EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Jessimom]

My husband let me take pictures of him processing the chickens. We did our two big cochin roosters, those beasts were heavier than I thought they'd be. He used a couple of technique methods that really made plucking take about 2 minutes. the actual killing took maybe 2 minutes, it took longer for us to catch the beasts.

He's gutting them now - which shouldn't take too long.

He only had time for 2, he has other stuff he wants to work on - so next week, we'll be doing the 4 ducks.

Great job! I'd love to know your plucking technique that only took 2 minutes. My dunking and plucking takes FOREVER. We decided it is just too much work for too little reward - I don't hatch meat birds....

 

[daxigait]

Would that be to protect it? I'm using one under the roost for the hens and the extra just runs along the wall from the outlet

Good to know thanks.

 

[kajira]

Great job! I'd love to know your plucking technique that only took 2 minutes. My dunking and plucking takes FOREVER. We decided it is just too much work for too little reward - I don't hatch meat birds....

You put the water around 130-150. You adjust as needed, redunk 2-3 times until the feathers just fall off....

It literally worked for both birds, he even rinsed his hands mid-pluck from all the feathers in the water because it wasn't too hot. It just softened everything up.

He said he got lucky that he stumbled on that method.

 

[Jessimom]

You put the water around 130-150. You adjust as needed, redunk 2-3 times until the feathers just fall off....

It literally worked for both birds, he even rinsed his hands mid-pluck from all the feathers in the water because it wasn't too hot. It just softened everything up.

He said he got lucky that he stumbled on that method.

That's what we did, and some areas around the wings and tail just didn't want to come off. We even had the heat source right there and kept reheating the water. Maybe it's the breed of chicken? The silkies were super easy to pluck but way too unappetizing to eat. We gave those away.

 

[kajira]

That's what we did, and some areas around the wings and tail just didn't want to come off. We even had the heat source right there and kept reheating the water. Maybe it's the breed of chicken? The silkies were super easy to pluck but way too unappetizing to eat. We gave those away.

We did cochins - If we get more roosters down the road, or do our "elderly" hens in a year or two, I'll let you know. Cochins have a LOT of feathers. LOL

This method seemed to work fine for us for the chochin roosters. If they didn't want to come off around the wings/tails I'm not sure - the only part he didn't pluck was the feet/head.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

@Sally Sunshine We ended up with 3 little chickys from 4 eggs. (There is also a teddy bear in the pic.) Thanks for your help!! I referenced your articles frequently!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

This was when it happened and then when it finally started settling down. Anybody medical here have any ideas??? It was the weirdest thing!

the cold got to it??

Ironic there are only crazy chicken ladies and not gentleman.

The first batch of hatched chicks is approaching 8 weeks. They are really sweet, and are generally ok in their brooder, believe it or not - definitely cramped, definitely should have been outside by now, but I'm keeping things clean (not easy) and they aren't suffering. They're just a little bored. I spent some time cuddling with them this morning - I open the door to the brooder and stand there, and one by one they pop up on the edge and present themselves for cuddling and press themselves up against me. Super happy with these chicks - their size and disposition.

As for the S&G chicks... found three more dead chicks this morning (that makes 6 if you count the one who died in transit), and there's another that is weak, though getting around. All the rest are running around and looking really good, though I'm paranoid now that they're going to keep dropping. I'm keeping my eye out for pasty butt - nobody has it, but a couple of them have little bits of poop on the down under their vent. With the migraine, I didn't have the coordination this morning to do the rinse-blowdry-vaseline thing with them, but I may do so later today if I can.

- Ant Farm

they sound awesome, you make me want NNs more everytime you talk about them

I actually found the bottle, it just appears everything evaporated out of it.

tha always happens at the worst times!!!

Glad you had fun! that is so neat!! LOL

All set can I get Whoop! Whoop!

cant wait to see the chicks!!

Not really. It's more like... I have chickens. These chickens need housing. Guess I'd better build something. Speaking of which, I have ~80 chicks indoors. None of them have housing. I'm kinda freaking out right now...

