Colorado

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Newbie here... what's acv?

Apple cider vinegar

 

[jgurshtein]

Apple cider vinegar

OH! I also purchased some chick starter mix that's supposed to make sure they're getting all their electrolytes. Can I add acv to that water or should I just use one? Which one?

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

OH!  I also purchased some chick starter mix that's supposed to make sure they're getting all their electrolytes.  Can I add acv to that water or should I just use one?  Which one?

I usually do vitamin water for chicks and add acv to adult waterers later on. Others may do it differently, but there are advantages to both ways.

 

[Pozees]

I was told to rest the eggs for a day or two depending on where they shipped from before placing in the incubator and then putting them in and not turning them for 3 days. I can't say it worked for me but the reasoning behind it seemed sound.

Pozees- I missed your original post somehow. I rest them a minimum of 18 hours then put them I the incubator with the turner off for 3 days then candle. Depending on what you see then you can either turn on the turner or let it go for a few more days. That's what I am doing anyway.

I did rest them from Thursday when I picked them up at the Post Office until Saturday morning. Candled all on arrival, could not detect any detached air cells, one is located at the pointy end which concerns me, many showed no air cell, which usually means the eggs are very fresh. I checked with the breeder I got the eggs from, she said it was a positive indication. Because there were no indications of air cell problems, I turned on the turner after 25 hours. I was going to dry hatch but she said she does not recommend dry hatching for Silkies, that she tries to keep humidity between 42 and 48% the first 18 days, then when she moves the eggs to the hatcher she increases it to 50-55%. and up to 60% when they start to hatch. Following her advice, the humidity is at 42%. I will quickly candle again Wednesday and hope to see the start of veining.

My fingers are crossed I will be able to pick up some RIR eggs on Friday when I go to pick up Bill - I should hear from Greathorse soon, I think he is going to Denver on Thursday. If the Silkie eggs all candle at least potentially viable, I will have room for 17 RIR if he has that many.

We got fabric and gravel put down for the shed pad with a 2' apron all the way around, Bob will probably try to get another inch of gravel put down tomorrow as it seems it could use it and I got plenty. Right now it's probably at 2" depth, and 3" would be better. I have not heard my shed kit is on the way yet today so I am guessing it's going to be tomorrow. If it is not I will panic and start taking action. I have no more time to wait.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I did rest them from Thursday when I picked them up at the Post Office until Saturday morning.  Candled all on arrival, could not detect any detached air cells, one is located at the pointy end which concerns me, many showed no air cell, which usually means the eggs are very fresh.  I checked with the breeder I got the eggs from, she said it was a positive indication.  Because there were no indications of air cell problems, I turned on the turner after 25 hours.  I was going to dry hatch but she said she does not recommend dry hatching for Silkies, that she tries to keep humidity between 42 and 48% the first 18 days, then when she moves the eggs to the hatcher she increases it to 50-55%. and up to 60% when they start to hatch.  Following her advice, the humidity is at 42%.  I will quickly candle again Wednesday and hope to see the start of veining.

My fingers are crossed I will be able to pick up some RIR eggs on Friday when I go to pick up Bill - I should hear from Greathorse soon, I think he is going to Denver on Thursday.  If the Silkie eggs all candle at least potentially viable, I will have room for 17 RIR if he has that many.

We got fabric and gravel put down for the shed pad with a 2' apron all the way around, Bob will probably try to get another inch of gravel put down tomorrow as it seems it could use it and I got plenty.  Right now it's probably at 2" depth, and 3" would be better.  I have not heard my shed kit is on the way yet today so I am guessing it's going to be tomorrow.  If it is not I will panic and start taking action.  I have no more time to wait.

How is your ventilation? That's one thing I read about incubating up here, it's a good idea to increase your ventilation to increase the oxygen getting into the egg. It was noted to be especially important for eggs from lower elevations. I have both my plugs out to help with that.

 

[Pozees]

How is your ventilation? That's one thing I read about incubating up here, it's a good idea to increase your ventilation to increase the oxygen getting into the egg. It was noted to be especially important for eggs from lower elevations. I have both my plugs out to help with that.

I tested before I set the eggs with both in, both out, and one out. The humidity seems most stable with just one out with eggs in the incubator - was fine with both plugs in before I set the eggs. I checked again several times after I set the eggs and after the initial surge in humidity while the eggs warmed up, it stabilized. I set it on some sheets of newspaper which should allow for air to move through the ventilation holes in the bottom while still absorbing any spills when I'm adding water, which is essentially a matter of time for me. Let's just say my middle name isn't Grace

I know I will be lucky to get a 50% hatch on shipped eggs, and these are the start of my Broody Bunch so it doesn't matter if they are top quality show birds, but they did come from someone with nice birds - I figure if I'm going to spend the money to buy Silkie eggs from an NPIP breeder, might as well spend a few dollars more and support the person breeding to SOP. I wanted to buy from Shylee but her hens aren't laying well right now, hopefully I will be able to later this year. I wanted to get the chicks on the ground as early as possible so perhaps by late summer they will be laying - IF I get a hatch, and IF there are any pullets LOL. This breeder has been really helpful with hatching advice and telling me the genetics behind the Lavender and Paint chicks I may get. With only 2 Paint eggs I won't be surprised if I don't get any, but the information is quite helpful just in case.

 

[suncatcher]

Quote: Wow, lots done in two days!

Check out Shylee's incubation page, as she does lots of Silkies too, it is on this thread somewhere. She does add some water as we are dry here in Colorado.
.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Wow, there was a recal on incubators! Browers, I think is the manufacturer...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/736049/recall-incubator

 

[Pozees]

Wow, lots done in two days!

Check out Shylee's incubation page, as she does lots of Silkies too, it is on this thread somewhere. She does add some water as we are dry here in Colorado.
.

Yeah, we are a couple of tired old fogies tonight, and will be sore old fogies in the morning Thank goodness for the little trailer the tractor can pull. We had the pea gravel dumped in front of the house in the driveway, and had to haul it back to the shed site, which is a little more than 100 feet away. That does mean shoveling the gravel into the trailer and then spreading with shovels and the rake, but at least we didn't have to wheelbarrow it back there. We figure we moved somewhere between 3 and 4 tons, and I would bet Bob will move at least another ton by himself tomorrow while I'm at work. No getting out of shape on this layoff!

 

[chlskt]

Are you going to raise quail to eat, or some other reason? Gambels are indigenous, we used to see them a lot more than we have since the drought kicked in, I think they are very pretty. Post us some pictures if you can, I would like to see what the others look like!

Sorry it took so long, I'm horrible at making time for pictures. So the Gambel's are mostly for eggs and pets. The coturnix will be for meat and eggs. It's just a matter of getting them breeding. We have 6 females and 2 males, then the tuxedo and the red. I know, not a whole lot to start, but we keep them inside so can't really have too many anyway. The third picture is the tuxedo and the red quail. Oh, and the last picture, we got this girl for free from CL, we were told it was a Gambel's, but we researched a little and we're pretty sure it's a California instead, just from the scaling on the belly.
I also wanted to say, I got some eggs from Dennarahl this morning, so along with 18 eggs, we have 9 quail and 5 serama eggs set tonight, wish me luck!! I'm hoping for at least one of something, lol (haven't had to much luck hatching).