Arizona Chickens

[NoSkiveez]

yesterday was hatch day. 1 pip out of 18. No one hatched. I was pretty bummed. I left them overnight and this morning 6 have pipped! 1 is a silkie from my own eggs. The first to ever make it this far. Its almost out and im dying to see what color it is. (Buff x white). I'm so glad I didn't take them out.

I'm going to invest in the cheapest still air incubator I can find until we can get something better. I think my hatching issues are related to the incubator. Id love a sportman but GEEZ, that's and arm, leg and a kidney!

 

[Mahonri]

I agree, it has to be the incubator.

Especially if they candled well.

I wouldn't get a still air, I think forced air is better... that or get a still air and add a computer fan.

I guess next week I'll have to pull out my own incubator and see how I do on the first 20 eggs laid this week.

I'll probably take the chicks to the feed store as I don't want to be brooding any.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Erin,

Can you isolate one hen at a time to find out who the eater is? Maybe if you just got rid of that one the other one would fall into line. It would be out-numbered, anyway.
I have a mixed flock and the boss is a RIR. She is meanest to another RIR, so I don't know if same breeds would help.
Also, I think it's safest to get chicks and start from "scratch". There are many horror stories on BYC about whole flocks getting infected, etc. from older newcomers.

 

[Bob's Henhouse]

Mahonri,
Thanks a bunch for the eggs! It was nice meeting you, and I'm sorry about your back. It would have been nice to see your flock and set up. I'm always looking for new ideas.

The eggs are in the incubator. I have trouble candling the darker eggs, but I'll try in 3 or 4 days and see what kind of action we've got. We drove down Flower, that's pretty cool the guineas and chickens wandering around. lol I didn't know guineas were that big, I may have to try them too. I got a note in my mailbox that the mail lady saw a coyote in the front yard when she dropped off the mail. The baby's are on the back patio, and don't seem to have been bothered, and everyone else is in the Arizona room and coop.
I'll work on pics of the coop, chickens, and incubator thisweek.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Quote:
I have a small computer fan I can rig into a still air that I would put in. I've read its best to have air circulation for more even temps. My first few hatches in this Bator were awesome. I set 47 eggs and 39 hatched. Then I ran another set and had 32 eggs go in and 29 chicks come out and had a heck of a time finding homes for them. I'm considering making some modifcations as soon as its unoccupied. I'm thinking 2 lower watt bulbs instead of one 90-watt. I can put two heat sources on the thermostat. I've been doing some reading about late hatches and think it could be uneven heat but I have a fan. I think I've racked my brain a million times over what the problem is. But I still am sitting infront of the incubator with my face pressed against the glass.

 

[NoSkiveez]

Not yet. I'm keeping my hopes up. Fertility was awesome. I think I only discarded 1 as unfertile (double yolker) and 2 with blood rings from this set. I also put some Silkies from my hens in and same thing, great fertility and they are making it to Lockdown and pip, so I know they are alive (on top of candling well). So it has to be something I'm not doing right.

 

[NoSkiveez]

The first has made its arrival. A silkie. One more, also a silkie is working its way out. I'm glad they are arriving but I still need to make adjustments. I'm just giddy they are hatching. I really enjoy this.

 

[NoSkiveez]

I have CHICKS!!!!

Two dark eggs have hatched. I looked in and it was the lone silkie and went out to make sure coops were locked and came back and my husband said there was a chick in there and I thought he was bluffing and I looked and there is 3 total. The silkie is mostly dry and its an ivory color. Still more pips!

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Bob's Henhouse :

Congrats on the new arrivals NoSkiveez. That's one of the reasons I have so many chickens! lol The other is I want to see all the different varieties.

This is what I would do if I had the room. As it is, I have to worry about space vs. production of eggs for our family.
I just feel lucky I can have any in the middle of a suburb!​

 

[Mahonri]

back is still killing me...

Still went to 2 of the 3 hours of Church.

Anyone want to give blood? My son is doing his Eagle Scout Service Project with the Red Cross this Friday afternoon/evening at 18th Street and Missouri.

If you can help out, PM me. Would love to see you there.

Have a great Sunday.

M