HERE WE GO AGAIN Anyone SETTING Aug 30th - Sept 8th join me!!

[swindledana]

I have a mystery on my hands. I just hatched a RIR egg and a black chick with black on its legs and a white spot on its head. I got the eggs from my dad. This is the second time I hatched his eggs and got a black mystery chick out of both of the hatches. I know his RIRs are purebred because they came from a hatchery in Wisconsin. He has hatched these eggs before and has never gotten any black chicks. Could the RIR have a gene that produces a black RIR? He does not have any other chickens that are black. Any help would be appreciated. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow and put on here to see if anyone can tell me what it is.

 

[StacyTN]

Thank You! I will research more on how to help them safely. I'm sure there are threads on this. That's what I love about this site--people like you who can help us newbies, and great archives of discussions on everything chickens!

Amen to that BYC is my chicken encyclopedia. Who needs book, mags etc. when you have BYC. Anytime I have a question, I type it in the search and sure enough I get all the answers I need!

 

[StacyTN]

So excited about the hatchings so far and can't wait to see pics.

I go into lockdown tomorrow night! I'm so excited and will be pacing the floor the next two/three/four nights. It's a good thing I'm not working right now, if I were I would have to burn a few vacation days!

Also excited about the brooder/grow out nursery/isolation area, we are about finished with in our latest coop/run (did I mention we've built 4 large coop/runs since starting this venture mid-June this year!). Hard to explain, so I'll be taking some pics. soon to share. Lets just say for now it measures @ 8x20. One half is the coop/roost etc for my LF Cochins and then the other half is a seperated walk-in room with two brooder/grow out pens top & bottom & then room below to roam on the ground.
I've put some pictures of what we've done so far in an album here on BYC. Still need to do some modifications/winterizing to most pens before winter sets in, but overall I think I have happy chicken resorts built & hope to eventually free roam some in the fenced off area they are all in.

 

[Fam project]

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Have never heard of super blue layers?? Are they winter hardy? Docile? Perhaps I need to plan them for a future hatch.... I develop too many new ideas from all of you fellow chicken addicts!

 

[Brookhavens]

Wow! It's so exciting to read about the eggs hatching and the new babies. I have no idea how we'll do--it's our first time and I got carried away and now I've got two 'bators running and a broody sitting on 8 mailorder eggs (ssshhhh....she thinks they're hers). Altogether we've got 72 eggs cookin', with three expected hatch dates in fairly quick succession, plus another dozen eggs coming at the end of the month. My chicken math was a little off when I was planning all this...

So here's a question--is it very bad to help them hatch? People talk about them pipping, and zipping, and then not making it out...is there something wrong with letting them out manually? I'm guessing there is, since I've only once read about someone doing it... so much to learn! My basement hen is doing fine. She actually did get out of the crate and take a little break at some point. I know because I left her some grapes and those were gone. In return, she left me...well, it wasn't pleasant to have in the house, but hey, she's a mommy-to-be and I'm so proud of her. These may be my only chance to have grandkids

Congrats to everyone with new chicks tonight! I'm so happy for you. Love the sweet little music they make...

There are several threads on BYC on helping a chick hatch. The first time I did it I was scared to death. I would take the egg out , hold it under a heat lamp as I worked on it and using sterilized tweezers gently peeled the shell away in small sections. Each section I peeled I made sure to wet the area with a q-tip and warm water. I didn't want the membrane to dry out and shrink wrap the poor chick. I was warned if I saw blood to stop immediately. I would work on it a few minutes then put it back in the bator to heat up again and then after an hour or so I would take it out again and work on it some more. I actually zipped the entire egg and then placed the egg back in the bator to allow the chick to "hatch" on it's own. When he did hatch he was very weak and I didn't think he was going to make it. After a few hours he was up on his feet and chirping away. Little Sya is now the leader of the pack.

 

[Brookhavens]

I have a mystery on my hands. I just hatched a RIR egg and a black chick with black on its legs and a white spot on its head. I got the eggs from my dad. This is the second time I hatched his eggs and got a black mystery chick out of both of the hatches. I know his RIRs are purebred because they came from a hatchery in Wisconsin. He has hatched these eggs before and has never gotten any black chicks. Could the RIR have a gene that produces a black RIR? He does not have any other chickens that are black. Any help would be appreciated. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow and put on here to see if anyone can tell me what it is.

Almost sounds like a Barred Rock but they have a white butt area as well as the dot on the head.

 

[Fam project]

I am renovating an old shed we had with scarp lumber.... A little intimidating to publish photos after seeing Lisa Pedro's chicken palace! That is so neat! when it is all done I am hoping for high function tho. I saw a roost with a shelf underneath filled with sweet pdz on another thread...have added that to my list.

We won' t have a chance to get the run done yet, just have to make sure I get my brooder cabinets cleared out for my new chicks. I figured that I would not have more than 10 hatch, but it looks like I have a few more headed to lock down than last time... And I had 16 make it out of their shell that time. Hoping for no hatching drama and healthy chicks!

I am a little worried about warmth for my hatches next week. It has been getting down to the 30s at night here. I use those brinsea Eco glows for my brooders and it recommends use with temps 50 and above. Any of you from the cold north?

 

[StacyTN]

There are several threads on BYC on helping a chick hatch. The first time I did it I was scared to death. I would take the egg out , hold it under a heat lamp as I worked on it and using sterilized tweezers gently peeled the shell away in small sections. Each section I peeled I made sure to wet the area with a q-tip and warm water. I didn't want the membrane to dry out and shrink wrap the poor chick. I was warned if I saw blood to stop immediately. I would work on it a few minutes then put it back in the bator to heat up again and then after an hour or so I would take it out again and work on it some more. I actually zipped the entire egg and then placed the egg back in the bator to allow the chick to "hatch" on it's own. When he did hatch he was very weak and I didn't think he was going to make it. After a few hours he was up on his feet and chirping away. Little Sya is now the leader of the pack.

Oh wow! I hope I do not have to resort to this but I also know there is no way I'll be able to let one go if it looks like it's trying.

 

[cindersga]

I think I am done... I opened the bator and took all the babies out. I stuck them right under my broody who was DELIGHTED to see babies!! She hatched out 1 herself..the rest were in the bator. I also threw in the 2 that hatched last week and the 1 that hatched 2 weeks ago. Right now they are all nestled under her and she hasn't noticed how many babies are extra big. They are so in love with her already.... she is a good moma. I hope she is good when it is daylight and she sees that 2 week old one who is tall and has LOTS of feathers... he he he... I will take pictures later tonight. I have them in a small 12 x 18 box right now... she is a bantam Game fowl and so it is plenty big for her and the babies to "integrate" in... In a few hours... I am going to move the whole family into a tote until morning.

the lemon cuckoo is the only yellow one... it is so adorable.. i will get pics soon.

I bet you are one tired mom with all that hatching! Can't wait to see pictures tomorrow. Congrats.

 

[swindledana]

Almost sounds like a Barred Rock but they have a white butt area as well as the dot on the head.

It does have a white butt area. My dad only has RIRs.