Hands on hatching and help

[WildHens]

Okay, showing my stupidity....how can you tell just at pip if they'll be sticky?  

Normally, u probably couldn't bc if all goes right, the pip should be in a dry air cell..this one pipped on the small end..
But when I went to pull away that little bit of shell, it pulled away with a dried syrup consistency. . I used my light to look in on the chick, and didn't see any loose fluids or anything, so I don't think it's full of the stuff that turns to clear cement so that's a plus.. it may have just been some of the white stuff that wasn't absorbed? Not really sure..hoping there's not more in there that I couldn't see..
The last time I had a chick that pipped like that, that sticky stuff was literally pouring out of the pip, stuck the egg to the shelf liner, chick was beyond gone when I found it.. it was awful..this one isn't that bad

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have been noticing this year (maybe bc of hatching breeds I'm not used to?) I normally hatch bantam breeds...this year I've hatched several layer breeds and standard breeds..and I swear, some of those standards hatched feathered.. especially on the wing tips.. I had one Super Blue that hatched under my broody..I thought it wings were broke, bc within 2 days of hatch, the tips of its wings were dragging the ground.. within a week it's body caught up and it looked normal but it was the strangest thing I'd ever seen.
I like them staying fluffy, but I hatch so many chicks back to back, that it's easiest when they're fast feathers so I don't feel guilty putting them in the outdoor brooder..my Norwegian babies are great in that aspect. .they seem to mature so fast..when I hatched my first group, they were about 3 or 4 weeks old, still inside and I thought one was choking to death..here it was just a baby boy, getting his crow on..lmao

I'm the first to say that if folks are happy with what they have, then they should by all means keep using it! I think because I've been such a strong proponent of MHP, I tend to preach, and I do apologize for that.

As far as the pasty butt, etc, I've figured out that chicks under a broody very rarely suffer from that. Why, I wondered. I've heard theories about brooders being too hot, or temps in the brooder being inconsistent, but I started to think it might be something as simple as chicks being awake off and on all night long. What do they spend a lot of that time doing? Eating. We are talking about immature little digestive systems, and under a broody hen they would eat just during the daylight hours, tuck up under her at sundown, and sleep all night long. Then the other correlation hit me - people just love seeing that "drop and sleep" routine - you know, where chicks are running full tilt and then just drop where they are and look like they are dead! They're exhausted. So they try to sleep, but since a brooder full of chicks are never all asleep at one time sure enough a flockmate is bound to come along and tromp on him or start pecking feathers, waking the exhausted little guy up and it starts all over again. My first chicks, under heat lamp, never were asleep during the night all night through - there were always some awake and cheeping, running, and eating. So for those reasons, and of course the fire risk, I have pitched the heat lamp out the window and chosen the method that works best for me.

That doesn't mean it works best for everyone!! I know that well and respect the views of others totally. Just like incubating, you have the "hands totally off" camp and the "hands on" camp, and each has it's strong points. Same with the "winter heating, insulated coop" and those who manage to have birds thrive in winter without either. But when I read stories like what happened at Bill's place in Lovell, it tends to eat at me because it's so preventable. Okay, I'm going back in my corner now, and I'll be good, I promise.

Don't apologize!! I'm a firm believer in touting your ideas and what works for you. That's why we have a hands on thread....lol No, seriously I think it's great hearing others' experience with what works for them. It's just that I've never seen the issues that were talked about in my own experiences with using the heat lamp, except for the fire fear. That is always prominent with me.

 

[WVduckchick]

I love the retire section at my local pet store..and don't own a single reptile..lol.. for all the reasons u just named..

I did grab one of the heat mats from TSC back in January. .they were on sale, regular price 45 or 5o and I got mine for 32.. it did okay, but don't know that I'd like it for babies, just bc I've gotten so used to giving them a cave habitat and this requires them laying on top of the mat..for some reason (and I'm probably totally unjustified thinking this ) but it scares me thinking they're gonna fall asleep on it, and over heat.. when they're inside the cave, they can get closer to the sides or back where it's lower if they're chilly, or hang out in the middle where it's cooler, depending on their preferences.. I even worry when they lay on top of the cave, but it's always the older chicks up there and they seem to play more than sleep up there..
How do you like ten ceramic heat bulbs? I've thought about incorporating those into my outside brooder, just for ambiance temp in there, still giving them the cave for comfort and a hiding place. . I just didn't know if they'd have enough to keep something that size on the warm side?? Maybe one on each end and one in the middle? It's about 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and another 4 feet tall??

I saw one of those on a clearance shelf at TSC also, but it was discounted like $2 less than the regular price

Don't remember what the price was, but told hubby I'd go back and look later, maybe they will discount further. I thought about using it upside down on the wire cave, like the heating pad. Think that would work?

I'm the first to say that if folks are happy with what they have, then they should by all means keep using it! I think because I've been such a strong proponent of MHP, I tend to preach, and I do apologize for that.

