Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

Sapphire-It sounds like that hen may have been sitting on the eggs longer than you thought. Those eggs might be within a week of hatching. Don't give up on them (unless they start to stink or something!)

Danz-I'm so glad to hear you are getting started on your chicken trailer and the runs. Let's hope the weather cooperates so you can get them to a useable stage. Checoukan is still getting ready to build her new barn. Her DH has changed some of the plans, but she just goes with the flow. Overall, I think it will turn out pretty nice and she is happy so far.

Tweety-Give that ornery duck a few days time out in isolation so it can cool it's jets a little.

Hope everyone had a nice Easter. My DH and I went to get some hay equipment. I just rode along, but it was a 3 hour trip and I couldn't get my knee comfortable the whole time. When I got home I was tired, sore and totally worn out. The rest of my day was shot. Guess I should have stayed home.

My royal palm tom, Mr. Gobbles (not very original, huh) had at least two wild toms answering him back this morning. There was an awful lot of gobbling going on out there. It was hard to hear the wild toms at first because there were so many crows out in the woods making a heck of a racket. Anyway, Mr. Gobbles is a gobbling fool which is exactly what I had hoped for!

I'll sure be glad when I can get back to doing chores myself. My DH is a sweetheart, and he gets them done, but you know how it is. No one does things quite the way you would if you were doing them yourself.

Oh I cant' wait to see your RP tom! When ever you are feeling better-- post a pic! Sorry you are sore, take it easy today!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Trish, I can't seem to get my incubator to make anything grow at all! I've got eggs that are due on April 17th-- and they are absolutely clear. I'm so upset. I have another batch of eggs that are a week behind it-- and THEY are clear!! Oh-- two of them have blood rings. So they must have started and then died.

I dont' know if it is me or the incubator. I wonder if the temperature is really right now. I've checked the temps with a couple different therms and they are all reading the same at 99.5. I haven't thrown away the stupid Amazon therm-- it's reading at 97. I hate that thing, it needs to go in the trash, except that it's telling me the humidity. I know it's off by 9% so I can still accurately gauge humidity.

What is your glass reading at?? Or do you have the electronic top on it? Mine isn't the electronic, i have the cheaper top with the glass therm. Have you checked your tray? What is it reading at? Whatever you are doing, it's obviously working.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Trish (and anyone else!!!!)

-- one more question--- did you wash out your incubator before you plugged it in and used it??? Or did you just use it as is? I just plugged mine in and used it as is--brand new. It smelled like newly formed plastic. Should I have washed it out? HOneslty, I never even thought of that, but I was asking over on the ASBC and they said that a dirty incubator could kill the eggs? Also washing hands, etc. Which I do, but I know for a fact I've failed on that a couple of times without thinking about it until after. But I'm pretty sure they were no good by then, anyway. They also suggested that maybe Zorro isn't really all that fertile, or that they have poor nutrition. I know they don't have poor nutrition, but maybe he isn't very fertile???! I suppose I can crack the next egg to see. That will kill me if it's fertile. I've dusted them and checked for mites, and the only other thing I can think of might be worms? But I've given them that valbazin (sp?) stuff not too long ago. Sigh. I'm at a loss. There must be something I'm doing.

 

[Ivywoods]

Hawkeye-I really think you ought to get some eggs from some mutt chickens to try out your incubator. If someone is having excellent fertility, a neighbor perhaps, get a batch of those eggs for a test run. You can always give the chicks away or something.

As far as Zorro, how often are you doing the AI thing? I believe about 2 times per week is what is recommended.

I downloaded the April issue of Exhibition Poultry Magazine. In one of the photos, behind the junior exhibitors stood my sister, Checoukan. She didn't know the pic was there, so I told her she better download a copy of that.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye-I really think you ought to get some eggs from some mutt chickens to try out your incubator. If someone is having excellent fertility, a neighbor perhaps, get a batch of those eggs for a test run. You can always give the chicks away or something.

As far as Zorro, how often are you doing the AI thing? I believe about 2 times per week is what is recommended.

I downloaded the April issue of Exhibition Poultry Magazine. In one of the photos, behind the junior exhibitors stood my sister, Checoukan. She didn't know the pic was there, so I told her she better download a copy of that.

I can use one of my own. I bet it will be a rooster and it'll be the uglist thing ever. I have another hen that just started laying and the two little silkie roos are breeding like mad out there. I bet without even trying, they are all fertile and will all hatch with no issues. What a PITA. Anyone want an ugly silkie/BR rooster when I hatch it?? Sigh. Okay, anyone have LF WCB Polish eggs? I'd rather try with those! LOL

