I just started my 1st incubation...

[mix3dbreed]

Oh i did that. I wasnt sure if i had the stones to do it. But i did.

So the 1st incubation is over. 20 birds alive , kicking and screaming. Funyy as hell thos litle guys.

So here is the math.

48 eggs started this journey.
Candled them then later on i watercandled them and took out 8 eggs on day 17 or 18. I cracked those eggs and 2 had a developed form. The other werent Fertil.

So from the other 40 that went on to end the incubation 22 hatched and lived. 2 of those had a hard time getting out of the shell.
The 1st one i took the shell and he was still with a bit a blood. But 24h later he was walking around. But 24 hours after that he was laying down with his head in a small space and he was gone.

The 2nd one hit me hard. I knew it was a Brahma light and i really wanted it to make it. This time i didnt touch the shell, figured he could do it. But that night was costly, he lost alot of energy so i took off the shell 8-10 hours too late. He was still breeathing for 36 hours, but he coudlnt eat or drink so he passed.

The other 18 that were still in the incubator when the last one went to the brooder so i waited for another 12hours and watercandled them. No movement.

So i cracked them open. Of those 18 , 8 had almost full form, maybe day 16-17 or 18. The other 2 looked like day 5-6-7.

The other 8 werent fedrtil.

So instead of having 32. I have 20. Not sad for this, just wished i could of done something more.. Not sure if its k to post the pics of the cracker eggs. Dont want to offend anyone.

I think this was a good 1st incubation. Maybe not % wise. But those 20 birds are hell of funny.

I wanna thank everyone who posted here and helped or tried to help me out.

I apreciate it alot.

Thank you very much

 

[WalnutHill]

20 is better than none! Some eggs were never meant to hatch. I think you did pretty well considering how many did not develop.

Those that didn't hatch on their own were not strong enough to hatch on their own. As you saw from the first, it's not always a "save" when you help. Sometimes they are not going to make it.

Enjoy that 20 and add more to your flock when you set again.

 

[mix3dbreed]

Exactly. We are enjoying the 20. Everyone here always keeps an eye on them. If they have water, if they have food.And just to play with them.

But when they are sleeping, thats the best part. Keeping them inside the house in the 1st week is also a plus. We dont have to walk outside to check on them.

 

[mix3dbreed]

Its been a very fun week for us. Everyone who comes to my house love and stop to watch the litle chicks.

Today i took them out of the cardboard Brooder and took a 10 sec video of them. All 20.

So as you can all see, i have a big problem. On of them had a small problem and didnt develop fast enough and was always under the rest. So i took him away with another also fragile so they could survive. Now he cant walk.

What should i do? I feel bad to put him down. Wanted to wait and see if it was a rooster or hen. But either way his faith has been determined i guess.

Is this video they are getting their new home. More waterand more feed. And of course more space. They are also right next to most of my flock.

I would apreciate some advice on the one who cant walk.


Thank you

 

[mix3dbreed]

The one that lays with its leg out needs to be culled. It has no chance of recovery.

The others that were not standing did look like they were growing okay. Is there Cornish breed in your pen? Some of those birds have legs like trees.

It looks like there are quite a few pullets in there based on the fine-boned shanks.

Thanks for your replay.

Im not sure about the word culled. Ill google it in a bit. The rest look ok. Not sure about Cornish . But none of these birds came from my flock. I made sure of that.
Those black ones are huge compared to the others. Maybe roosters in the making. This next week we can get a sense of what we are having.

Thanks again.

 

[mix3dbreed]

I don't know how you got them all to stand still for the video! Very cute! I agree with Walnut, the one that can't walk is likely too far gone to be saved. I'm sorry. Leg issues need to be addressed in the first days. You can google chicken leg issues, look for a site called Poultry Podiatry. But its likely beyond help.
Good looking chicks though!

Thank you for your replys. Honestly i dont know how they all ( except one) stood still. They are very calm. Everyday i would put my hand and move them from 1 side to another, so they could get use to me or my hand.
Funny thing is there are a few that would jump on my hand. But putting them there for 10 seconds and video them like that, i was amazed.

The was no trick or glue for that matter.

Im going to go look up the best way to cull that one. Feel bad.

Thanks again.

 

[mix3dbreed]

I think you hypnotized them! Haha, just teasing.

Here's a link that I like on leg issues. https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
Splay leg or slipped tendon would be my guess, from the brief view of the chick. Might help you decide if its best to cull.
And it happens to all of us at some point, so don't feel too bad. Its Mother Nature's way...

Who knows, maybe they were hypnotized by the white cardboard. I was thinking if one of these starts to go crazy its going to be an ugly fall for them. One almost did fall off i the end.
Maybe because it was one at a time and no other was close. No noise or other people around.I got luck and the video turned out very good.

As for the injured one. I took him out of his misery. No point in delaying that. My guess was he was born fragile and then probably stomp by others during the night. When i separated him he could stand a bit, but maybe too late.

So latest count 19 still living. I need to redue my math. Thank you, you guys have been helpfull.

 

[mix3dbreed]

Sorry you had to do it, but it's part of poultry keeping.

Yeah. I hate when we loose chickens like that. I always ask how or why they die. But this one was too young.

I better get use to. The other 2 didnt make it, but it was way difernt then culling them. Ty

 

[mix3dbreed]

Just a smal video of them at 3 weeks. Some are big, really huge compared to others.
Had to separte 1, because he was always on his back. So wanted to protect him