ameraucana - she doesn't look splash, but those spots - Mahonri - any idea as to her future coloration? I have 3 like this, all from my splash. The dark ones are from the dark blue.

Here are a couple of wheaton & blue wheaton ameraucana chicks from Mahonri's chickens.

 

[a2ms4chickens]

Well, I'm back from the Casa Grande show. No admission fee. It was a nice show. There was hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and drinks. Some of the feed stores set up booths there, so I picked up some VetRx for $6.00 which is about 1/2 what I pay at my feed store, and some oyster shell.

They had showmanship for the kids, they had a sales area, and a silent auction. Oh, and there were plenty of birds being shown, too.

My DS and I did not buy anything, but the 2 boys we brought along bought a couple of hens, in the hope of showing them next year for 4-H.

All in all it was a nice show.

Angie

 

[NoSkiveez]

We went out to the show today too. It was quite exciting. My daughter was so excited to be able to name the chicken breeds she knew. I think she's a big fan of the silkies and she sure was in heaven being able to see the various colors of them at the show. My oldest was really fascinated with the goat. I didnt quite expect to see a silent auction or know that there would be any chickens available. All and all it was fun and we're glad we went.