Hatch-Along - Setting eggs this weekend (Jan5/6) WHOS WITH ME!

[SilkieSensation]

How long do you usually keep your chicks in that brooder/cage? I would assume that eventually you'd have to move them in something bigger... We have a cage just like your's we just need something to put them in when they get too big for that!

I have larger dog crate type cage with a wire bottom & a pan under it that they go in when they get bigger. I can sit a lamp right on top of it if they still need heat. The little babies stay in my room & the bigger babies go to the basement. Once weather is staying above 40F I let them out in the coop after 4-6 weeks. If it's still not warm enough they go into smaller cages in groups of 4-6 & stay in the basement until it's warm enough to put them out.

I have a 3 tier stack cage that they use for puppies that I brood ducks & older chicks in as well.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

How long do you usually keep your chicks in that brooder/cage? I would assume that eventually you'd have to move them in something bigger... We have a cage just like your's we just need something to put them in when they get too big for that!

I use a large dog crate as my brooder for the first 4 weeks. After that, I move them to a brooder in the coop. I have a large dog house that is attached onto the side of the coop. I hang a heat lamp inside, and cover the entrance with chicken wire. I cut a hole in the chicken wire just big enough for the chicks to get through, so the bigger chickens can't get into the brooder. That way, as the chicks get bigger, they can come out and explore the coop and run. If they get bullied at all, they run back into the brooder where the bigger birds can't follow them. I expand the opening as the chicks grow. It's a good way to gradually introduce them to the flock.

I keep the heat lamp on a timer, and as the chicks get bigger, the lamp only stays on at night, depending on the weather.

 

[Conchis]

Well I candled again tonight. I think I only have 4 good eggs out of the nine in my incubator. Most of them look like they just didn't develop at all really. None of them stink or ooze, so they are back in the bator, but I don't hold much hope for them.

 

[Antgarner]

You probably posted this already, but what are you running the rh for the dry hatch?
We also candled this morning for day 14. Two have dark masses that are not very big and look like quitters, but the rest all have very large dark masses. I didn't see any movement though, and I didn't pull any b/c they don't smell. Just four days til lockdown

I don't actually know the rh in the dry one because my hygrometer is a built in one on the other incubator. I've been going off of how much they weigh. It seems like it would be in the twenties or low thirties, if I had to guess.

 

[chicken pickin]

So how is everyones eggs doing? Can you all believe we are almost at lockdown. I have 4 days til lockdown. I cant wait! Im keeping 5-6 out of my batch and I already have a few others that people are picking up. What is everyone elses plans for their chicks once they hatch?

 

[Antgarner]

I'm planning to keep three, and give away/sell some others. Depending on how soon I move, I might keep more. There are a few people who live around me that have chickens, so I might see if they would want some.

 

[fisherlady]

So how is everyones eggs doing? Can you all believe we are almost at lockdown. I have 4 days til lockdown. I cant wait! Im keeping 5-6 out of my batch and I already have a few others that people are picking up. What is everyone elses plans for their chicks once they hatch?

We haven't messed with ours since we candled last Saturday, Gracie is doing all the work, we're just doing the worrying....

We'll be keeping any of ours that hatch... we only gave her 8, 4 Barred Rocks, 4 Australorps, they are breeds we wanted to include in our flock, so we are hoping for at least 2 hens of each.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I candled tonight & pulled 7 eggs (2 clear & 5 bloodrings) to leave 42. Not bad considering the weather & the way my bator temps have been fluctuating. I candled the batch I set Tuesday & a few look clear, mostly out of my eggs. I haven't been doing a very good job of getting mine before they get cold sometimes so that is likely the problem there. Looks like all of the quail have started except maybe 1 so they are doing great. Also set another 14 eggs from a swap tonight as well. They are due 2/10 (I set them really late so marked them a day later than usual). OK, I really NEEEEEEED a cabinet bator!!!!

 

[fisherlady]

I candled tonight & pulled 7 eggs (2 clear & 5 bloodrings) to leave 42. Not bad considering the weather & the way my bator temps have been fluctuating. I candled the batch I set Tuesday & a few look clear, mostly out of my eggs. I haven't been doing a very good job of getting mine before they get cold sometimes so that is likely the problem there. Looks like all of the quail have started except maybe 1 so they are doing great. Also set another 14 eggs from a swap tonight as well. They are due 2/10 (I set them really late so marked them a day later than usual). OK, I really NEEEEEEED a cabinet bator!!!!

Weren't you going to get one? I'm starting to have trouble keeping threads seperate, so please ignore me if I am remembering the wrong thread!

 

[SilkieSensation]

Weren't you going to get one? I'm starting to have trouble keeping threads seperate, so please ignore me if I am remembering the wrong thread!

It's an 8 hr drive 1 way & he wasn't sure if the power cord was all that was wrong with it. I passed on it.