August Hatch-A-Long

[slordaz]

I feel really awful, clumsy me dropped an egg in the incubator onto the rolls and cracked another one in doing so. The dropped one was a yolker, but the other one was developed! day 18! I killed a chick!

I was thinking about glueing it, but it wasn't a clean crack, so I had to throw it away. Sob, sob, even unhatched, they are my babies. So now I have 8 left in that incubator and I am now super glad I kept adding eggs in the other (safer) incubator. It's day 19 so those 8 are in lockdown now and I'm keeping my clumsy hands off them!

I am pretty sure most of us have had that happen at some time when incubating, don't beat yourself up for it, my broody hens do that sometimes too or accidentally squash a newly hatched one under them

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Sorry for the late quitters, I feel for you. I culled two chicks today, and lost two more before I got down to check on them. Huge humidity spike on day 21 because of crummy weather and all the wet chicks hatching out. It went from 55 to 89% overnight and I had many unhealed navels.

I think* (need to count) I’m now at 21/36 on my incubator, and 10/24 for the other person I was hatching for. I have 3 of mine in questionable condition as well. BTW I tried gassing on my first hatch, and have to say 100% a sheep skinning knife is the best method for me for that. And I still feel that culling hatchlings is by far the hardest thing for me so far.

Oh no that sounds awful! I’m sorry that you’ve had to cull chicks!!! So so hard!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

One more and another should be soon. It's a girl!

Awwww, little wet exhausted chickie girl!!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So far we have 4 girls and one boy. I did assist one this morning as she was stuck. She's resting in the incubator while the remaining 3 eggs work their way out.

Wow! Great ratio of pullets:cockerels! Congratulations!!!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I feel really awful, clumsy me dropped an egg in the incubator onto the rolls and cracked another one in doing so. The dropped one was a yolker, but the other one was developed! day 18! I killed a chick!

I was thinking about glueing it, but it wasn't a clean crack, so I had to throw it away. Sob, sob, even unhatched, they are my babies. So now I have 8 left in that incubator and I am now super glad I kept adding eggs in the other (safer) incubator. It's day 19 so those 8 are in lockdown now and I'm keeping my clumsy hands off them!

So sorry! Even accidents make you feel awful!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

That's pretty much the set up I have. My girls free range daily. I have a few older hens that teach the young ones the ropes. It's definitely helpful to have older hens, young flocks aren't very predator savvy. I'm also kind of convinced that my oldest hen is respondsible for all of my hens going broody this year. I think she's talking them into it. Lol

Is that a good or a bad thing???

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I feel really awful, clumsy me dropped an egg in the incubator onto the rolls and cracked another one in doing so. The dropped one was a yolker, but the other one was developed! day 18! I killed a chick!

I was thinking about glueing it, but it wasn't a clean crack, so I had to throw it away. Sob, sob, even unhatched, they are my babies. So now I have 8 left in that incubator and I am now super glad I kept adding eggs in the other (safer) incubator. It's day 19 so those 8 are in lockdown now and I'm keeping my clumsy hands off them!

So sorry! I candle over a folded towel for padding and I've still had accidents happen! I placed an egg down too rough in the incubator and didn't even notice I had cracked the egg. I probably could have saved that one because it was such a small crack but I completely missed it until later. These things happen! Don't let it get to you! Even broody hens break eggs sometimes!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Is that a good or a bad thing???

I was enjoying it at first...lol...7 broody hens later I'm having second thoughts.

 

[jolenesdad]

So far we have 4 girls and one boy. I did assist one this morning as she was stuck. She's resting in the incubator while the remaining 3 eggs work their way out.

Yay!!!!! 4/1 is awesome!!!!!

I feel really awful, clumsy me dropped an egg in the incubator onto the rolls and cracked another one in doing so. The dropped one was a yolker, but the other one was developed! day 18! I killed a chick!

I was thinking about glueing it, but it wasn't a clean crack, so I had to throw it away. Sob, sob, even unhatched, they are my babies. So now I have 8 left in that incubator and I am now super glad I kept adding eggs in the other (safer) incubator. It's day 19 so those 8 are in lockdown now and I'm keeping my clumsy hands off them!

 

[Bookworm0124]

Wow! Great ratio of pullets:cockerels! Congratulations!!!!!

I know!! Lol I just had to help one and I is a boy I THINK, But still a great number.