Oh and I'm doing the AI every other day. I thought that was what I was supposed to do. But if it's only twice a week, I could cut back.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye, do you wash your eggs before you incubate them? That could be a problem. Didn't the AI you did result in a fertile egg under your sitting hen? That would prove Zorro was potent. It would be a good idea to wash out your incubator with soap and water but I doubt that is the problem. I honestly think you need to just let them cook without candling them and see what happens. Like I've said before I only candle eggs when I am getting them ready for the hatcher unless I am desperate for incubator space or have one that is going bad according to my nose.
Looks like another busy day here. I have some people coming over in a few minutes to look at birds. I am really not a morning social person. I like to ease into my day. I am ready for some peace and quiet after a busy weekend.
Sapphire here is a duplicate message from my answer on chicken chatter. Except I need to specify this is what I do when we are down to the last few days before hatching.
Those LG incubators aren't really great for the hatching stage as they are set up. This is what I did with mine when using them: 1.Remove the turner and just leave the screen 2. I took a glue gun and filled the little holes in the bottom so I could put water all the way across the bottom. 3. Then take either a couple of wet sponges or even better a couple of drippy wet washrags wadded up and set them on the tray with the eggs. Be sure to use very warm water. If it is too hot it will raise the temp in the incubator or too cold it will cool it down. You don't want extremes either way. Your hatching humidity is just about right when the little view windows fog over after putting the water in. Make sure the rags or sponges stay wet and there is water in the bottom and you should be good to go. Don't give up. Hatching is wonderful.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Hawkeye, do you wash your eggs before you incubate them? That could be a problem. Didn't the AI you did result in a fertile egg under your sitting hen? That would prove Zorro was potent. It would be a good idea to wash out your incubator with soap and water but I doubt that is the problem. I honestly think you need to just let them cook without candling them and see what happens. Like I've said before I only candle eggs when I am getting them ready for the hatcher unless I am desperate for incubator space or have one that is going bad according to my nose.
Looks like another busy day here. I have some people coming over in a few minutes to look at birds. I am really not a morning social person. I like to ease into my day. I am ready for some peace and quiet after a busy weekend.
Sapphire here is a duplicate message from my answer on chicken chatter. Except I need to specify this is what I do when we are down to the last few days before hatching.
Those LG incubators aren't really great for the hatching stage as they are set up. This is what I did with mine when using them: 1.Remove the turner and just leave the screen 2. I took a glue gun and filled the little holes in the bottom so I could put water all the way across the bottom. 3. Then take either a couple of wet sponges or even better a couple of drippy wet washrags wadded up and set them on the tray with the eggs. Be sure to use very warm water. If it is too hot it will raise the temp in the incubator or too cold it will cool it down. You don't want extremes either way. Your hatching humidity is just about right when the little view windows fog over after putting the water in. Make sure the rags or sponges stay wet and there is water in the bottom and you should be good to go. Don't give up. Hatching is wonderful.

I don't wash the eggs-- should I be washing them?? I think I'll toss these eggs and start over. No touching. I still dont' think it's going to matter. I contacted Brinsea and they told me to check my temperature at 1 inch ABOVE the tray. Sigh. Okay, like that's going to make a lot of difference, but maybe. OH and yeah, one of Zorro's eggs is under Yoda and is close to hatching... I sure hope it does hatch! It's a pretty poopy egg, the pullet sitting on it is messy to say the least.

 

[Hawkeye95]

OKay, I don't know WHAT to think. I checked 1 inch above the tray like Brinsea just told me to do on my temperature and it is 98.7. When I check the tray level-- it is 99.5.... WHAT!??!?! So I'm obviously having temperature issues still. As in... NOT knowing what they are. That does it, I'm going to WalMart and I'm going to go buy 3 more therms and stick them in there. ARGH!

 

[tntblake]

I can use one of my own. I bet it will be a rooster and it'll be the uglist thing ever. I have another hen that just started laying and the two little silkie roos are breeding like mad out there. I bet without even trying, they are all fertile and will all hatch with no issues. What a PITA. Anyone want an ugly silkie/BR rooster when I hatch it?? Sigh. Okay, anyone have LF WCB Polish eggs? I'd rather try with those! LOL

Oh and I'm doing the AI every other day. I thought that was what I was supposed to do. But if it's only twice a week, I could cut back.

I don't think your mutt would be that ugly. I think silkie mixes are cute with their little mini crest they usually have. I haven't seen too many that are ugly. I think you ought to use them to figure out your bator problems. You could put them on craigslist and they would go quick.

 

[HEChicken]

I don't think your mutt would be that ugly. I think silkie mixes are cute with their little mini crest they usually have. I haven't seen too many that are ugly. I think you ought to use them to figure out your bator problems. You could put them on craigslist and they would go quick.

Some of the prettiest chickens I have are "mutts". My first hatch, I got some fertile eggs from a local guy who free-ranged his multiple roosters with his multiple hens so couldn't tell me what combos there might be. One I have been told is a silkie mix due to her black skin and comb. She is LF and has no crest but is really pretty. Here's a pic:

The two behind her are her "sisters" from the same hatch. One I'm thinking is probably a GLW mix of some kind. The other is jet black - not a single feather of another color on her - with a beautiful, contrasting red comb. The grey pullet is incredibly friendly, which does make me think perhaps the person who suggested silkie mix is correct - she follows me around, lets me pick her up, and if I sit down, is the first to jump up on my lap and chatter to me. And, if its eating eggs you're interested in, you couldn't do better. They are now in their second year and have been decent, reliable layers since they were about 22 weeks old.