Hatching Delaware

[championny]

I hope not late. Early I can deal with and I know a few of them looked more developed. In fact, I was expecting a failure as my hens stop setting after the first day, and I was afraid they weren't going to come together at all. I think I will anticipate an early hatch on some, so perhaps I will just have to wait for the pipping to see whats going to happen.

 

[championny]

So Day 14 comes to a close and it was a pretty rough day. My Leghorn hen, Lucy passed away suddenly. She was in the nest box when I was going to collect eggs. I think she either had egg complications or she choked as her mouth was full of mushed up food. I was late feeding them today and I wonder if she just got too excited and ate too fast. I dunno. She was fine not too long before.

Well, at least she is with my blue heeler and a few other fowl that have passed in life.

On the positive note, I am finally counting down the final week. Thank God, but I still have my Toulouse and Welsummers to go. I cannot wait to see how many will hatch. The time is starting to fly by, so I try not to think about it too hard. However, I find myself at the incubator looking for movement or piping.

To my surprise, the egg with the small crack is going great. I took kstaven's advise and melted wax over the crack and everything is going great. I would recommend that to anyone instead of throwing it away. After all, there could be a great chick in that egg. You never know.

So on to day 15 and this time next week I should have some peeping chicks.

 

[ginbart]

I am so eggcided for you. May I ask what kind of wax do you use? Just in case I ever need to do that I have no idea what kind to use.

Counting the days with you.

 

[Brian]

Quote:
I brooded under a red lamp very recently. No pecking from any of my breeds (mentioned below). I have read about delaware's being calm, sweet, etc. My experience, thus far (they are 11 weeks old today), is that they are friendly and bold. They are the most food-dominant of all my birds. When I hold feed in my hand, they peck too hard and are gluttons, trying to pick up whole mouthfuls. In the meantime, sometimes they cause me to drop the seed due to their forcefulness.

 

[championny]

I just used ordinary candle wax. I was afraid of it melting in the heat of the incubator, but it holds up extremely well to my surprise.

I heard that Delawares are in fact dominant and sometimes vicious with pecking. However, as adults, they are sweet and calm and very friendly.

 

[shortcake1806]

Mine as chicks are definatley curious and bold. But not overly agressive. As adults they are the sweetest birds. I can pick them up and carry them around even the roos. Milo my biggest roo has to be chased out from under my feet half the time he's a attention hog.

 

[championny]

That is one of the reasons why I wanted a Delaware. Only second to helping save the breed.

I have heard many stories about their sweet disposition and I only want chickens that are like that. My girls and boy are very gentle and calm. I can pet them, hold them and a chicken in my coop who didn't like that would be an outcast.

 

[championny]

Now its time for my day 15 close. No more candling of the Delawares and now I am getting a bit nervous after reading the topic about helping out chicks and some stories about 1 chick out of seven coming out. (EEEEEKKKK)

However, I think it will be ok. I have it nice in there and the eggs feel silky which I am presuming is a good thing. I noticed it today when I was turning them. I don't have that device to measure humidity but I am going to keep my reservoir filled on day 18 and stop turning them; which will be Saturday. So far everything looks good.

 

[shortcake1806]

One more day down, six more to go. Funny how the hardest thing to do is nothing, huh?

I highly reccomend getting a hygrometer they're fairly cheap and easy to find. I got mind a the local pet shop. I think it was around 10 dollars. Sure helps take the guess work out of the humidity.

 

[championny]

Thanks shortcake. You know I could not remember the name of that device and when I tried to search humidity device I still didn't get anything.

I am going to look for one on eBay or tomorrow. I also need to find another incubator because I wasn't paying attention and placed two separate hatches in the incubator and now I need to find another by Saturday.

I posted on Craigslist and keeping my fingers crossed. I only need it until Wednesday so I am hoping someone can lend it or I will buy it from them. Worst case scenario, I will have to buy another new one, but I really don't want to.