California - Northern

[CackleJoy]

I know late quitters are so awful. I had a lot last year and am still trying to figure out why.

When you stored the eggs before hatching, what position were they in and did you turn them during storage?

What position were they in, in the incubator?

What level of calcium is in the feed that you give your breeders?

I store the eggs pointy side down and I never TURN them. Sometimes I tilt them one way or the other by books under the carton. Sometimes I forget. I wonder how necessary the tilting is before hand as I was very faithful with the first ones I did and that hatch was not great either. BTW, not challenging that practice, I'd just like to know WHY we do that.

I put them pointy side down but these were tetris stacked so some were kind of slanted, pointy side down. FYI, none of the top ones are the pip-quitters but some were late quitters..

I use ModestoMilling layer pellets which are a complete feed (I can't remember the calcium %) and calcium supplementation is supposed to be unnecessary. Since the chickens do a lot of free range, I provide free choice oyster shell.

All good questions and I'm quite willing to adjust my practices to increase the hatch rates.

 

[ronott1]

My broodies usually stay with chicks between 4-9 weeks. Depends on the hen. Recently a silkie hen left her Faverolle babies at about 4-5 weeks, but have another silkie who still cares for her almost 9 week old BCM babies. They are HUGE compared to her. My Marans are usually in the mothering mood for about 6 weeks...then really start pecking the chicks to let them their time is up.

A Co worker had a FBCM (French Black Copper Marans) brood for 8 or 9 weeks too.

@Chiquita

She is one of Louie's sisters.

 

[CackleJoy]

Pipping and dying is rare.

It is most likely Oxygen related. but is still could be low temps during incubation.

Were they eggs from your flock? If so, start giving the flock some calf manna once or twice a week.

Yes they are eggs from my flock. What is calf manna?

 

[CackleJoy]

My broodies usually stay with chicks between 4-9 weeks. Depends on the hen. Recently a silkie hen left her Faverolle babies at about 4-5 weeks, but have another silkie who still cares for her almost 9 week old BCM babies. They are HUGE compared to her. My Marans are usually in the mothering mood for about 6 weeks...then really start pecking the chicks to let them their time is up.

I think I need broodies. How does one acquire a non-silkie broody? I keep hoping that a couple of my broody-looking (they like to guard the egg boxes and lay on the eggs but are always tempted away by food) gals will actually brood. So far nada.

 

[PetRock]

My broodies usually stay with chicks between 4-9 weeks. Depends on the hen. Recently a silkie hen left her Faverolle babies at about 4-5 weeks, but have another silkie who still cares for her almost 9 week old BCM babies. They are HUGE compared to her. My Marans are usually in the mothering mood for about 6 weeks...then really start pecking the chicks to let them their time is up.

My head hen is a black Australorp and she cuts her babies free at 4-5 weeks old. By then, she has completely integrated them into the flock with no problems. No one messes with Precious's babies except her. One time, she launched into the air at a Scrub Jay who was too close to her babies! Last year, two of my girls who are lower in pecking order (Blue Wheaten Ameraucana & Coronation Sussex) went broody. They each hatched 3 chicks from farm mix and Bresse eggs. They both mothered those chicks until the 5 boys were crowing at 10 + weeks and had to go to the farm. I ended up keeping only one of the Coro's babies, a black Langshan/sumatra mix pullet. She still spends time with her mama.

 

[ronott1]

Yes they are eggs from my flock. What is calf manna?

It is a supplement for Calves. IT has high protein and some animal protein. It also has lots of Nutrition. Kathy asked about Phosphorous to calcium ratio and I ran into a blog that said Calf Manna once a week along with free choice Oyster Shell Calcium was one of the best and least expensive things you can for your flock. I make good and healthy eggs.

It is high in Soy but if you give it to them once or twice a week it should be safe for the flock.

 

[ronott1]

I think I need broodies. How does one acquire a non-silkie broody? I keep hoping that a couple of my broody-looking (they like to guard the egg boxes and lay on the eggs but are always tempted away by food) gals will actually brood. So far nada.

Cochin and Dorkng are known as Broody breeds. They are not reliable though

 

[OR4-hmom]

I think I need broodies.  How does one acquire a non-silkie broody?  I keep hoping that a couple of my broody-looking (they like to guard the egg boxes and lay on the eggs but are always tempted away by food) gals will actually brood.  So far nada.

The blrw's I have are very prone to brood. I got about 10 eggs and she started growling and stealing eggs from her sister. She isn't sitting now but still not laying again.

 

[PetRock]

Cochin and Dorkng are known as Broody breeds. They are not reliable though

When I was helping Cheryl with her chickens, her Silver Penciled Plymouth rocks and her Tolbunts went broody all the time. I have 3 SPPR hens from her stock at the farm and not a 1 has gone broody. They are in the layer flock in the field instead of shut up in breeding pens so maybe they are too busy foraging to go broody! My Ameruacanas seem to be the broodiest in my flock but are not the best sitters or moms. My BW AM did a good job last year. I'm hoping that she goes broody again this year because she is a failure at egg laying. I have a whole bowl full of wind eggs that she has laid over the course of the last two years. She just left me another one this week.

 

[tommysgirl]

You are welcome. I put them directly in the ice chest. I'm not familiar with the bags that you mention. I do know gallon ziplocks are always a bit too small. I haven't found an alternative, except for wanting to order some airtight chicken freezer bags that I saw once, online, and now can't find again. I think Yellow House Farm uses them.

The bags are heavier gauge than produce bags but wider and taller than ziplocks. I don't know if they will give me a few but I am going to ask.