Doing It Again...Eggs Went in Hova Today (Candling Report Page 3)

[speckledhen]

In a way, it is easier to hatch them all at once rather than in smaller groups. BUT, my brooder isn't that big and I don't want to make another one, so I have to make what I have work, no matter what.

 

[Katy]

I'm sure you'll get it figured out

 

[skeeter9]

You could always stick the younger ones in a plastic tub if you have to.

 

[ozark hen]

Oh, Cynthia, I can see it now

All those chicks, just what I am afraid I will do!!
We helped a daughter move all morning and then stopped in her local hardware to see if they had an Accurite for my new bator? No Accurite but I did get the owner to ask me for some orps come spring. ha ha I told him I wanted to raise them...pretty much only them as so far I am not set up to keep a lot of different breeds, which means I will be finding really good homes for other chickens I started out with here. Of course, I will keep Lucy as she is my girl. Being the only Dominique and the only one who lets me hold her.
I will be sure the new orps will want to be held too. Oh, I have to keep all my silkies just need some hens to go with them.

 

[speckledhen]

You'll find yourself with more chickens than you ever dreamed you'd have, LOL. My chicks needing the nursery coop usually isn't a problem, but the few that are in there now will still be a bit young to just throw into the main flock. Last time I did a huge hatch, I ended up with about 27 chicks. They outgrew that brooder in oh, maybe two weeks or just over. This time, if they all hatch, I'll have almost the same situation, but they have to stay in that brooder for 4 weeks. Hmm, what to do.... It'll come to me when I'm in the middle of it all, I guess.

 

[ozark hen]

I do have a bator queston....how often am I going to have to remove the egg turner and the metal screen to refill the water in the bator? Will that hurt the eggs by opening it up and then having to bring it back up to temp??

 

[speckledhen]

You don't remove it. Thread a plastic tube or drinking straw and siphon water down through the vent hole and past the eggs. Works well-I use a meat injector syringe to do it that way.

 

[ozark hen]

great! thanks, I was really puzzled on that one

 

[seminolewind]

You should see son of Suede. He's a bruiser! Soon he'll be the size of my hen, and will be able to move in with them, but I like them in my insulated tractor right now because in January-Feb we get some cold snaps here in Florida, and a night here and there around 30. I just have to flip the heat bulb switch.
It's funny, I don't count the silkies and Polski's as chickens I have, because they are small and it really doesn't matter how many I have!
Cyn, you might be building something in the future, LOL

 

[speckledhen]

I'd love to see your Suedelette! Bet he's gorgeous. Just you wait till he gets a real tail and saddle feathers, though. Then he'll be quite a sight, I bet. I know he'll be huge-Brahmas and Blue Orps are both extremely large boys!