August Hatch-A-Long

[Compost King]

@Compost King Congrats on the hatch! They must have had to come out and cool off those naked neck's of their's, huh?

they are actually out more often than under it but I do not keep my camera on me at all times. Just 2 were out when I passed by with my Camera.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

It never gets old!!! Coolest thing ever to watch the developing embryo! This time I've been documenting the same egg. Buff Laced Polish from my first batch of shipped eggs. I went ahead and tossed the clears because they were either infertile or too scrambled to even start developing but I do officially have development in 8 eggs! At least 2 of the eggs have weaker looking development than I like to see but I'm not too upset so far considering almost all of the eggs looked rough inside on arrival.

View attachment 1880805

Great pics!!! Doing well with your first shipped eggs!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Well, I had a huge humidity spike last night and came down to many chicks, a lot with unhealed navels and 89% humidity in my incubator... I opened it, pulled the fluffy and not soft bellied chicks then had to go to work the market. I bathed the sticky chick from last night in 100ish degree water (digital thermometers are wonderful things!) and returned it to the incubator before I left. She was actually stuck to the shelf liner, but is now doing fine, the one with the weird protrusion is still a little soft but looks more or less normal. The last pip in that incubator was zipping when I left. When I finally got a hold of my mother to go check on them while we were at the market she said they were all out peeping and doing fine... she didn’t see the bloody yolk sac . That one is now in the cup, but it was out and dragging the sac around for a good 1-2 hrs. I’m hoping it will be ok.

Most of the soft navels from the incubator with the high humidity were closed up when we got back, and I’m now setting up a third brooder tote and heat plate. I lost two fairly large chicks that pipped in the pointy end and were rolled over while we were at market. Seriously considering trying to hatch in a cut down carton next time?

Sorry about the troubles and narrow end chicks!!!! Is your hatch going well %wise overall?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I was supposed to be done hatching, but... I set 22 more eggs today! Labor Day weekend hatches. Will keep checking in here to see how everyone’s August hatches are going. We have acquired 4 new to us coops over the last couple of weeks. Haven’t had much time online between the chicks and rehabbing the coops. Hope to have more time soon!!!

Well when you have some time - do tell! I understand; we are building a new guinea coop now too!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

a couple chicks out from under the brooder heating plateView attachment 1881261

Awww, sweet little NNs!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So... now I know why there weren’t more eggs in the coop guinea nest... Last night, I found a pretty big nest of eggs under the “dead” willow tree! This is the tree 30 ft from the coop that blew over in a spring storm but is valiantly fighting for new life. I needed to get some fake eggs out of the coop nest, so didn’t collect until tonight. Big surprise for DD when she went to collect the eggs tonight - our friend the large black rat snake was poking his head out of tall grass surrounding the nest, and seemed confused about the flashlight shining on his dinner... He refused to leave until I brought a stick over and beat the grass a bit. He’s probably been gorging every night on these eggs! I wonder how many he can eat at once...Have I mentioned that outdoor guinea nests are no fun??? Now I need to get out at the crack of dawn and put the fake eggs out, or he’d just eat them overnight! I’m wondering if he will get hungry and go for a guinea while she’s laying eggs... I think I’m going to need to relocate that snake, which is sad because I expect he’s keeping rodent and copperhead numbers low... Anyway, we set 24 guinea eggs tonight, so I’m on for September!!! This gives us a hatch date of sept 12-14, but I bet some have started developing because it’s been SO FREAKING HOT!!! Phew. We are working on a new guinea coop and the expected cool down has reversed course!

 

[Kris5902]

Sorry about the troubles and narrow end chicks!!!! Is your hatch going well %wise overall?

I think so! I’ve lost two of my eggs/and the ones from my sold Barnvelder boy since lockdown and a 50% hatch rate on the mixed flock eggs that were cleaner but extremely varied in size for the other person. Honestly, I don’t have a count yet on the ones from “my” incubator! I’m at 78% on my eggs (I think, based on the math... 36 set, 30 into lockdown, 2 died, I still have 4? Eggs unpipped. I will recandle later tonight)

 

[ScottyGill]

Just wanted to let you know the wee black maran I assisted is up and running around today. The newest addition is getting up on her legs too. I was kinda glad to see her him shuffling around on her bum also as it helped me to feel less guilty about intervening. They are both a little smaller than the first chick and both at the same stage of walking. But both are full of life. They are so happy together. Last night was peaceful, no crying lonely chick stuck with a mirror and a teddy. My relief is huge!! During the hatch I said never again!! Already I’m thinking well I learned a ton More this time. Maybe I can do it for friends with a little medical help for hatching days

 

[CluckNDoodle]

So... now I know why there weren’t more eggs in the coop guinea nest... Last night, I found a pretty big nest of eggs under the “dead” willow tree! This is the tree 30 ft from the coop that blew over in a spring storm but is valiantly fighting for new life. I needed to get some fake eggs out of the coop nest, so didn’t collect until tonight. Big surprise for DD when she went to collect the eggs tonight - our friend the large black rat snake was poking his head out of tall grass surrounding the nest, and seemed confused about the flashlight shining on his dinner... He refused to leave until I brought a stick over and beat the grass a bit. He’s probably been gorging every night on these eggs! I wonder how many he can eat at once...Have I mentioned that outdoor guinea nests are no fun??? Now I need to get out at the crack of dawn and put the fake eggs out, or he’d just eat them overnight! I’m wondering if he will get hungry and go for a guinea while she’s laying eggs... I think I’m going to need to relocate that snake, which is sad because I expect he’s keeping rodent and copperhead numbers low... Anyway, we set 24 guinea eggs tonight, so I’m on for September!!! This gives us a hatch date of sept 12-14, but I bet some have started developing because it’s been SO FREAKING HOT!!! Phew. We are working on a new guinea coop and the expected cool down has reversed course!

Lol! Those guineas are egg machines! How many keets did you keep from your first round of hatching? I'd love to see an update picture of those babies if you have time!

Just wanted to let you know the wee black maran I assisted is up and running around today. The newest addition is getting up on her legs too. I was kinda glad to see her him shuffling around on her bum also as it helped me to feel less guilty about intervening. They are both a little smaller than the first chick and both at the same stage of walking. But both are full of life. They are so happy together. Last night was peaceful, no crying lonely chick stuck with a mirror and a teddy. My relief is huge!! During the hatch I said never again!! Already I’m thinking well I learned a ton More this time. Maybe I can do it for friends with a little medical help for hatching days

Yay! Congrats on the hatch and successful assists!!

 

[ScottyGill]

Here they are all walking, drinking, eating, pooping. I’m counting 3 chicks 2 blue and 1 black French Copper Marans the black one wasn’t my malpositioned saddle cell assist. I can truly relax now and having a glass of wine on Sunday afternoon while I watch the 4 1/2 weeks CCL pair and Olive Egger play in sun. I’ll be back for integration support soon