FEB HATCH-ALONG THREAD ...COME JOIN US.... EVERYONE!

[Cynthia12]

These are darling. Love the coloring. Look..at the right..a cute silvery chipmunk..way cute.

 

[TheH Klan of 10]

N

Horse pellet bedding is THE BEST for chicks. I did it last year and only removed a little bit here and there... I think I used less than one bag, and it never smelled too terrible either!

Newbie question I c u talking about horse pellets .... What is this ? Feed? Lol

 

[TheH Klan of 10]

And btw where does everyone get those cute smilies ?

 

[Caitlin_VT]

N
Newbie question I c u talking about horse pellets .... What is this ? Feed? Lol

Nope, its horse bedding pellets. As it absorbs water, the pellets break down. It really keeps the smell and cost down!

 

[Caitlin_VT]

I should say, absorbs any moisture... Plus, the chicks can't/don't seem to eat it.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Well I just set my Serama eggs. Took me about 30 minutes messing with the incubator. But it's done! Instead of the 12 I thought I was going to set, I was able to squeeze in 4 extras! So I ended up setting 16. My incubator is very, very squished right now. I don't even want to open it.

 

[TheH Klan of 10]

Nope, its horse bedding pellets. As it absorbs water, the pellets break down. It really keeps the smell and cost down!

Thank a ton!!!
I have Been reading and trying to fig out what I would use for bedding I am excited now!
U guys have been a lot of help!!!

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I just squeezed in 1 more... So 17 I set. Poor incubator.

 

[gapeach717]

Had to run out. When I get home I will update and respond! H Klan I will link you to my emoticons when I get home. Thanks for all the support. I seriously think had I know what was normal or not a week ago I would have had twice as many. Gonna wash em all when I get back home!

 

[hokankai]

A few notes:

-to avoid rotten eggs next time, cull nonviable eggs earlier in the process. Make sure there are signs of life before lockdown, as a rotten egg can and will explode in the incubator, killing the chicks and unhatched eggs inside

-the dried goop I think is from low humidity. I had chicks like this my first hatch, and I did run the humidity quite low near the end to try and get larger air cells in a lot of them. Anyway, wash them with warm water, as close to 100 degrees as you can get it, and dry thoroughly with a towel and blow dryer. I used a wet washcloth on the ones that weren't too bad. Rubbing "against the grain" with get the fluff to stick up.

Shrink wrapped: before pipping, both inner and out membranes dry tight around the chick; caused by too little humidity throughout incubation

Sticky chick: after pipping, the liquids dry becoming glue-like followed by concrete-like; caused by too little humidity during lockdown

Just some ideas for next time! It sucks, but ya live and learn