Australorps breed Thread

[BlueBaby]

Barb,
I never had any luck with the dry hatch. They got shrink-wrapped when they tried to get out. I stick with 40-50 % Humidity the first 18 days and then bump up to 65% till hatch after lockdown without the turner. When they do start hatching humidity will climb so remember to vent if it gets too high.
Kurt

PS Barb, make a road trip, I will have about 70 babies on Sunday

Kurt, ok I will add a little bit of water to them. I always remove the turner to do the lockdown. I wish you were closer so that I could make the road trip. I should hatch out all 3 of the colors this time, because I had a blue roo with my black hen, and the 3 blue hens. My splash hen decided to take a break from the egg laying while I did it, so none of her eggs will be in there.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yes!

Temperature is much more important and most do not use a good enough thermometer or calibrate the one the are using.

I keep a close eye on mine, because my incubator is in the house in what is supposed to be a spare bedroom that has been turned into a sort of storage room. It's sitting right on top of the large plastic dog-crate that I use for my brooder after they hatch.

 

[L2fly]

My gang of 3 BA chicks, about 4 weeks old. I bought them sexed & am crossing my fingers they are all hens!

My petite girl Cheeks (she's always been a little darker, & a little smaller, than her sisters):





Cheeks with Goldie:





Goldie is a bit of a diva and apparently loves the camera, or at least the camera loves her!








And last, but not least, Tipper, who is a bit camera shy!





Having fun with my girls, last night Goldie even sat in my lap and nibbled some dried mealworms! (They only get mealworms as a hand fed treat, and I offer a little coarse construction sand mixed 1:3 with parakeet grit in the little jar lid every day).

 

[Outdoorlover]

Awww

 

[alexa009]

Wishing you luck on your australorps, this is what yours might look like at 8 weeks.

 

[L2fly]

Wishing you luck on your australorps, this is what yours might look like at 8 weeks.

I hope so!! As long as they all stay female!

(Er, end up being female! lol!)

 

[alexa009]

Ha ha! Don't worry. some of them look they are.

 

[Outdoorlover]

At what age can one usually be able to tell the gender of an Austr.?

 

[alexa009]

Depending on its comb and waddles probably even 5 weeks

 

[Outdoorlover]

Mine is exactly 5 weeks and still looks like a hen...for now!