August Hatch-A-Long!

[Heidisgran]

I have 5 out of 6 silkie eggs chirping and 2 of them are pipped

 

[DeannaA]

I love it when the mama's raise the babies...they teach them everything they need to know....I don't intervene I let them handle everything....we built a "nursery" that's low to the ground separate from the main coop so when the babies hatch they don't fall, mama takes them out during the day and takes them back to that nursery at night.....when she's finished raising them she stops going to the nursery and rejoins the flock all on her own....the little ones return to the nursery so we eventually close it so they have no choice but to go in the main coop but that depends on whether the nursery is needed by another hen at the time, if not we let them use it awhile longer because they seem bewildered that mom left them and I feel sorry for them! lol

I don't have any old enough. I would prefer that. Maybe next year. My oldest are 4 1/2 months.

 

[Heidisgran]

Advice needed.... is there a % increse from incubation to hatching with humidity? It seems like everybody has a different opinion. I incubated them between 35-45% and my air cells look beautiful! They mostly hung right around 40% give or take 1. Now that they are pipping a little ahead of when I expected them lol I can not seem to bring it up any higher than about 55%. Acceptable or should I keep at it?

no matter what % of humidity you incubate at you will raise the humidity for hatching....I don't have a web thread ready that you can read on standard incubation but one of the others probably has one handy

 

[familypendragon]

I don't have any old enough.  I would prefer that. Maybe next year.  My oldest are 4 1/2 months.  

I hope I get a broody one of these days I have Australorps, Wyandottes, a Rhode Island White and a Blue Marans that are all old enough but so far no one has shown any inclination, LOL!

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: I thought that posted incorrectly....it was intended for sweetappleacre in answer to a question....
you will enjoy it having the mama raise her babies...nothing sweeter...too fun to watch

 

[familypendragon]

I did just buy 5 white cochin female chicks in hopes that next year they will be my broodies I bought them a couple fellas too.

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote:

 

[familypendragon]

I thought that posted incorrectly....it was intended for sweetappleacre in answer to a question....
you will enjoy it having the mama raise her babies...nothing sweeter...too fun to watch

yeah, I remember when our cat had kittens when I was little and thinking it was so magical

 

[Heidisgran]

I did just buy 5 white cochin female chicks in hopes that next year they will be my broodies

I bought them a couple fellas too.

oh you are as bad as me

 

[DeannaA]

I checked on my guineas this morning. Day 31. Saturday and Sunday I cracked open the air cell to check on them. 6 were still alive Now I think only two or three. I left them in there since sometimes they are still alive even when they don't seem to be. Only two out of all that I have opened were in the correct postion. I left them in the cartons for hatching this time but they are shipped eggs. 2 broke blood vessels. Poor guineas, such a mess. There is one with cleared beak and still breathing for sure but still has veins showing. I cleared most of the shell and wrapped it in a damp warm paper towel and returned to hatcher. The others that are still moving have not pipped the membrane, not sure if they can. Even if any of them make it from the shell, I am not to hopefully. They are so weak. This is so frustrating. I think no more shipped eggs. I only have a few types of local eggs I can buy and very limited on quality of breed. But I guess that will have to do. I can't put any more chicks thru this. I am still waiting for eggs I ordered last week but I am going to do my best to resist the urge to buy anymore online.