Early February 2016 Hatch - Who's In?

[TJordan]

Good luck! Did you get a chance to get a new hydrometer?

Not yet. Working on the coop and catching the cold has me in the dumps. Going to try to get one today. My air cells look good by what I printed up.

 

[ambe0487]

One of my new chicks (24 hours old) has an eye that's not open. I gently rubbed it and pulled the eyelid down to make sure he had an eye there. He does but I checked him again and he's keeping it closed still.

I call him Pirate now but what should I do for him?

I would separate it. I'm wondering if one of the other ones pecked at it. I had to remove babies from the incubator before because they were pecking at a newly hatched chicks eyes. Do you have a mirror or marbles in there for them to peck? I don't know of anything to do to help the eye itself, but I'm sure it will heal quickly

 

[ambe0487]

Not yet. Working on the coop and catching the cold has me in the dumps. Going to try to get one today. My air cells look good by what I printed up.

Good! I hope you feel better soon!

 

[jwlpoultry]

I have 4 eggs with pips day 20.

 

[ambe0487]

I have 4 eggs with pips day 20.

I can't wait to see them!

 

[TurkenMomma]

I have 4 eggs with pips day 20.

This is so exciting!!!

 

[NTBugtraq]

Lost two more of my chicks in the brooder today, that makes 9 late deaths before hatch, and 8 early post-hatch deaths. I anticipated 10 post-hatch deaths, but since I've only had post-hatch deaths in the first 4 days after hatch I don't expect any more. I really hope this inbreeding improves my genetics eventually.

You can separate misfits all you want, and maybe they will improve and thrive, but I'd always be worried that they were misfits due to genetics. As such, they may very well pass on their issues to future generations. Since I'm breeding to achieve certain traits, I only want the best. I can't see the traits I am breeding for in my chicks, other than its ability to thrive in my environment. So for me, assisting is counter-productive.

As for the chick with the closed eye, I would daub a Q-tip in some warm water and try and make sure there is no membrane attached. Even a tiny bit could make the chick not want to use its eye-lid.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Quote:
Sorry for your losses I completely understand your position with your project - you need vigorous hatchlings in order to complete your line. Are you trying to produce a high production layer of dark eggs (eventually)?

 

[NTBugtraq]

Quote:
Well, "high production" would be amazing, but its not typical for a dark egg layer, so I would just be happy with a period of dark eggs once or twice a year. Since I set every 25 days, my pullets will be from different ages, and, hopefully, will come into their dark egg phase at different times, giving me a "steady" stream of dark eggs...or so is my hope.

 

[ambe0487]

Any more babies??? I need babies!!!!! Lockdown is so long!!