Help please, a few questions.

[silkiechicken]

I recommend pencil. I've used a sharpie at work and the embryos end up with a greater percentage of neural tube defects. The ink does soak into the shell unlike pencil which is just on the surface.

Good luck with you hatch!

 

[blue90292]

Quote:
the first couple of days i just sprinkle a little of the food onto the paper towels. they really don't need food for about 3 days so i just sprinkle to get them pecking on stuff. i use a quail waterer i bought from the feed store. it cost me $3.25. or you can buy the chick waterer, but i would put small rocks or marble in the water trough to make sure they don't accidentally drown. i had one do that and so i bought the quail waterer. i also have the waterer sitting on a piece of wood block so that the chicks don't kick the food into the waterer.

after a couple of days, i have a metal dish that they feed out of. for some reason, my chicks have a hard time getting food out of the feeders until they're about 3 or 4 weeks old.

good luck on your hatch!!

michele
rosharon, tx

 

[icewb8]

I have one more question (i think). My eggs came in today and over half of them were smashed and yolk got all over the other eggs that managed to survive, I wiped them with a dry paper towel, but they are still dirty looking, should I do anything more?

 

[kstaven]

At this point wiping them down is the best thing you could have done. Washing them would create more problems.

If the box was that badly packed or handled improperly by the post office the hatch rate is likely going to be very low. Let them set for 8 - 12 hours before going in the incubator. They are going to need it! Was the shipment insured? I would let the hatchery know what happened. In a calm and nice way!

As far as feed goes. You can get unmedicated chick starter if you choose. I buy mine from the local feed store. If you are unsure, look for an organic label. Under the organic standard chick starter cannot be medicated. Personally, I have never had a Cocci problem with chicks. But having said that I will point out that using a medicated feed gives you a little more of a safety factor.

Keep us posted on how things go.

 

[Rakaiachick]

How did your hatch turn out?