February Hatch-A-Long

[LowcoMatt]

Nice, what breeds do you have in your flock?

none! Empty coop. First hatch, first run on the incubator. First everything. Got eggs from a neighbor who offered them for free. When I was in high school 15years ago my Dad had a chicken. Just one. As most high school kids were, so was I, not interested much in the chicken thing. Had her for about 3-4months before a neighbors dog attacked. This is the first adventure since then into chickens anywhere in our whole family. Colorful bunch of little eggs however.

On another note, does anybody know what I can put on the chicks legs after they hatch (like a band)? What do people normally use? I bought a little bag of tiny colorful zip ties.

I would do the same as you with the tiny zipties. Nothing else comes to mind.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a farm innovators still air, I went to check on them, not washing my hands first, because I wasn't going to touch, just look, The heat was reading 100, but my internal thermometer was way hot, it was right under the element, I panicked, and I took out my turner/still resting cups, because it may have been making the eggs too high. I did set them on their sides ( because my resting cups were not working, but they had solid air cells but the one, that one is in a diff incubator.) Back in and I will keep an eye on the heat, now they are not directly under heat element. Then I remembered about my hands, ugg! everything I didn't want to do!!! And I noticed 2 eggs had hen blood on egg from laying, which I will not wash off. I hope everyone will be okay!

 

[kyeschicks]

none! Empty coop. First hatch, first run on the incubator. First everything. Got eggs from a neighbor who offered them for free. When I was in high school 15years ago my Dad had a chicken. Just one. As most high school kids were, so was I, not interested much in the chicken thing. Had her for about 3-4months before a neighbors dog attacked. This is the first adventure since then into chickens anywhere in our whole family. Colorful bunch of little eggs however.




I would do the same as you with the tiny zipties. Nothing else comes to mind.

That's very nice, congrats! It's very exciting hatching your own chickens. Glad you got to join us, send us some pics whenever! I like to see the before, during, and after of the hatching process lol it's interesting.

 

[LowcoMatt]

That's very nice, congrats! It's very exciting hatching your own chickens. Glad you got to join us, send us some pics whenever! I like to see the before, during, and after of the hatching process lol it's interesting.

thanks I plan on it. I’m sure I’llhave some questions on the way.

 

[kyeschicks]

thanks I plan on it. I’m sure I’llhave some questions on the way.

We will all be here to help!

 

[JaeG]

On another note, does anybody know what I can put on the chicks legs after they hatch (like a band)? What do people normally use? I bought a little bag of tiny colorful zip ties.

A spot of food colouring on their heads is another option depending on how many you need to mark. I used that with my English Araucana chicks to mark which came from the bluest eggs. Then as it molts out they are big enough for a ziptie on an ankle and their growth has slowed down enough you aren't replacing it so frequently.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

On another note, does anybody know what I can put on the chicks legs after they hatch (like a band)? What do people normally use? I bought a little bag of tiny colorful zip ties.

I use these bands, but only for the first week. They come in different sizes.
I do like the food coloring idea, though.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have a farm innovators still air, I went to check on them, not washing my hands first, because I wasn't going to touch, just look, The heat was reading 100, but my internal thermometer was way hot, it was right under the element, I panicked, and I took out my turner/still resting cups, because it may have been making the eggs too high. I did set them on their sides ( because my resting cups were not working, but they had solid air cells but the one, that one is in a diff incubator.) Back in and I will keep an eye on the heat, now they are not directly under heat element. Then I remembered about my hands, ugg! everything I didn't want to do!!! And I noticed 2 eggs had hen blood on egg from laying, which I will not wash off. I hope everyone will be okay!

Hope you work out your incubator issues. Probably no harm done as you caught the problem early on.

 

[Austrian Chickens]

20 eggs in the incubator. 10 frizzles and sizzles 10 mixed breeds

 

[shaila]

Out of 8 eggs set, 5 had definitely started developing. When I checked this morning, one of those eggs had a blood ring (early death). Luckily, the other four are looking good and have movement.