Hands on hatching and help

[chicken hawk 33]

Never mind. Carry on...

what do u mean.I was asking because not a lot of people use the little Giant 9200

 

[Ravynscroft]

The one with all white toes, was the cockerel. I think Bruce had maybe one toe nail that was white and then crusty had none.

Bruce had white toe, that's the cull...

 

[WVduckchick]

what do u mean.I was asking because not a lot of people use the little Giant 9200

Ok. Sorry.

 

[Laurel Meadows]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted here. It's great to have the incubators running again! :yiipchick
I locked down one group of my own eggs today, and have 2 other groups of shipped eggs staggered behind these.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

how do u go about wwith the water at the bottom and all

I personally don't put water in the bottom for the incubation period. I use a low humidity method and if it's too low without any water I add a wet sponge. I only use the water wells at lockdown/hatch.

 

[Pyxis]

The one with all white toes, was the cockerel. I think Bruce had maybe one toe nail that was white and then crusty had none.

Oh yep, sounds like it was Bruce I was thinking of. I remember that cute little chick picture with the tips of her little middle toes being pink I'd consider her a cull and wouldn't breed her, but no worries breeding her this year, I totally get that, you gotta start with what you've got! My advice would be to hatch as many of the eggs as you possibly can for yourself so you have lots to choose from for the next generation and then next year you could cull her from the breeding flock to move forward.

Also make sure you grow any cockerels this year to maturity so you can see if your hens are throwing leakage. Hens carry it and don't show it, but cockerels show it if they have it, so if you get leakage you'll know it's coming from one of the hens and you can cull accordingly next season. I'm pretty sure that I've culled most leakage out of my flock so your girls probably don't have it but better safe than sorry!

If you did end up with extra eggs you couldn't hatch I'd probably sell them inexpensively with full disclosure that one of your two hens doesn't have completely dark middle toes since that's just good practice That way you could still make some money back on feed while improving your flock and anyone who buys eggs won't be disappointed with what they hatch because they'll know what to be expecting.

I'm having to do that now with those darn feather stubs. It seems they're popping up in every breeder's lines. This year any hen that throws chicks with them is getting culled to my project flock.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted here. It's great to have the incubators running again! :yiipchick
I locked down one group of my own eggs today, and have 2 other groups of shipped eggs staggered behind these.

Hey! . Good luck.

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted here. It's great to have the incubators running again! :yiipchick
I locked down one group of my own eggs today, and have 2 other groups of shipped eggs staggered behind these.

i cranked up the humidity last night in 2 bators!

It is great to be hatching again!

 

[Laurel Meadows]

Hey! . Good luck.

Hi! Thanks! I feel like I may need it lol

i cranked up the humidity last night in 2 bators!

It is great to be hatching again!

Yeah I use the term "lockdown" loosely. There will still be daily candling lol.

We had so many broodies here last year I almost forgot how hard these last few days are to wait for the hatch lol!

 

[melaniekemp]

Any that are accurate.

The ones I use are cheap digital from our drug store. I use three though so I know if one goes wonky. Many people swear by the Brinsea spot checks.
That is strange. Sorry to hear it.

Yeah. I'm thinking I have some temp issues. I need to read up on how to calibrate. I have no clue. Another one died today. Only one more peeping in the inky. The rest are still and silent.