First time hatching chicks

[Rebechenson75]

Uh guys, I got a problem. I have a pair of chicks that refuse to be in the brooder. They want me to cuddle them. What do I do?

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Uh guys, I got a problem. I have a pair of chicks that refuse to be in the brooder. They want me to cuddle them. What do I do?

How are they doing now?

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Just candled my eggs from my big preorder. Most look good! 4/8 Swedish flower hen eggs were clear though, and last round the two Swedish flower hens were clear too. Think this breeder needs a new rooster for her Swedish flower hens lol! The cream legbar eggs looked like they had pretty dark spots going already though (just day 7). Most of the eggs I saw veins and some eye spots. Not sure why the legbar eggs had darker shapes? Maybe just the blue shell gave a different look.

But @Slothinc I think you’re right about the right side of the incubator, 3/5 eggs that I had in that row looked questionable. I don’t think I’ll use that row again. I’m worried about lockdown having eggs over there. Have you found any solutions to work around the issue?

 

[Rebechenson75]

How are they doing now?

They are both now the bane of my existence. They screech until I come get them and hold them. It's adorably annoying.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

They are both now the bane of my existence. They screech until I come get them and hold them. It's adorably annoying.

Lol! Such cuties. These are the marans?

Are your other eggs in lockdown now?

 

[Rebechenson75]

Lol! Such cuties. These are the marans?

Are your other eggs in lockdown now?

Those are the marans. Yes they others are in lockdown. 8 of which hatched last night. I'm on cuteness overload this morning. Got my fingers crossed that more hatch h.

 

[Slothinc]

Just candled my eggs from my big preorder. Most look good! 4/8 Swedish flower hen eggs were clear though, and last round the two Swedish flower hens were clear too. Think this breeder needs a new rooster for her Swedish flower hens lol! The cream legbar eggs looked like they had pretty dark spots going already though (just day 7). Most of the eggs I saw veins and some eye spots. Not sure why the legbar eggs had darker shapes? Maybe just the blue shell gave a different look.

But @Slothinc I think you’re right about the right side of the incubator, 3/5 eggs that I had in that row looked questionable. I don’t think I’ll use that row again. I’m worried about lockdown having eggs over there. Have you found any solutions to work around the issue?

Oh that is so exciting that you have the next batch going!!! I haven’t actually discovered a work around for the incubator yet… it has taken several hatches to correlate that the right side isn’t doing so well for me. However every time I use that incubator in the future, I will definitely be putting my most “prized” eggs on the left, and the eggs that I care less about on the right. Then at lockdown I will probably crowd the eggs more towards the L side. Also I think I will probably turn the temp up by a degree or so at lockdown, because I think it’s quite a bit cooler down low. And I normally incubate bantam eggs so they sit even lower. I feel like every time I use that incubator it’s a science experiment and I usually have a huge margin of error

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Oh that is so exciting that you have the next batch going!!! I haven’t actually discovered a work around for the incubator yet… it has taken several hatches to correlate that the right side isn’t doing so well for me. However every time I use that incubator in the future, I will definitely be putting my most “prized” eggs on the left, and the eggs that I care less about on the right. Then at lockdown I will probably crowd the eggs more towards the L side. Also I think I will probably turn the temp up by a degree or so at lockdown, because I think it’s quite a bit cooler down low. And I normally incubate bantam eggs so they sit even lower. I feel like every time I use that incubator it’s a science experiment and I usually have a huge margin of error

Yes I’ve figured out the temp is lower lower down but it’s also more humid, I’ve turned the temp up half a degree for the entire incubation this time. Right now I have the clear eggs and questionable ones back on the right side. I will toss the clear ones next time I candle but figure might as well leave them a few more days.

My incubator is full though! So lockdown will be a challenge. I’ve had eggs hatch on that right side before in lockdown though. Maybe it’s the back right corner that’s no good? Not sure I’ve had any hatch there. Front right corner has been fine during lockdown.

 

[Slothinc]

Yes I’ve figured out the temp is lower lower down but it’s also more humid, I’ve turned the temp up half a degree for the entire incubation this time. Right now I have the clear eggs and questionable ones back on the right side. I will toss the clear ones next time I candle but figure might as well leave them a few more days.

My incubator is full though! So lockdown will be a challenge. I’ve had eggs hatch on that right side before in lockdown though. Maybe it’s the back right corner that’s no good? Not sure I’ve had any hatch there. Front right corner has been fine during lockdown.

I tend to agree, I think the front is better than the back. After you end up removing any that are not fertile or who quit early, maybe you’ll have more open space and you can leave more of the right side empty than the left.

 

[Rebechenson75]

We are at 12/21. This is so much fun.