December Hatch-A-Long 2014

[The Colonel]

I have 3 thermometers and two hygrometers in mine at this point. I don't mess around with not knowing what's going on in there from 3 separate points in the unit. If you don't have a viable one available, the best ones to purchase in my opinion are the reptile ones at your local pet, store should be Zoo Med. They can be a bit pricey sometimes, but it's worth it in the long run in quality.

As for the pasty butt issue, get some electrolyte mix and probiotics for their water. I do it just in case there are any underlying problems that can occur in newborn chicks.

Don't worry, Peppermints wings are completely normal, they are babies lol hope this helps

 

[Rainier]

11 went into lock down.

9 are hatched, one is working on it and one still nothing.

 

[The Colonel]

11 went into lock down.

9 are hatched, one is working on it and one still nothing.

 

[ftpagain]

24 is still apretty good number given the circumstances involved. Are they drying off ok? Did you take them out of the incubator because the hatch was over or was the excess humidity keeping them from drying off?

they dried ok. Except for the that had gunk on them. Those dried up too but all of their fluff was cover in a layer of what ever it's called that's attached to their belly button and liquid from the egg and got crusty. I know that one of them died for sure but I think the other is still struggling. I am ok with the number I guess. Still learning. Plus I have two more incubators that are getting ready to hatch in the next couple of days.

 

[Debs55]

they dried ok. Except for the that had gunk on them. Those dried up too but all of their fluff was cover in a layer of what ever it's called that's attached to their belly button and liquid from the egg and got crusty. I know that one of them died for sure but I think the other is still struggling. I am ok with the number I guess. Still learning. Plus I have two more incubators that are getting ready to hatch in the next couple of days.

you can clean the gunk off them with a warm wet wash clothe. just keep moving it in the direction of the feathers and the gunk will kind of start peeling off

 

[Renee572]

Hi Renee572, I can't help you with the hydrometer thing. Can't figure out how to check to see if mine is acurite. Just wanted to ask if your litte Peppermint might be getting too warm. That can cause pasty butt problems. Sometime if your brooding area is too small the heat lamps can overheat the area. I try to have a warm area for babies to go, but also an area where it is cooler. Let them be the decider on which area they want to be in. I've only ever had a problem once with pasty butt, but that was with shipped Hatchery birds. I treated them by holding them over a small dish with warm water. Using a cotton swap I cleaned their bottoms, dried them off well and applied a pea size drop of Bacitracin ointment (just make sure it doesn't have pain relief added). This seemed to do the job, sure hope your little ones clears up. Sometimes over-handling can cause this problem as well. Stress is hard on the little ones.

Thanks. We have a big rubbermaid tote and there is one side that's warm and the other cooler. We kept our first chicks in there and didn't have a problem with pasty butt so I don't think it has to do with the temperature. I'm not an expert though.

I have 3 thermometers and two hygrometers in mine at this point. I don't mess around with not knowing what's going on in there from 3 separate points in the unit. If you don't have a viable one available, the best ones to purchase in my opinion are the reptile ones at your local pet, store should be Zoo Med. They can be a bit pricey sometimes, but it's worth it in the long run in quality.

As for the pasty butt issue, get some electrolyte mix and probiotics for their water. I do it just in case there are any underlying problems that can occur in newborn chicks.

Don't worry, Peppermints wings are completely normal, they are babies lol hope this helps

I had started with using 2 thermometers but really that made me even more stressful because they both read different and when 1 said 102 the other read like 104. So I took 1 out and just went by that. Which is why I'd really like to find out if mines correct so I just have to rely on 1. I will look into the reptile ones, I just don't wanna spend a ton of money on it.

we do have the electrolyte and probiotics and have put that in their water. I'm sure they will be fine.

11 went into lock down.

9 are hatched, one is working on it and one still nothing.

that's awesome 10 out 11 is great. I would definitely take that!

 

[ftpagain]

you can clean the gunk off them with a warm wet wash clothe. just keep moving it in the direction of the feathers and the gunk will kind of start peeling off

I kind of tryied to explain to grandma how to do it but maybe they were too weak or got too cold and wet cause neither of them made it.

 

[ochochicas]

Quote: Why aren't you taking care of the chicks instead of Grandma? It sounds like she could really use some help. I had a sticky chick in the summer that had crusty stuff dried all over it. It won't come off with just water at this point. You have to use dish soap and *very* warm water to get it off. Rinse well and dry the chick off as much as you can with towels or paper towels and then put it under the heat lamp. Mine survived, although she is still a bit of a "weakling" and continues to have minor health problems.

 

[KDob521]

I lost my 3 eggs. Left to Tampa for the night. Had a flipper here at the house. My husband didn't mention to them to check temperature before flipping. Came home to an incubator above 106°. Candled each egg for several minutes watching for life but there's nothing. I am so frustrated and heartbroken. Today was day 16 at 8am this morning. This was my first chickens ever and they're all gone

 

[ChickenLady2014]

I lost my 3 eggs. Left to Tampa for the night. Had a flipper here at the house. My husband didn't mention to them to check temperature before flipping. Came home to an incubator above 106°. Candled each egg for several minutes watching for life but there's nothing. I am so frustrated and heartbroken. Today was day 16 at 8am this morning. This was my first chickens ever and they're all gone

Aww I'm so sorry, hopefully you will get some more eggs & try again.