Hatchers Anonymous *Official Thread*

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Rockette/Zena lost her battle late last night. It was sad, but kind of a relief, after the last couple days of my watching her decline. I didn't know whether to keep handling her to force sugar water down her and keep putting her beak into gruel, or leave her alone to rest. I did some of both. She passed in her little box inside the brooder, safe from being trampled by the other chicks.

 

[LaurenM23]

OH NO!!! I am so sorry! That sounds like one of the chicks from my last hatch. It is so sad, but I understand the relief.

 

[LaurenM23]

Quote:
I would think that it really wouldn't be that big of a deal with the turning, so much as the changes needed for humidity. I do wonder about what happens with a broody, though. In theory, doesn't she have a somewhat staggered hatch, being that she wouldn't lay her eggs AND start sitting on them all uniformly?

 

[Sumatra503]

So sorry to hear about Rockette.

She did live a goodlife, considering everything and she went peacefully in her own little box.

That's just part of hatching, though. All you who are considering hatching for a whole lot of batches should read Rockette's story and consider that before you begin. Not that it is all bad, but there will be at least one Rockette during your time as a hatcher.

 

[Sumatra503]

My broodies all tend to stock pile their eggs before they set. They will keep contributing to the nest and hatch them all at around the same time. When a broody begins to set, her system shuts down temporarily and she will stop laying eggs until her chicks are grown.

Most hatches are staggered, even in the incubator. That's my experience anyway.

My first hatch is due 10/31. My second hatch would go into lockdown on 10/31 and hatch on 11/3. My third hatch will go into lockdown on 11/3 and hatch on 11/6. If I were to go into a full lockdown, then the 2nd hatch will go 3 days before lockdown without turning and my 3rd hatch would go 6 days without turning.

Will 6 days of no turning affect my hatch in a bad way significantly?

I've done the staggered hatches before without going into lockdown.

My humidity only increases slightly which is the design flaw of the bator. It's a Hova Bator Circulated Air. It has 4 tray slots int he water pan. You are only supposed to fill three until day 18 when you fill the 4th. I always keep all four trays filled to keep the humidity evened out with the fan. I've found that my eggs tend to dry out unless I fill the fourth tray.

 

[dsqard]

Linda so sorry to hear about Rocky/Xena.

So sad to lose one even if she/he wasn't with you for long. Lots of

your way and I hope you can take comfort knowing that what short life she/he had it was a good one. No hunger, no thirst, no cold just love from you.

 

[Drk_Wlf]

ummm I just hatched out 3 eggs (only 2 hatched) just to see if I liked hatching and today I cleaned out my hovabator genesis and loaded it up with 27 barnyard mixes.... oh god I think I'm addicted!

 

[dsqard]

Well now that I am finally getting eggs from my girls (well got my first egg yesterday from one of the Ameraucanas yippeee!) and should be getting the Brinsea for Christmas I will have to officially join the "club"! I haven't hatched anything yet but oooooooh I am dying to try it! By the time I get the incubator I should be getting eggs big enough to try hatching! I know I am going to be so lost to the addiction then!!!

 

[chickenguru]

I will have to admit that I put a few eggs in the incubator on 10/7/10, but only
to make sure that my FBCM roo was doing his job. I only put 6 in, then I got to
thinking about them maybe not being fertile, so about 2 weeks later I put
8 more in.
It looks like the first 6 will all be finished hatching in the next few hours. I
still have to candle the second setting to see how they are doing.
I guess now I can start holding back eggs and go ahead and set a bunch.
I may as well fill up the incubator this time.

 

[featherz]

I don't need any more chickens but hatched these out on Sunday/Monday - MF D'uccles plus mutt mix eggs.

24 babies!

No more eggs no more eggs no more eggs!! LOL.