California - Northern

[Meg2000000]

crele penedesenca.
a brown egg laying super heat tolerant autosexing breed.

take more pic's of the pitas please

eveyones pic's are amazing

I will!! I'll try to get some today

i know, it's kind of crazy -- but it seems a shame not to let her try to hatch something interesting? i'm waiting to hear back from the woman in Davis I originally got birchen marans eggs from, for my first broody, that my well-meaning neighbor accidentally collected out of the nest while i was out of town -- if she doesn't have any available right now, i'm thinking of asking Deb (hi, Deb) about her marans and perhaps isbars...

how on earth i'll decide which chicks to keep, out of the variety that's (hopefully) hatching, i have no idea!

Ahh you are going to be on chick overload!!

Can you say expansion?

Hahaha totally!

I just hatched a bunch of Calico Cochins from Chooklet and had a great hatch!!!! Super healthy and fiesty chicks too. Highly recommend!!!

Yay! Congratulations on the great hatch!!

Don't forget to give the chick with the bum foot some PolyViSol (no iron) along with taping the foot. I had a little hen who's toes and leg never straightened but she hopped around on a foot and a wing for 2 years!!! She really broke my heart. She looked like hell from having to beat her wings to get anywhere but darn if she didn't come for treats and leave the coop to free range with the others. She really never went very far and towards the end she'd only come out for treats. She lived longer then I had ever believed she would....but now I cull all chicks with leg issues that don't improve right away.

I just had one in this last hatch who's leg went out to the side. She could pull it under her but it kept slipping out. I use vet wrap to make a sling to pull the legs together, this one didn't have curled toes, and I treated with PolyViSol and within 24 hours I had a hard time finding which one had the band on, within another 12 hours it was moving around, walking and stable so I took off the leg brace and continued with a few drops of the PVS. I can't tell who it was now but if it hadn't improved we would have culled. It's a big commitment to raise a handicapped chicken and I just can't do it.

I can't tell you how much I think the PolyViSol plays in their ability to heal. I know it's just vitamins but I've seen immediate improvement on chicks that historically would not improve. Last year I had a chick from a broody that was having trouble standing up, kept falling back on her joints. Since I didn't want to deal with a crippled chicken I culled but I wonder if PolyViSol would have given that chick the umph it needed to stand up.

Good luck with your little one!

I totally agree with the PolyViSol (without iron)! It has saved a few of my chicks that were weak!

I need someone who understands to share in my excitement...we have a pip (the eggs my daughter's kindergarten class is hatching that I got from Chiqita)! I can hardly contain myself coming to spend my day at work. It's a little silkies egg. Fingers crossed there are some out of the shell when she gets through with school today

Woohoo! That is so exciting! I bet your daughter is so excited!

My husband named the chick Curly on account of her/its toes I think its mama is a BO. It has an impossibly fluffy butt

She/it is learning to get around and is so much improved already, but every now and then you gotta take a break from all this PT and take a nap with a friend with similar feet. Not much eating or drinking happening. Pipped on Sat a.m. Not totally free of the shell until Sun p.m. The yolk is still providing nourishment right? I have given it frequent drinks (durvet/sugar water)

That's such a cute (and appropriate) name! I love the stuffed animal in there. That is the cutest picture!

 

[debs_flock]

Quote:
I'm sure some do. Hatcheries, probably are less interested in specifics and more in numbers. Exhibition breeders are looking for quality to quality, then work with the colors they get.

Hey guys, is it possible for me to be able to tell if this chick is a boy or a girl at this age? (We are thinking it is a Silver Polish, it hatched about 4/26 or 4/27 I think)

Because of the nature of their comb, polish are a little slower to sex. This chick, no way. You might be able to make a guess based on stance/attitude, but it's still 50/50. The first thing I see with polish is development on their wattles.

 

[Ali707]

I cleaned out the incubator last night due to the stench. It was in my room and the smell was oozing out into my room. Almost makes me not want to hatch any more!

I did eggtopsy one egg. I couldn't do the rest. Due to time and just because it is kind of difficult to do. Especially when the one I did do looked PERFECT. It was fully developed. Its beak was pushing right against the membrane and all it would have taken was a little nudge and it would have broken through.

At first I thought maybe it was shrink wrapped, but I checked the membrane and it was moist and pliable. So I am not sure what happened to it. I opened that one because it was one of those that was developing in a U shape and it was a shipped egg, but it all looked good inside. At least to my limited knowledge. I didn't get a picture and Ron's forum voice was in there nudging me to get a picture, but I was running crazy trying to get everything done for the night and I couldn't find my phone to take the picture. Sorry Ron.....

 

[waititout]

I need someone who understands to share in my excitement...we have a pip (the eggs my daughter's kindergarten class is hatching that I got from Chiqita)! I can hardly contain myself coming to spend my day at work. It's a little silkies egg. Fingers crossed there are some out of the shell when she gets through with school today

I'll be dancing the happy dance with you.  Who knew a little crack in an egg shell could be so exciting.  Hope she has a few out and fluffed when she gets home.

Thank you, me too!

I need someone who understands to share in my excitement...we have a pip (the eggs my daughter's kindergarten class is hatching that I got from Chiqita)! I can hardly contain myself coming to spend my day at work. It's a little silkies egg. Fingers crossed there are some out of the shell when she gets through with school today

GO EGGLITS GO!

