BYC's 2021 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along!

[muddy75]

Update: chicks seem to have grafted into mama and she has accepted them. They had been eating some food and went right back underneath her when they were done.

 

[Solanacae]

Mama’s up off the nest and everyone’s getting some food. As a bonus, one of my spring chicks just started laying today!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Yes just out of nowhere I checked on it a few hours prior and it was fine. It’s left in one spot in our bedroom never moved. I have a govee hydrometer and thermometer I can monitor from my phone and it appeared to have quit about an hour before my husband discovered it at 9:30 pm so thank goodness it didn’t happen while we were sleeping. He found that if he wiggled the cord where the power goes into the incubator it would flicker on. He found an old laptop cord that had the same plug in so he made it work with that. I emailed the manufacturer but haven’t heard back yet. So currently it is working checked on a few this morning and they’re doing good

In my experience, eggs going cold for a short period of time doesn't necessarily mean death for the embryo. I'm sharing this to help ease everyone's mind in case something happens while incubating.

I've experienced several instances where eggs have gone cold, from 8 and 12 hours to 60 hours and I've had embryos survive and hatch successfully. The embryos may not be moving if you candle while they're cold, but once the eggs are brought back to incubating temperature, they begin moving.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Thought I would share this egg separating idea I found online. Using small embroidery cards, I cut them down a bit to fit in the incubator so that I can hatch different breeds at the same time. I used small zip ties that I use to band older birds, to tie the cards together. My silkies and Polkies look almost identical at hatch. The last batch I was home and I was able to see each one hatch and then band them as I took them out of the incubator. This time around we may not be home for several hours, so I thought this would be a good idea. I’m hoping they do not melt in the heat, as others have used them, I assume they will not. I’ll have to keep an eye and see.View attachment 2871510
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That's a great idea!
Thank you for posting pictures, it's helpful to see this in action!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

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my October hatches so far…..Hershey, Skittles, and Peanut

Wow! Love the names!

 

[muddy75]

Wow! Love the names!

They were actually @Kiki suggestion

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Past weekends hatch. The seed mat is their heat supply under the paper pad. Thinking of adding a top one as well. Temps have fallen here. Also need to remodel their room already. Adjustable legs definitely an advantage of the heat plate both both are currently in use.
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That's like a tiny chicken shed for chicks! (From the cattle farmer here)
You use a carton to feed them? That's an interesting idea!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

They were actually @Kiki suggestion

I can totally see those names coming from her!

 

[Kiki]

View attachment 2872161
my October hatches so far…..Hershey, Skittles, and Peanut

Ewweee. Those pink things on the left... Is it 2? It's one way smaller than the other?

Those are some ugly pink things! I'd kiss one.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

They’re budgies….I don’t have pigeons…….yet

I have pigeons, I would give them to you.
Caveat: they might be wild pigeons.