California - Northern

[capayvalleychick]

For those eggs, day 18 or 19 would be fine. The Dels and Dorks start pipping on day 20 and all of them hatch by day 21 usually. 65 to 75% is good.

Yesterday was day 20. First little pip early afternoon, didn't change by the time I went to bed. In the meantime, one other was already zipping. By this morning there were 4 out and I got to see another hatch. Tiny little hole with membrane covering it on the one Delaware egg this morning. As of now, there are still 5 chicks bouncing around in there. They pushed the Del egg over, so I can't see if there's any progress. 3 other Dork eggs with no signs of a pip.

I set the eggs on April 22, late afternoon. So day 21 isn't until late afternoon today, correct?

What do I do if there are chicks in there but eggs that haven't hatched?

The RCom dividers do not hold the chicks in place and it seems small in there. I don't see a way to do pedigree baskets in there. I need a hatcher that will accommodate covered trays.

 

[ronott1]

Yesterday was day 20. First little pip early afternoon, didn't change by the time I went to bed. In the meantime, one other was already zipping. By this morning there were 4 out and I got to see another hatch. Tiny little hole with membrane covering it on the one Delaware egg this morning. As of now, there are still 5 chicks bouncing around in there. They pushed the Del egg over, so I can't see if there's any progress. 3 other Dork eggs with no signs of a pip.

I set the eggs on April 22, late afternoon. So day 21 isn't until late afternoon today, correct?

What do I do if there are chicks in there but eggs that haven't hatched?

The RCom dividers do not hold the chicks in place and it seems small in there. I don't see a way to do pedigree baskets in there. I need a hatcher that will accommodate covered trays.

You are doing great!

The Rcom comes back quickly with humidity, so you can take the first ones out to hatch when they are fluffed up. At the same time, re position the eggs. I use a spray bottle with fresh hot water in it to give a couple of misting sprays over the eggs.

 

[PetRock]

Yesterday was day 20. First little pip early afternoon, didn't change by the time I went to bed. In the meantime, one other was already zipping. By this morning there were 4 out and I got to see another hatch. Tiny little hole with membrane covering it on the one Delaware egg this morning. As of now, there are still 5 chicks bouncing around in there. They pushed the Del egg over, so I can't see if there's any progress. 3 other Dork eggs with no signs of a pip.

I set the eggs on April 22, late afternoon. So day 21 isn't until late afternoon today, correct?

What do I do if there are chicks in there but eggs that haven't hatched?

The RCom dividers do not hold the chicks in place and it seems small in there. I don't see a way to do pedigree baskets in there. I need a hatcher that will accommodate covered trays.

I have chicks hatching tomorrow! There are 4 with pips! This group I am actually hatching in my cabinet hatcher. Then I'm going to disinfect it and give it a bread for a few weeks.

 

[caychris]

I have chicks hatching tomorrow! There are 4 with pips! This group I am actually hatching in my cabinet hatcher. Then I'm going to disinfect it and give it a bread for a few weeks.

How many does that make you have hatched so far?

 

[capayvalleychick]

My chickens got feather lice, once. I tried the powder, I tried the spray. What worked best was a permethrin dip. They sell a 10% Permethrin at farm stores.

I mixed it with water according to label directions, put it in a 5 gallon bucket. Wearing rubber gloves, I dipped them into the bucket, moving them up & down so the dip gets all through their feathers. Then I wiped some all around their head. They had eggs under their beak, so I had to scrape those off.

 

[casportpony]

Hold them upside down with one arm and against your body. Put a good amount on their butt and work your fingers backwards through the feathers to get it down in there. I like to do under each wing as well. (another hot spot) Warning: You will get dirty, plan on showering after.

Yes, this is how I do it, but I'd like to add that this should *not* be done like this (upside down) if their crops are full of water as there is a very real risk that the fluid will come back out their mouths and they could aspirate. Speaking from experience, lol. None lost, but it was a little scary.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Ill check for feather lice.
would tge lice caude tgem to be underqieght? I weighedeveryone and they all are 2-3 lbs underwieght

I really think you should have a vet do a fecal float on your thinnest. If that's not an option for you, I'd de-worm with Safeguard or Valbazen. Valbazen would be easier as it's only one dose (.2ml per 2.2 pounds). Safeguard the dose would be the same, but you'd have to do it 3-5 days to make sure you got capillary worms.

-Kathy

Edited to add:
Lice are common in unwell birds, but shouldn't cause weight loss. However, mites can cause anemia, weight loss and death.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Is using a dewormer periodically a good preventative practice or would you only do it if you have evidence of the need.

My vet now recommends against worming on a regular basis. Parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to wormers due to this practice.

It's best to send a manure sample to UCD or a lab or do the test yourself, if you have the means. Find out what type of parasites that you are dealing with and you can use the correct wormer to treat for them.

If they don't have parasites, you don't need to treat them.

 

[Audio51]

Quote: Congrats on the babies! I have never seen an R-Com in person...would strawberry baskets fit in there?

Quote:
What would we do without you, Ron!!! You are such a big help on this thread! You always answer our "dum" questions and never make us feel stupid for asking them....

Everyone here is so helpful....I am so glad I found this thread!

Agreed!!!

I like this thread too. People here are very patient with new people respectful of each others reasons for having birds and is all around a pleasant experience. Im glad I found it too and can't wait for Karens party. I feel like I found a bunch of new friends with people I have never met
(more so than Facebook)

They're patient even with people that aren't new, like me!! In case you haven't noticed, half of my posts are questions lol! And I'm certainly not a newbie anymore. This is a great thread, everyone is so nice and I don't think I've ever seen a fight happen on this thread.
I hadn't thought about that, but I think you are right! Everyone seems to be grown up enough to have discussions and different points of view without it becoming an argument!

Very interesting thing happened yesterday. We had let the dels out and they were roaming the yard not paying much attention to us. We brought the watermelon out and they didnt really notice.
I kept calling them and waving the WM hoping they would see and come but nada. I couldnt remember the call I had used the other day when we had given them treats so they were taking no notice. Then all of a sudden I remembered the call I had used. "Bwawk Bwawk". And then the most enthusiastic WM eater came tearing around the plants and everything right up to the WM. It was like night and day. I called some more and they all came a running. They don't like being picked up but will tolerate being held fairly well once we do. I think the treat feedings are helping some too.
They also are pretty good about being herded back into the coop. (Probably because we bait them back in with treats)

Well trained chickens!

Quote: I am actually having a lull right now. Nothing hatching since the Bob Whites. I do have my Grocery Store Rock Island eggs due Saturday though. Good thing...I was starting to go thru withdrawal..

 

[casportpony]

Quote: The only birds here that are wormed on a *regular* basis are my peafowl, they get wormed once a year before breeding season. Everyone else gets wormed as needed, like if I see one looking a little off, it gets wormed. Or broodies on peafowl eggs, they get wormed even if they look okay (cecal worm and blackhead concerns).

We bought a scope and stuff to do floats, so once we get the lab set up I hope to learn how to do my own!

-Kathy