Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[cochins1088]

Mich you have more pics of the calls, and coch you have pics of your colors?

I know this is a bit late, but I brought the call ducks into the garage this morning because of the weather and I got a couple of quick pictures.

Here's 2 of the butterscotch call ducks. I love their colors.



Here's the snowy call duck hen.



This is the snowy call duck drake. He's in a sling because he's in the process of losing both of his feet and lower legs to frostbite. Poor boy...

 

[rbaker0345]

I finally know what a true wet sticky chick is... = G R O S S C H I C K S!!! humidity is killer, I cant believe after all this time I screwed up with not having backup hygros!!! Everyone looks fine but what a messy hatch and what is with that yellowlike gel crap GLUE?? unbelievable, when I finally have a ton of orders to fill!!! At least most of them are perfect! I left 6 in the bator to dry after washing them off! I swear its water resistant! NOT a HAPPY CAMPER TODAY!!!

Welcome to my world. I had filled my incubator with staggered hatches and I've had sticky chicks once every friday for the past seven weeks. The last ones left over from the effects of my bad hygrometer just went into the hatcher. I had a turkey pip 3 days early and, just like the past six hatches of turkeys and the first four hatches of chickes (the last three hatches of chicks have been okay, i guess they're a little more forgiving of bad conditions than turkeys) I have half drowned, half-dead turkeys that I get to watch die slowly. I just can't bring myself to cull them, the last one I culled, its head came off in my hand.

 

[rbaker0345]

This hatch is the first time I have weighed the eggs.previously I have always just trusted the incy .
My weight loss varies from 9 to 16% so I am hoping they are ok.
Interestingly though the green eggs are all nearer the 9 or 10% end, while the brown and white eggs are higher with 13 - 16%. Is this because the green shells are thicker? Or just coincidence? Has anyone else noticed this?

This happens to me all the time. Your target for chicken eggs should be about 13-18% I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I sand my green eggs (my lavender split ameraucanas have a really dark greenish egg that I can barely see through). If you arent reaching target weight, you can save them by sanding and lowering humidity up to a week before hatch. I was able so save some of my really wet chicken eggs this way.

 

[ozexpat]

the last one I culled, its head came off in my hand.

I feel for you

I use sharp pruning shears to do the deed so that is an expected result.

Still, its the nasty side of our little hobby

 

[ozexpat]

This happens to me all the time. Your target for chicken eggs should be about 13-18% I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I sand my green eggs (my lavender split ameraucanas have a really dark greenish egg that I can barely see through). If you arent reaching target weight, you can save them by sanding and lowering humidity up to a week before hatch. I was able so save some of my really wet chicken eggs this way.

there is a very detailed article by chookschicks on the merits of sanding eggs and how to do it.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

what you didnt see us on Hollywood hillbillies?

memaw and pawpaw sunshine

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I also dont hesitate to cull. typically your gut is correct in its assuptions. and it does stink, but like oz says, its all part of it... I think also that I incubate in bulk now, so I am not so inclined to fuss over a sicky, As you know, I have spent days treating chicks with good results, but I am not a chick therapist and cannot keep that up week after week... Thank goodness I dont assist very much anymore.... so I dont deal with that stuff near as much.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: aweeee poor guy!! I am in love with the snowy hen!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I do remember seeing that, I thought that was in reference to SEEING through the egg, but it makes sense to get through some thicker shells....

If I had eggs to play with I would trial that for weight loss, but as of now I am overrun with CCL orders and dont want to mess with anything

 

[sterlingb]

I'm in love with this little chick! So sweet and look at those colors!!