- Ant Farm

there there, it will get done

To everyone else...I enjoy reading along with you on this thread. I usually don't say much because I always seem to be a day behind and I'm always playing catch up. I'm currently 7 hours behind. That's improvement! But I do need to go feed the birds so I'm going to fall further behind again. You guys make me laugh sometimes but almost always make me smile. Sure glad I found you. @meltel Happy Anniversary and Congratulations

@Fire Ant Farm those kitties are lucky to have you, enjoy them

dont worry about reading everything, just jump in when you can

I hope everyone is having a great day. I am at my friend's house to ride. I have never seen daffodils on my birthday before.

Pretty! and Happy Birthday!!!!!

Well, this is what happens when you stop inspecting your birds...

Found an EE hen with a very swollen, bubbly eye on one side. Would think MG flare 'cept it's just on that one eye?? Ideas?

Sorry for the bad pics, that roost is a good 8 ft up in the air and she wasn't budging off her warm roost for anything.


Oh, and Jace wishes to know if any FL or TX members would take in a poor frozen birdie for 8 months of the year. She promises to only go broody 5 times a year.

you need to flush it, and look in her mouth to see if anything is stuck, Kathy also posted to you just after you posted this, you may want to go back and see what she said

Didn't kill enough whitetail deer this year they ran thru the fence again and the beef got out again and I put them back in again and fixed fence again and Fed hay again and filled the stock tank again.

LOL, i'll take 'em!!!
my husband hasnt shot a deer in over 12 years!!! and for some reason he keeps getting tags

Just had my best hatch ever.

You know why?

I was gone on vacation. I couldn't mess with the incubator. The weird thing is it was a totally dry hatch. I didn't do lockdown and raise the humidity either.

LOL, congrats!! sounds about right!

Pretty!!! i love it, wheres the gun?


Quote:

Had two does kid yesterday. The first one around 3:00 pm, she had 2 bucklings and 1 doeling. The other kidded around 8:00, She had three doelings, sadly, only two survived.

The first group, the black one is the doeling.


The second group, two doelings.

@daxigait I'm at 4 bucklings/ 4 doeling (5 counting the one that didn't make it) with at least one kidding to go.

so cute!! sorry about the doeling you lost

I want goats so badly, but days like today when I'm not quite up to snuff and have all the chicken chores to do, I am grateful that I haven't fallen prey to goat math yet.

Once I get my chickens down to a more reasonable number, and find a way to deal with their water better, I may have the bandwidth for them. Maybe a couple little ones when I retire?

(Have y'all realized how much this has turned into a goat thread?! Not that I'm complaining - I'm totally loving it!!! There's even my beloved Gooserz, the honorary goat! @Sally Sunshine )

LOL, honorary goat, is it time to find a bunch of baby goat and goose pics??

Both of them have been in the shelter a long time - Brooke for a year, Opal for about 8 months. They've been living in the same little unit for a couple weeks now. I was told that Opal is a little antisocial with other cats, But they've been fine in that little room, they just sort of ignore each other. I'm thinking it will be ok and that they will just not be buddies. If they fight, I'll need to figure something out - I don't have a lot of ability to lock up one apart from the other. I'm going with giving them each a lot of places to be - litter boxes at both sides of the house, windows for bird viewing at both sides of the house, food is in kitchen (2 bowls), but I'm considering putting an additional bowl of food and water elsewhere as well. That'll likely be my next step.

- Ant Farm

theyll get there

I'm still 60 pages behind!

Have to catch up when y'all go to sleep.

ROFL!!! good luck!

Pretty well, actually. Doc said I can resume normal activities, although I'm sure he'd rephrase that if he knew what my normal activities could consist of. Cleared me to drive, but I don't have anywhere I need to go. Incision still itches like h3ll @ night where it's trying to heal, but I can live with it.

is benadryl your best friend?

Chicken pusher, turkey pusher, cat pusher, goat pusher...

I got them toys yesterday, a couple catnip stuffed cloth fish and a few of those little balls with bells in them. They came out more last evening while I was reading in bed, and last night I could hear them. I was SO relieved to hear noise indicating that the second litter box had been located and used (toileting was my one big worry, everything else is negotiable), and lots of little crunchy eating noises and water drinking noises. So all the necessities are covered and I can relax.