I must say, the silkie eggs that I have been hatching in the last 3 weeks are  the best I have ever gotten.  if she has a vaulted scull dont send her home wiht a non bantam.   and I sent some icelandic eggs wiht you too didnt i? might be one of thoe they were awesome little girls ! they were all bright yellow, and calm for icelandics!

@Chiquita, I will definitely take your advice! I'm also looking out for your showgirls and will let you know if one pops out

 

[ronott1]

I cleaned out the incubator last night due to the stench. It was in my room and the smell was oozing out into my room. Almost makes me not want to hatch any more!

I did eggtopsy one egg. I couldn't do the rest. Due to time and just because it is kind of difficult to do. Especially when the one I did do looked PERFECT. It was fully developed. Its beak was pushing right against the membrane and all it would have taken was a little nudge and it would have broken through.

At first I thought maybe it was shrink wrapped, but I checked the membrane and it was moist and pliable. So I am not sure what happened to it. I opened that one because it was one of those that was developing in a U shape and it was a shipped egg, but it all looked good inside. At least to my limited knowledge. I didn't get a picture and Ron's forum voice was in there nudging me to get a picture, but I was running crazy trying to get everything done for the night and I couldn't find my phone to take the picture. Sorry Ron.....

It's ok about the pictures!

The most likely problem was the temp issues and that is being taken care of!

 

[debs_flock]

A couple of snapshots.

Now this is the kind of sleeping chick that gets your heart thumping.


Our week old goslings cruising in the living room with DH.
snacking on chopped lettuce here.
it's amazing how quickly they grow.

And tomorrow the rest of the crew is supposed to arrive

The goslings are so smart and so personable........................I could have just them!

 

[waititout]

Thank you everyone! Sorry, my phone is being dumb with the quotes!

My little girl is so excited! I will give you an update when I hear anything!

 

[tls_ranch]

I cleaned out the incubator last night due to the stench. It was in my room and the smell was oozing out into my room. Almost makes me not want to hatch any more!

I did eggtopsy one egg. I couldn't do the rest. Due to time and just because it is kind of difficult to do. Especially when the one I did do looked PERFECT. It was fully developed. Its beak was pushing right against the membrane and all it would have taken was a little nudge and it would have broken through. At first I thought maybe it was shrink wrapped, but I checked the membrane and it was moist and pliable. So I am not sure what happened to it. I opened that one because it was one of those that was developing in a U shape and it was a shipped egg, but it all looked good inside. At least to my limited knowledge. I didn't get a picture and Ron's forum voice was in there nudging me to get a picture, but I was running crazy trying to get everything done for the night and I couldn't find my phone to take the picture. Sorry Ron.....

A bator really shouldn't smell that bad. Clean it out really...really good before hatching again. I would add a tiny bit of bleach to the water in the humidity tray. Not so much that it smells strongly of bleach..just a few drops. Maybe add a tiny amount again when adding water during lock down too. It sounds like you has some issues with bacteria and that can cause sticky chicks, rough navels, unabsorbed yolks, and death of chicks. My foam bator rarely smells...other than a faint smell of eggs or a wet egg/chick smell during hatching. You shouldn't have condensation during incubation or hatching either. Make sure your vents are wide open..the extra humidity is hard on the electronics, causes ideal conditions for bacterial growth and most likely lower your hatch rate too. I hope your next hatch is less stressful Trisha

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, I should have said this. I always give PVS to any chick that seems fragile or has issues. It really helps a lot.

I also have raised quite a few special needs chicks. I don't do that anymore. If they don't improve right away, they are culled. I'm trying to breed a strong, healthy flock. Too much intervention just always gives you a bird that (in my opinion) should not be used in a breeding program. Of course, that's assuming you have choices, not always possible in very rare breeds.

I agree. I will tape legs or toes, but they have to improve to normal in the first couple days. I haven't had to tape a leg or foot in YEARS, then my last hatch I had 2 with a slight splayed leg. I taped them and 2 days later removed the tape, they've been fine since.

I have babied some special chicks and even 1 cockerel that I found out later was partially blind. Having to cull them at that point after all the care I have given was so hard, but necessary. Some of them went through some terrible circumstances too - the one cockerel got his head pecked up really badly. (before I realized he was partially blind)

All my chicks go on vitamins for the first week or two, then it's up to them after that. I would treat for cocci if I ever had it, but so far, I haven't needed to.

Quote: None of them look like a welsummer. The 2nd one could be a female Cream Legbar.

 

[Ali707]

It's ok about the pictures!

The most likely problem was the temp issues and that is being taken care of!

Well it was a little discouraging to see that. It is just a bummer because I had the largest losses on the shipped eggs. I think 9 didn't hatch of the ones that went in to lockdown. I had to dispense with the last shipped egg to hatch last night too and it was not my idea of a good time. It just wasn't getting better it was actually getting worse. SO, I believe I have two viable Wheaten Ameracauna's to hatch out of 15 total shipped eggs. Let's hope one is a girl.

My numbers were 45 eggs, 6 clears, three early quitters. 9 no hatchers.... 27 hatched, one culled

. Total 26 babies that I have no idea what to do with.....lol.