How is your flock today?

[TropicalBabies]

@TropicalBabies Thank you, yes I did my first 8 day candling on a few of the eggs that I could get to without having to remove the top cover. Surprisingly enough, the 5 eggs that I did candle from the 22 all looked like something was happening on the inside. I will candle them all right before lockdown to have a better idea.

I have been having such a hard time with keeping a constant humidity and temp because of where I have the machine set up at. I have noticed that the room temperature fluctuation during day does effect my inside readings so I have been babysitting it to make sure I don't cook the eggs and lose the hatch.

I am going to purchase the Nuture Right 360 incubator for my next go around and that should simplify things a lot for me.

@BlueBaby has been a huge help for sure with helping me figure out this machine.

Cute pictures, thank you for sharing. What type of incubator machine do you use?

Can you move your hatch to a better more consistent place? Maybe better to do early than later. That is my July 4th wisdom when my safe place became a smoky warzone.
I think you will be happy with the NR 360. It gets pretty good reviews and I like that it is 360!

 

[BlueBaby]

@TropicalBabies Thank you, yes I did my first 8 day candling on a few of the eggs that I could get to without having to remove the top cover. Surprisingly enough, the 5 eggs that I did candle from the 22 all looked like something was happening on the inside. I will candle them all right before lockdown to have a better idea.

I have been having such a hard time with keeping a constant humidity and temp because of where I have the machine set up at. I have noticed that the room temperature fluctuation during day does effect my inside readings so I have been babysitting it to make sure I don't cook the eggs and lose the hatch.

I am going to purchase the Nuture Right 360 incubator for my next go around and that should simplify things a lot for me.

@BlueBaby has been a huge help for sure with helping me figure out this machine.

Cute pictures, thank you for sharing. What type of incubator machine do you use?

When you candle them before lock-down, take a pencil and draw the shape of where the air-cell is at. That will help you to judge what side need's tp be facing upwards when you lay them flat when you start the lock-down.

 

[BlueBaby]

I have an Rcom. I don't think I could get the Brinsea shipped to me, Nurture right was sold out and because of our small home with no storage, dirt and tropical bugs I did not want to go with the Hova Bator styrofoam.
Rcom was great to order from and it got here fast and in 1 piece. I spent the extra $$ for the pro so I did not get in my own way. I liked their look and set up. I have grandkids and detest the dump so try to upgrade as much as I can to keep my broken stuff out of it when I can. I am really happy with it except I am not happy with the chick freeway. It seems they trash the heck out of the unhatched eggs and I do suspect it effects my hatch. I don't know, I am no expert by any means but think I need to do smaller hatches or put in speed bumps lol. I try not to watch the little wrecking balls because it makes me nervous and sad. When/if I buy a second incubator I may go with the Nurture Right or try harder to get the Brinsea or buy a monster pro one. Who knows?
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It look's like you're having a pretty good hatch there. Congrats!

 

[docteurshepherd]

Aloha gang! Lost this thread for a bit and glad to be back.
Yes, @docteurshepherd -how is your sweet little hen doing? Would love to hear about the surgery and what lead up to it. I hope all is well and she is in recovery.

Thank you for checking in. It's funny you ask because I just got done taking her out for her daily fresh air after she really ate on her own for the first time!! About a few days ago she tried but didn't get much really. It was still amazing and emotional though and gave me so much hope. This time she was REALLY eating!! Like she got her crop full, I didn't have to tube feed. I can't believe it I'm so happy. Basically I kept researching and thought what she had was probably wry neck from stress and trauma during the fox attack. I got some vitamin E to give and gave raw egg for selenium and sure enough here she is a few days later.

The surgery went well I think, everything went as expected basically, very big impact, I haven't been concerned for that really as her bowels are moving great now and her incision I check everyday and looks like it's healing very nicely. It looked infected for a day but administered antibiotics and continually applying antibiotic cream and it looks fine since.

The only thing I'm a bit concerned about now is her eye that was injured during the attack. It went cloudy after a week but now it's like red. I'm hoping it's not anything serious and that it's just going to kinda be absorbed and she just won't have an eye. I really need her to live now. If anybody has suggestions or ideas please kindly let me know. I'll include photos. I really can't believe it though I'm so happy.

 

[BlueBaby]

Thank you for checking in. It's funny you ask because I just got done taking her out for her daily fresh air after she really ate on her own for the first time!! About a few days ago she tried but didn't get much really. It was still amazing and emotional though and gave me so much hope. This time she was REALLY eating!! Like she got her crop full, I didn't have to tube feed. I can't believe it I'm so happy. Basically I kept researching and thought what she had was probably wry neck from stress and trauma during the fox attack. I got some vitamin E to give and gave raw egg for selenium and sure enough here she is a few days later.

The surgery went well I think, everything went as expected basically, very big impact, I haven't been concerned for that really as her bowels are moving great now and her incision I check everyday and looks like it's healing very nicely. It looked infected for a day but administered antibiotics and continually applying antibiotic cream and it looks fine since.

The only thing I'm a bit concerned about now is her eye that was injured during the attack. It went cloudy after a week but now it's like red. I'm hoping it's not anything serious and that it's just going to kinda be absorbed and she just won't have an eye. I really need her to live now. If anybody has suggestions or ideas please kindly let me know. I'll include photos. I really can't believe it though I'm so happy.

I'm happy for you that she seems to be getting better, and I hope that her eye will be ok also.

 

[docteurshepherd]

Aloha gang! Lost this thread for a bit and glad to be back.
Yes, @docteurshepherd -how is your sweet little hen doing? Would love to hear about the surgery and what lead up to it. I hope all is well and she is in recovery.

Sorry making another post because I didn't really answer the what lead up to it part in my excitement. Basically, when locking them up for the night, noticed two were missing and Ruby was laying on the ground kind of hunkered down. I picked her up and looked her over and noticed the dried blood and bite marks, immediately took her inside, put some antibiotic cream on and gave some eye drops. When examining her I noticed her crop was big but didn't think too much of it as it was the end of the day, they usually have full crops. I still decided to check it in the morning though. Maybe I'm a bad chicken owner, but no I don't habitually just go feeling every single one of my chickens crops all the time. I do occasionally but yes I missed it until the attack.

Next morning, still there, and the next. I'm researching and researching, massaging her loads, I see folks have done the operation and I feel pretty confident I can so I order the stuff I need, I just keep syringing her water multiple times a day and checking on her. Then, yeah I operated. Went as expected.

 

[docteurshepherd]

I'm happy for you that she seems to be getting better, and I hope that her eye will be ok also.

Me too for both of those. I really cant be taking a chicken to the vet so whatever it is I hope it resolves on her own or I can figure out what to do, some may find that horrible and think I'm a bad chicken owner but I just can't do that reasonably. I mean considering taking her to the vet to euthanize when it was really bad was already like something I never thought I'd do.

 

[BlueBaby]

Me too for both of those. I really cant be taking a chicken to the vet so whatever it is I hope it resolves on her own or I can figure out what to do, some may find that horrible and think I'm a bad chicken owner but I just can't do that reasonably. I mean considering taking her to the vet to euthanize when it was really bad was already like something I never thought I'd do.

I understand. Most vet's aren't very knowledgeable about chicken's or other poultry anyway's.

 

[docteurshepherd]

I understand. Most vet's aren't very knowledgeable about chicken's or other poultry anyway's.

Lord if that isn't the truth. I think more are learning now that lots of city folks have been getting into them and are willing to pay big bucks at a vet for one but yeah most is doubtful

 

[Brooks_]

I think one is going broody, and I'm gonna let her.