Hands on hatching and help

[SlikerFarm]

Hen died. She didn't make it through the night. ...Sigh

3 Sebrights made it and they're doing well.

So sorry your hen didn't make it! I've seen them bounce back from bad wounds and die from seemingly nothing. It all depends on the bird I guess.

 

[PD-Riverman]

So you think breed makes a difference? Sorry for all the questions. I have a newer hobby farm and I'm trying to learn everything I can.

Breeds Have a lot to do with it. If I take a RIR away for a few days then put her back----there will be some fighting, but rare that it gets to a blood bath.

 

[BantyChooks]

Geez day 19 of incubation feels like week 40 of pregnancy lol. It's almost here. Waited all this time but now I can't seem to wait lol..

Same here! I candled, still lots of veining, and no drawdown, so looks like I gotta wait. All my other hatches in the LG have had pips by day 19.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

It makes no sense to me cause they were together from the beginning. Maybe cause I removed her the other hen got territory obsessed. Ugh

Ugh how awful. I had some wyandottes that became really aggressive when 8 brought in some new chicks. I had to find them new homes because it was so bad. My easter eggers aren't that way. Maybe it has to do with breed?

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Breeds Have a lot to do with it. If I take a RIR away for a few days then put her back----there will be some fighting, but rare that it gets to a blood bath.

I have heard that rir are known to be a little more aggressive. I just ordered some faverolles,orpingtons and Brahmas hoping to have a more easy going flock.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Same here! I candled, still lots of veining, and no drawdown, so looks like I gotta wait. All my other hatches in the LG have had pips by day 19.

I candled on 18 and they didn't seem close to pipping at all lol. I've promised myself I'll be hands off unless absolutely necessary. The wait feels like forever lol. I'm praying some hatch. I saw 13 healthy ones on day 18.

 

[BantyChooks]

I candled on 18 and they didn't seem close to pipping at all lol. I've promised myself I'll be hands off unless absolutely necessary. The wait feels like forever lol. I'm praying some hatch. I saw 13 healthy ones on day 18.

Good luck!! I'm trying to be hands off as well because of humidity issues..... This new bator is gonna need some kinks pounded out of it!
-Banti

 

[RubyNala97]

The temps were consistent at 100-101. The temp would drop when we took them out to candle, but it was back up to temperature in minutes. I'm worried because I have another batch going, but these are from different chickens. I want to make sure it's not something I did!

I would re-calibrate your thermometer just to be safe. Sometimes they get out of whack even if you re-calibrated it right before hatch. Your incubator is forced air?

Hen died. She didn't make it through the night. ...Sigh

3 Sebrights made it and they're doing well.

I'm so sorry to hear that!

I don't think so but I'm not positive, I've never candled one that was internally pipped before. I'm a total newbie at this hatching thing. The only other eggs I've had hatch were with a broody hen and I only candles those a hand full of times.

The egg will feel a lot lighter and you will see a little shadow moving under the air cell. Usually they peep at you but not always. As long as it's still alive all you can do is wait!!

I've got a good assortment of colors.  That's one of the things I love about the Seramas, no real "accepted" colors.  And they change a lot as they mature.  I have one that is totally yellow, that I assume will be all white, possible even silkied.  A couple that look "wild" type with buff coloring.  One almost all black, with some reddish tint. 

My plan is to hold 3-4 each night, get them used to being handled more, but I can't do all of them at once.  The 2 OEGB's that I handled nightly are the sweetest chicks I have, so I really want to work with these guys

I like that they come in all different colors. That sounds like fun! Can't wait to see them full grown!

Oh and if you want to make chicks friendly and I mean, like run to you the second they see you friendly, the trick is LIVE mealworms. Get the small ones from the pet store and it only takes about 2 seperate times and they will be your bff for life!!

I have one crazed OEGB hen right now.  I finally gave eggs to her and confined her, so she would leave my other momma hen and chicks alone!  After about a week of the momma being confined with her new chicks, I wanted to let them out, but this crazy one would not leave the momma alone.  I figured she wanted babies of her own.  So she has now been sitting on eggs for 2 or 3 days.  We'll see if she can be a better mommy than she was an auntie.  :/

I thought of you yesterday. The "auntie" in my flock, I think, has officially adopted the chicks of her friend. It got cold yesterday evening and the babies were crying and mom didn't respond so the Aunt went over and sat on all of them. I'm telling you the two moms that I currently have are actually really pathetic moms! They just let the chicks run wild and do what they want and ignore them most of the time. The chicks are pretty much fending for themselves. I'm over these broodies!

Geez day 19 of incubation feels like week 40 of pregnancy lol. It's almost here. Waited all this time but now I can't seem to wait lol..

I remember my first couple hatches and day 19 was the longest day ever!! At least on day 18 you get to "lockdown" and then day 20 you usually have action but day 19 just drags forever!!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Good luck!! I'm trying to be hands off as well because of humidity issues..... This new bator is gonna need some kinks pounded out of it!
-Banti

Good luck. Make sure to update..

 

[RubyNala97]

Oh and one of my shipped call duck eggs externally pipped!! e