As far as the pasty butt, etc, I've figured out that chicks under a broody very rarely suffer from that. Why, I wondered. I've heard theories about brooders being too hot, or temps in the brooder being inconsistent, but I started to think it might be something as simple as chicks being awake off and on all night long. What do they spend a lot of that time doing? Eating. We are talking about immature little digestive systems, and under a broody hen they would eat just during the daylight hours, tuck up under her at sundown, and sleep all night long. Then the other correlation hit me - people just love seeing that "drop and sleep" routine - you know, where chicks are running full tilt and then just drop where they are and look like they are dead! They're exhausted. So they try to sleep, but since a brooder full of chicks are never all asleep at one time sure enough a flockmate is bound to come along and tromp on him or start pecking feathers, waking the exhausted little guy up and it starts all over again. My first chicks, under heat lamp, never were asleep during the night all night through - there were always some awake and cheeping, running, and eating. So for those reasons, and of course the fire risk, I have pitched the heat lamp out the window and chosen the method that works best for me.

That doesn't mean it works best for everyone!! I know that well and respect the views of others totally. Just like incubating, you have the "hands totally off" camp and the "hands on" camp, and each has it's strong points. Same with the "winter heating, insulated coop" and those who manage to have birds thrive in winter without either. But when I read stories like what happened at Bill's place in Lovell, it tends to eat at me because it's so preventable. Okay, I'm going back in my corner now, and I'll be good, I promise.

You are great, and I will bet that Amy has no issue with anyone expressing their opinion, especially when its not "this way is the only right way!". That's why we share ideas, to help find the way that works for us.... individually! So I appreciate your input!

eta - see, Amy and I posted at the same time and I was right about what she'd say! LOL

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Okay, showing my stupidity....how can you tell just at pip if they'll be sticky?

I saw one of those on a clearance shelf at TSC also, but it was discounted like $2 less than the regular price

Don't remember what the price was, but told hubby I'd go back and look later, maybe they will discount further. I thought about using it upside down on the wire cave, like the heating pad. Think that would work?


You are great, and I will bet that Amy has no issue with anyone expressing their opinion, especially when its not "this way is the only right way!". That's why we share ideas, to help find the way that works for us.... individually! So I appreciate your input!

eta - see, Amy and I posted at the same time and I was right about what she'd say! LOL

LOL

 

[tracyjg]

I bought the reptile heat pad ones origanlly for my kits. They where horrible for us. Didn't keep heat at all. Waste of money . For us . We bought one from Amazon 13.00 works fine for kits. Never tryed for a chick or duck. My heat lamp works . No one goes in there but me. It's out of the way from dogs and my special needs child.

 

[WildHens]

I saw one of those on a clearance shelf at TSC also, but it was discounted like $2 less than the regular price   Don't remember what the price was, but told hubby I'd go back and look later, maybe they will discount further.  I thought about using it upside down on the wire cave, like the heating pad.  Think that would work?

I'm not sure.. I don't think it would get warm enough honestly.. it seems very weak compared to the heating pads. . When I first got it, I put in laying down in the duck brooder (only had 2 at the time )..figured it would get hot, so I put a thin layer of shavings across the top .. the ducklings would dig all the bedding off so they could lay directly on top.. but they'd lay on top for 3 or 4 mins, then act too hot and would go lay in their wet bedding.. I think it would be best mounted on a wall in the coop for winters.. other than that, I think it's useless ?

 

[RubyNala97]

I finally pulled my new hova bator 1583 out of the box. This thing is huge!! I might need help setting up the thermostat if anyone knows how.... Sorry for the super long multi-quote...

How's this for important? Got 13 more just like it! Only one seems to have quit!! Did that make you smile? I'm sorry about your son - always hardest when it's the little ones, isn't it? Hope he's almost good as new!!

that is awesome!! You're going to have a lot of silkies running around!

Sorry bout your little man..my son is my youngest and so tender hearted..we had to make a trip to the ER today too... hope all is well♡

I hope he's doing ok!! One of the nurses accidentally did something wrong which created a whole new problem, so I've got a ton going on right now but today he seems to be 100%!!

This is sooooo off topic, but I am sharing anyway. One of my friends had stopped by to buy some eggs this evening, and we were standing outside and you could hear this squeaking coming from the side of my house up by the roof. We concluded that there were bats up there. Now, we've been here almost 2 years now and last week was the first time I have ever seen a bat here. So as it got darker we sat outside waiting to see if anything came out as I wanted to see where they were getting in. I kid you not, I counted 26 bats fly out of the peak of my roof before it got to dark to be able to see them. If I can't see them, I can't duck so we called it quites after the 26th one came out and went in. So now I have to get my landlord to get his butt moving on this problem and get it fixed before we end up with guano poisoning or rabies. :/ I was expecting 3 or 4 but almost peed my pants when I counted 26!

My neighbor/landlord custom built a dozen "bat boxes" and put them up all over his property!!

