First Time Hatching....Round 2

[latebloomer]

i'm thinking about skipping a turn on my eggs on day twelve of my incubation

here's what i normally do: once at 6am, once around noon, and once around 7pm

here's why i'm thinking of only doing 6am and 7pm on thursday: i have to be gone all day, i usually come home at lunch and water the dogs and chicks and turn the eggs.

my mom is coming to walk the dog, and could turn the eggs, but i can see it being kind of stressful to her and so i'm thinking of skipping that one turn. i'll have her add about a tablespoon of warm water, and check on the temperature.

what do you folks think, is it a terrible idea to skip a turn, or is it not a big deal.

thanks for your advice, i value your input

 

[adrian]

I've been told that turning is far less important once you're half way through incubation, which at day 12, you are. No longer is the embryo at a high risk of sticking to the side of the egg. Two turns for one day will be just fine.

 

[texaschickmom]

Quote:
I'm getting Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, and Delawares...5 pullets/1roo of each breed. You can't get any of those around here so thought I might end up selling some eggs AND chicks next spring. It's a good excuse to get more chicks, anyway!! LOL

 

[demp4]

Quote:
I'm getting Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, and Delawares...5 pullets/1roo of each breed. You can't get any of those around here so thought I might end up selling some eggs AND chicks next spring. It's a good excuse to get more chicks, anyway!! LOL

My husband is going to shoot me I keep adding more and more... I am running out of space!

 

[demp4]

All right... So I tried to candle again (once at day 4 and day 7) at day 15 but the only thing I can see is a spot full of air in the silkie eggs and nothing but black in the brown eggs. I have one egg I questioned at day 4 and 7 and now it looks like it has an air spot and a yolk that is dark but the rest on the egg I can see through.. My husband took his super flashlight we used the first 2 times so we are using a new setup and its not as good.

Does this sound right? and would the one questionable egg be not fertile?

 

[texaschickmom]

I dunno, demp...I'm so new to this I feel unqualified to give advice on candling. Hopefully you can get some expert help.

 

[latebloomer]

Quote:
I'm getting Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, and Delawares...5 pullets/1roo of each breed. You can't get any of those around here so thought I might end up selling some eggs AND chicks next spring. It's a good excuse to get more chicks, anyway!! LOL

sounds like you'll have a nice crew of birds

 

[allysuzz]

I just filled up my HovaBator for my 2nd hatch. only had 3 out of 14 from the last.......anyhow, How long should it take for temp to adjust BACK up after filling with eggs??

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
So I have to ask, what are you doing with the roos you hatch? I hope to have a big hatch, but I want to keep the nicest hens and roos and sell the rest. I don't know if anyone will buy the roos, though. Also, since I have to keep a lot of chickens until I can see what is what (and who is who) I will need to be building some more coops! I think I will put my 4-5 week old chicks in one (with heat) and use it as a grow out pen, as well. Then I can sell out of that coop. I should be able to tell hens from roos at 6 weeks.

KZ....how many chicks will that brooder hold? How many weeks can the chicks be in it and lastly...can you tell me how much it cost? It looks great!!
Thanks.

 

[KZ]

Quote:
According to the GQF website, the brooder will hold 48 chicks for 4 weeks. The implication from this is that it holds twenty four 4 - 6 week old chicks comfortably.

I have 26 chicks in it (5 three week old and 21 two week old) and the GQF chick number recommendation seems a little tight. However, there is a lot of room in it and no floor space needs to be taken up by food or water (except I did set one small food and small waterer inside because I had the two different ages). It cost about $250 with shipping.