Opal is now occasionally ok with me seeing her, though not approaching or making sudden movements. Brooke came out a couple times, but still mostly hides. But this morning, after roosters started crowing but before my alarm went off, I was lying in bed half asleep when Brooke jumped up - I think to get at the bay window behind the bed. My eyes were open so we stared at each other for a while. Then I made the mistake of saying hello, and she scampered. But hey, it's something! Cancelling the vet appointment tomorrow - no way am I going to be able to get them into their carriers yet.
The spiced bread sounds better than donuts to me....

OK, I have to go tend the chicks. Dreading to maybe find more dead ones. I really wish it would stop.

- Ant Farm

glad the kitties are settling,

is the hatchery doing anything for the losses?

some pic of Lidor my freind chikens, I hope to get some hathing eggs from the beutiful SL barnvelder!
this pullet is the daugter of the SLB I raised for him

and some Brhamas

gorgeous birds benny!!! was he not able to save some of the Brahma eggs after the initial flood? thats so sad
i hope he can rebuild

Discovered I have a broody hen under the house this morning. I can't see under there well enough to even know how many eggs she has, but she's definitely got her a nest under there.

WOOHOO!! lol i cant wait for the broody bug to hit mine, then i can tell my husband they just wanted to be mommies, i had to give them eggs

I told my husband he had to clean it and he goes "then I won't have time to build a chicken coop for the silkies."

He better find time. he's had all the time in the world to organize that room. It's SO not okay to let it get like that.... *eyetwitch*

lol, good luck

Quote:

@Pensmaster

What's the best way to cut Plexiglas sheet?
I used a table saw

die grinder with cutting wheel

Picked 23 eggs from the hona pens that I'll try to set today. Broody is day 7-9? on her 4. Farm is a mess; five scovies decided they prefer the farm to the pond and have moved back. I guess that's fine. Goats haven't had hay in a week.

There's no forage left in the pen and I very specially said to make sure the manger was always filled.

Everyone seems to be alive, but I -feel- like there are way fewer chickens than when I left. Maybe because I've moved several into breed pens. I'll do a headcount tonight.

Sorry to hear this!!! i hope that you just missed them!

I am VERY upset. I have a very nice, 200 dollar mini fridge, that I use in my closet to keep the kids from over-eating things like string cheese, chocolate chips, etc.

Well, now I know why my daughters cat was basically LIVING in my closet.

Apparently, rats moved into the house after the big rain storm we had and all the flooding. The little buggers ATE MY MINI FRIDGE. RUINED THE ENTIRE THING. Ate through metal, plastic, a drawer, and the back elements.

Holy cow!! Good luck getting them!!

Wow, that's crazy!! I'm sorry that you are having to deal with it. We find peanut butter works the best! Peanut butter with seeds mixed in.

We had rats move into our garage, and they ate the wiring in our front loading washing machine.

We moved. We've been keeping the rats out of the house and coops, but they decided to eat the wiring in one of our cars - the wiring to the battery. How do you put traps in car engines?

PB mixed with borax, but the problem with that is if an animal ate the dead rat it would die too
as far as engine compartments DRYER SHEETS, dont aslk me why but my husband is a mechanic and they keep a box of them in the shop to put in customers cars

Pretty sure I just got my first DUCK egg!!! Don't tell the local duck hater, though. Don't wanna traumatize him!!!

It's larger than my big brown sex link eggs, so i'm 99% sure it's a duck egg. LOL it was also covered in mud, and in the duck area.

WOOHOOOO!!!! Congrats!!! is it super translucent and waxy?

I hugged my muscovies today!

awww he's pretty!

33 pages! Just under a thousand posts til I'm all caught up.

lol, you are so funny

I'm not even going to try to back read, pretty sure it's been like a thousand posts since I've last posted. It is Day 9 of my (hopefully) second successful hatch. Day 7 showed 47 of the 49 eggs I set to be viable and growing. There was a questionable 48th, but I don't think it's going to make the cut. Heating element incubator doing a great job with even heat, 95-104 temp differential, and 25% humidity. I just hope that the new chicks can be integrated in with the 9 who will by that time be 4 weeks older than the new ones! Since I only have one coop brooder. Didn't think of that when I did a 9 egg "test batch" first.

they should still be little enough just give the babies somewhere to hide

Thanks Dax. We have the knife now and glue with some hinges for the lid. I'll probably try the knife although the curved parts I will try the band saw.

i used a whizzer, like a die grinder with a cutting wheel on it

How come I've never had a rat?

cause you are lucky but you totally just jinxed yourself

I have at least one rat, probably more, coming into my run during daylight only, helping itself to feed, and retreating to its burrow. More than once, it's been caught on my trailcam moving from the burrow, through several hens and a rooster, to the feeder and back. The birds pay no attention to it, nor it to them.
The feeder is capped after dark; nothing can get to the feed. The rats know that, and don't even bother to come out overnight. I've tried pouring poison pellets down the burrow entrance; they're either ineffective or ignored. I can't set poison out during the day with chickens running around.