Hi veteran helpers! I'm on day 22 of my first incubation and - of 18 eggs - only one has pipped, and this pipper has been slloooow. How much more should I help it along? After some fixing some humidity issues, this chick has been working 36 hours. Considering the conditions, I have flaked obvious pieces of shell and stopped when I saw some bloodvessels (but no bleeding) by the head and back. Is it OK to continue if there are some bloodvessels in the shell, or do I have to wait for those to be absorbed? It is alive, but just does not seem to be working effectively anymore. Just chirps endlessly, and strains. I would say the part without a shell is the size of a silver dollar.

Were these local or shipped eggs? Did you calibrate your thermometer to make sure your temps were accurate?

Blooie's stupid question of the week. QUOTE] My mom has severe dyslexia and while we were at the hospital I asked her to turn my eggs and she was to scared to touch them. So my two batches (my silkies and shipped call duck eggs) sat for over 48 hours without being turned. All the call eggs are still alive and I only candled a few of the silkies but all seemed ok. But the silkies were on day 10 and the calls were on day 18.

I would risk not turning, so as not to worry her, but would it be possible to put them in cartons or something to make it safer for her to do? Like when she is just tilting the other bator? Just to give them at least a little movement. Just a thought.

Good idea!!

Here's another pic my husband just took. Most of the stickiness is on its back and top of head.

Congrats on the baby! What's going on with all the other eggs? Have you candled them?

Ok, I am not knocking other methods than the heat light, I can see where it is the least natural and it does run a high concern for fire. I still use my brooder light. I do worry constantly about the heat coming off it against the wall and cage, I will say that,but other than that, I have had no problems with my chicks feathering out, with pasty butt with sleep patterns. At night they lay down and go to sleep no problems. Usually once they start feathering in decent and it's warm inside, I shut it off for a few hours a day, only using it when it's cooler or at night until they are feathered in. Every one of my girls in the coop were raised under the broody light and they transtioned just fine. I do brood inside my house for at least 6 weeks. Yes, what a friggin pain. And dust...OMG, but it's always worked for me. I just don't understand the talk about pasty butt and night habits. Never had a problem.

I take the middle road between heat lights and mph. I have an awesome mph that I made and love. But I also like to use a red heat light for the first week. Just my own opinion, but I think they start eating and drinking faster and more consistently with the light. Once they are acting like little piggys I move them to a bigger brooder and switch to the mph. This has been working good for me, sorta like the best of both worlds.

By the way, I found my plate for $34 on Amazon, an un-used returned item. I wouldn't pay full price for one either, but it sure has been nice.

Are you serious?? I'm going to start looking ASAP. If you ever come across another one on Amazon close to that price please forward me a link immediately!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I finally pulled my new hova bator 1583 out of the box. This thing is huge!! I might need help setting up the thermostat if anyone knows how....

Sorry for the super long multi-quote...

that is awesome!! You're going to have a lot of silkies running around!

I hope he's doing ok!! One of the nurses accidentally did something wrong which created a whole new problem, so I've got a ton going on right now but today he seems to be 100%!!
My neighbor/landlord custom built a dozen "bat boxes" and put them up all over his property!!

Were these local or shipped eggs? Did you calibrate your thermometer to make sure your temps were accurate?
My mom has severe dyslexia and while we were at the hospital I asked her to turn my eggs and she was to scared to touch them. So my two batches (my silkies and shipped call duck eggs) sat for over 48 hours without being turned. All the call eggs are still alive and I only candled a few of the silkies but all seemed ok. But the silkies were on day 10 and the calls were on day 18.
Good idea!!
Congrats on the baby! What's going on with all the other eggs? Have you candled them?
I take the middle road between heat lights and mph. I have an awesome mph that I made and love. But I also like to use a red heat light for the first week. Just my own opinion, but I think they start eating and drinking faster and more consistently with the light. Once they are acting like little piggys I move them to a bigger brooder and switch to the mph. This has been working good for me, sorta like the best of both worlds.
Are you serious?? I'm going to start looking ASAP. If you ever come across another one on Amazon close to that price please forward me a link immediately!

Hope things calm down for you.
Did the bat boxes work??
That's a cool middle ground between light and heating pad cave.

 

[WildHens]

@RubyNala97
Glad he's doing better ♡♡ We have a local hospital that is notorious for making issues worse :'(

Here was our ordeal.. 2 antibiotics, soaks every 3 hours. .doctors tried sticking him in 4 different spots to get it to drain and only succeeded in making him scream bloody murder and drawing blood from all 4 sticks.. morons..
I talked him through working it to get it to drain..he was finally successful about 9 last night.. at least enough for some relief for him amyways.
Torn hang nail + digging in compost pile for worms = not a good idea

 

[cvala1015]

Congrats on the baby! What's going on with all the other eggs? Have you candled them?

Well, we removed 7 before lockdown because they were clearly empty. 5 went into lockdown. One of them stopped developing earlier like day 9 or 10. 2 stopped developing around day 12. One I'm pretty sure was empty but not confident enough to toss it. That leaves this one. The only one that completely filled up the egg and moved. I wasn't even sure it would make it. I'm going to move it to the brooder when I get home and then candle the rest of the eggs. If there's no change, we'll toss them.