December hatch-along?

[BDutch]

Maybe something for a new topic? When is the best time to hatch chicks and invite people to tell where they live: e.g in Australia, Southern states US, up North (Canada), Europe ...

Good luck anyway with all the hatches and young chicks. To all.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

I just tried to introduce the two babies, but it didn’t go so well. The yellow one is 2-3days oldish, and the other one hatched yesterday evening. The great one is nice and fluffy now (except it’s back) so I put them together on my living room floor. The yellow one pecked the other ones beak, but it wasn’t terrible. As soon as I put them in the brooder tho, the yellow one grabbed the grey on and tried to throw it around. Now it has a little blood on its beak

 

[Kat MacK]

I didn't read the whole thread. But I am surprised that many people here hatch chicks in autumn and winter. This is not the best time for a good start. Depending on the climate of course.

To grow up healthy it is best if chicks can go outside in the sun.
When the chicks hatch in January, it is still too cold to go outside a few weeks later (where I live).

IMO: end of winter, spring and early summer is the best time to hatch. And more easy to be successful if you don’t have much experience.

It's 56 here today, 60 yesterday. We've had one 29 degree night so far this fall, but we had well over a week's warning for that, we'll only have a handful of freezes during winter here, and other nights have been 43 or higher. The brooder plate has done fine for the littles at all those temps. It's sheltered so the plate stays dry, but the chicks' enclosure is outside and gets indirect sun from three sides. We've hatched and raised fall chicks successfully three years running, although not in December before...but that's when the eggs were available this time around, so we're trying it. We DO keep them inside the first week, mainly so we'll handle them more and socialize them.

 

[Scrambles55]

@floppysquirrel04 so cute look ma, i got a big foot

bugger my eggs didn't arrive today hopefully tomorrow
@Scrambles55 did you get your eggs today ?

I got my eggs!! Yippee!

 

[Scrambles55]

Well, my first hatch of the month is over and I got one, that is 1 to hatch. all the rest never developed. And this is the quietest chick ever. Also the least active. It hatched last night about 8 pm just as I was going to bed and I placed it in the inside brooder tub when I got up at 5 am.
View attachment 1973966

Looks a bit lonely

 

[Scrambles55]

The egg man gave me 17 eggs. My incubator holds only 12. I do have another funky little bator, but it’s a manual turn type. Should I set them in there and hope for the best?
Green eggs are Cream Legbar.
Brown are various Marans
Pinkish are Barnelever
The white ones on top are Legios(sp) Fighter.

 

[Scrambles55]

I live in North Idaho. The chicks will be inside for several weeks. Then into the garage. I will take them outside for playtime.
I’ll be figuring things out from there. Play it by ear.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I've got 13 eggs under PomPom due to hatch Christmas Day

Just a fun hatch, I don't expect all to make it since it's a big clutch for her.

 

[Scrambles55]

I've got 13 eggs under PomPom due to hatch Christmas Day

Just a fun hatch, I don't expect all to make it since it's a big clutch for her.

View attachment 1974563

Mine should hatch Christmas Day also.

 

[Scrambles55]

So, do I bring the incubator temp up before setting the eggs inside?