Any bright ideas? I'm fresh out.

concrete shoes

Alas, another dead chick in the brooder this morning - a very rotten start to the day. Again. But it was the one with the bad leg. All the rest are fine, running around, and acting VERY hungry. (I hope these "NN broilers" aren't going to need feed restriction - I'm not into dealing with that). I cleaned up another little tush this morning and another this evening, but I think we're in good shape. I decided to leave out the marbles in the waterer this evening, as everyone left is fully coordinated and running around. All this dying had BETTER be over...

Kitty Watch 2017: I came home from work this afternoon - I was exhausted, as the day started very early (and very stressful) and was long and complicated. So I laid down on the sofa for a short nap before chores. I woke up to find Opal sitting on the floor next to the sofa staring at me, watching me sleep. We watched each other for a while, and then she very gingerly got up on her hind paws, sniffed my arm, and then got down and walked away.

(And Brooke was out a bit as well - she's very shy, so it feels like a victory to see her at all.)


Thanks - I do think that they will be ok with each other, meaning that there's plenty of space for them to avoid each other and still access litter boxes, windows for bird watching, etc. I haven't set up the second food station yet (it's been a long day), but I think I'll do that tomorrow.

The cats have started coming out a little bit (though not for long) - naturally, they have gravitated to the spots where I was not able to declutter or clean. And I didn't get the chance to clean the dust bunnies under the furniture (which is where they like to hang out), so I find little dust bunny trials and dusty little paw prints that tell me where my stealth kitties have been exploring when I'm not around.

I need to find something for dinner. I'm hungry, but have no idea what I want, and don't feel like making anything. I suppose it'll be yogurt, then...

- Ant Farm

glad to read about the kitties, what ever happened tou your fruit cake?

Thanks - I agree. We all need to get together in a school gym or something and take a giant group power nap. We can have juice boxes and graham crackers afterwards if we're good and stay on our own mats at nap time.

I have the bad habit of canning too much jelly and preserves - mixing it in yogurt is a super way to use it up. Tonight I think I will have bing cherries in red wine syrup in my yogurt....

- Ant Farm

agreed! LOL

Chicks don't count because you don't know if they're boys or girls, and a few are likely to die.
Layers don't count because they are providing food.
Broodies don't count because they are incubators.
Roosters don't count because they are security.
Meaties don't count because they are food.
Named birds don't count because they are pets.
I don't have any birds. I better get some!

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/technology/male-chick-culling-technology-1.3647228

Canadian technology could end male chick culling.

that is really cool!!

Cool - I am as well. As long as I'm amusing someone besides myself, Kitty Watch 2017 shall continue.

I sleep on two pillows (a firm one and a squishy one on top), and a firm pillow is next to me on the bed. Night before last, there happened to be a gap between that other pillow and the headboard, and at some point in the night I woke up to find Brooke RIGHT THERE, inches from me, just hanging out (she left a little while later). So last night I made sure to leave the pillow the same way, and sure enough, two nights in a row she has come to visit me. During the evening I have also caught her out more, and she's slowing getting to where she doesn't freak out and run immediately.

Opal has been more playful, and is more confident that I'm not a threat (not that she lets me really close). She hung out on the lower part of one of the cat trees near the bed while I read last night, and when I woke up to the crowing this morning, she was on the tippy top of the tallest tree, waiting for the sun to rise. This morning I found that she has also discovered the artificial christmas tree that I leave up year round and was sitting in the branches - I had forgotten about the value of that as a cat playground!

They seem to at least have an understanding, and last night sat side by side and stared at me from the other room while I settled into bed. Brooke has occasionally scratched the carpet - she stops when I say "Brooke, stop scratching the carpet" - but I think I need another scratching post in the other part of the house that she can use if she doesn't want to be near me.

I'm a quiet person and have a very quiet house, and since they've come, I haven't been running the TV or stereo (use headphones), so I think this has helped. I'm dreading having to take them to the vet (Brooke is due for her rabies shot, so I have to) - I'll probably have to rebuild trust all over again. But I'm waiting for a little while until they at least get comfortable that this is their home (even if they don't like me after the vet).

Good morning!!! Thanks, MC! I needed that!

Oh, goodness, look at the time - I've gotta take care of the chicks and then run. Have a great day, all!!!

- Ant Farm

good luck with the cets visit, though i am surprised the shelter let them leave while needing shots, thats weird and not allowed here

Chuck is old, almost 11. He's inside/outside and I know his days are numbered.



He's lived with us in four houses across three states. He hates everyone and everything, and it cracks me up.

He's not mean, just grumpy.

ROFL!! love this picture!!

Morning all, Had the day off yesterday so I took the opportunity to process some excess roosters. First time experience but I made it through it and have meat in the freezer. Mixed thoughts at this point in time but we will see how they taste to see if it was worth the effort.

Good for you!! i hope they taste good!!

I am SO not ready for all these new babies coming in the next couple weeks. got 15 turkeys. (going to sit out side TSC and try to sell 90% of them for a few bucks a piece, they already told me I could. haha)

I got my sebastapol geese, and 4 new ducklings coming in, and 4 more babies in the incubator due to hatch around the 20th.

I need to butcher, and get crap ready for spring.... all these new baby goats, too. I need to go to the goat auction and sell off all my pgymies so I can replace them with nubians.

@Article Editor

Banti!

ROFL!!! nice one!

I am sooooooooooo ready for the time change this weekend. I wish we would just stay on Daylight savings time year round. I like light when I home in the evenings.

Me too!! i want light at night!

We have the Turkey Creek swap meet in Joplin, and between the Hispanic population in this area, and the large Vietnamese population in Carthage we get a lot of people looking for birds to eat. They don't pay a lot but it's not bad. We also have a couple of Tyson processing plants near here and the people that work there usually want anything but a white bird to eat.

i can understand this, lol, and they probably know what the birds are fed and how they are treated
Quote:

Meanwhile, I was noticing how fresh and green all the pastures look today!

youre mean!!

THE HEAT NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY.

This is the second one she likes. She alternates the two...

Catchy little tunes that get stuck in your head!

i will never click on either of these two links, never.

Hubby got ALL the stuff to help me butcher the ducks, and my two cochin roosters. Who are ********. They are beating up my EE hens, and even my female ducks they are trying to force-mate with them.

I feel NO guilt about them going into the croc pot.

good luck on the processing!!!

pretty eggs! and i like this picture!

2yr old son: Dad why do need to drink more coffee?

Me: because your a lot of work

2yr old son: dad your silly I don't work

LOL, sounds about right!!

Better than what my 2 year old did. I came out of the bathroom and he was DRINKING my coffee and giggled "All gone."
"Hey, that was mine!"
"Not anymore."

LOL, what if it had been something more adult-like

yeah, his other favorite thing is to ask "for the last sip" of whatever we are drinking... and if you don't drink it fast enough he starts poking you and go "drink, drink, drink."

He's gonna be a trouble maker in college. I can see it now.

chug! chug! chug! chug!

Hi everyone

I have a 200+ post read back to do but wanted to touch base. Yesterday was my anniversary and Dr apt. Bill went with me and it proved to be a good idea because he was much more attentive. He looked at all my photos and stated "something is definitely wrong". The problem with the statement is that his second comment was "I have no idea what is going on with it but it is not normal". He did state that it has some clinical manifestations of RSD however he is still not convinced that that is what it is. He has put me in therapy for another 4 weeks and ordered me a TENS unit for pain. He says no surgery until we can get the pain and swelling more localized as he fears surgery would make matters even worse and trigger an exacerbation of whatever is going on. In response ti Bill's final questions.. "no this is not normal, no it shouldn't be taking this long to recover and I have no idea what this is" although discouraged, frustrated and scared I admire him for acknowledging the fact that something is wrong and humbly admitting that he is not sure what it is or what to do about it rather than cutting in to me a second time. He did state he thinks it may be circulatory but does not know the cause but suggested I use it more and that the circulatory problems may be from lack of use and to "push harder". I did tell him that most everything takes 2 hands to do and I do everything I can that I am strong enough to do or that isn't dangerous. Thank you for you prayers, care and concern.

I'm not sure how the insurance company will deal with the new "diagnosis of undetermined" but I will deal with that as it comes. No reason to worry about something until it happens

so sorry that there was no progress but at least you are FINALLY getting a TENS unit!!!

ok I give up, I cant read back its just too much

what I miss?

EVERYTHING!!!

The day I got the turks dont laugh at me either

i wish i had sound

Sorry for interrupting I just have a quick question. My silkie eggs are on day 7 and the veins are all around the air cell with what looks like a little gap with the babies moving around in there. Is that normal? My others didn't grow like that and I'm not sure if it's normal

sounds like you already got good advice so GOOD LUCK!!!

I am loving my instant pot 7 in 1 after I milk I just dump the milk in and press the button. By the time I finished chores it is done pasteurizing the CAE positive milk and I can use it for everything. It's simply wipes clean with hot soapy water and a cloth along with my milk buckets. It is well worth the cost in time savings, plus I can use that milk for my kids and not need replacer.

thats great that you can use the CAE milk now!!

I have a egg turner thankfully I was doing it by hand last time and I don't think opening the incubator a lot helped so this time I'm just leaving them to it and adding water every couple of days!! Hopefully I'll get a hatch

did you calibrate everything?

Well. just finished talking to the HVAC guy. Looks like the heat exchanger manifold had 3 cracks about an inch long. System wouldn't stay on due to the fact that the fusible link had shorted out(did it's job). The whole inside of the unit is torched and the guy said he'd never seen one that bad that didn't cause a house fire. Luckily it's under warranty so it's only gonna cost the $100 service call and thankfully it wasn't any worse than it could have been.

So happy that it didnt turn out worse!!!

Dad was in the heating/ac business most of his working life, first for a Carrier distributor, then a Bryant distributor. He couldn't stand heat pumps; said they were too expensive to run.

heat pumps have come a LONG way in the last 10 years, they cost a lot to purchase but are SUPER efficient now, my little brother in law put one in, and we are thinking about putting a couple in

Just helped hubby catch our first rooster to butcher. Once he figures out how to do the two roosters, he'll move on the 4 ducks that needs done.

I once finished laundry, dishes and house chores, but that was way back when I was single.

My husband let me take pictures of him processing the chickens. We did our two big cochin roosters, those beasts were heavier than I thought they'd be. He used a couple of technique methods that really made plucking take about 2 minutes. the actual killing took maybe 2 minutes, it took longer for us to catch the beasts.

He's gutting them now - which shouldn't take too long.

He only had time for 2, he has other stuff he wants to work on - so next week, we'll be doing the 4 ducks.

You put the water around 130-150. You adjust as needed, redunk 2-3 times until the feathers just fall off....

It literally worked for both birds, he even rinsed his hands mid-pluck from all the feathers in the water because it wasn't too hot. It just softened everything up.

He said he got lucky that he stumbled on that method.

do you know where he ran across it???

 

[DwayneNLiz]

@Sally Sunshine We ended up with 3 little chickys from 4 eggs. (There is also a teddy bear in the pic.) Thanks for your help!! I referenced your articles frequently!

Congratulations!! 75% is a great rate!!!

 

[BullChick]

@Sally Sunshine We ended up with 3 little chickys from 4 eggs. (There is also a teddy bear in the pic.) Thanks for your help!! I referenced your articles frequently!

 

[BantyChooks]

The day I got the turks dont laugh at me either

No laughing, we all love hearing our sunshine (PS- I NEED your goaties!!! )

So it is only a point of prospective ! I am sure that there are people that will say the same things you said about any other eating animals! If we want to eat good something have to die! That was the truth frome the beginning!

If you want to eat ANYTHING something has to die. Dead animals fertilize soil, animals lose their habitat and are killed to make room for farmland, and harvesting machines kill small critters. Death cannot be avoided.... That's why I think being vegan is just goosey.