Incubating for the First Time in 15 Years...

[ColtHandorf]

I had my first pip early Saturday morning and had two chicks by that afternoon. A third joined them early Sunday morning as it announced it's presence to the whole world (and three cats) by peeping as loudly as it could. All three are up and motoring around the brooder in between naps. I've seen them eating, but not drinking on their own yet. But I'm sure they are. I showed them all the water after their first few naps. Fourth egg looks to have pipped internally, waiting on the external. Fourth and fifth eggs are just a day or two behind because I staggered the eggs when I set them. I didn't want to save up too many since I'm only incubating from one hen. The three I set last week are all three developing also. So the potential for nine new babies, plus the quad of started Silver-laced Orpingtons I picked up from a different breeder meant it was a very nice weekend.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Here’s some pictures of the first two babies.

 

[aart]

Awww..Congrats!

Are those crumbles?
Might be good to run them thru the blender for smaller pieces at first.

 

[ColtHandorf]

It's a standard chick starter, so crumbles. Is it too big? I've never had to make the pieces smaller for other chicks when I used to breed. I had OEGB and Nankin Bantams all the way up to Cochins and Brahmas and everything in between including all the fad breeds like Penedesencas back when day olds sold for $100 each on eggbid which was insane.

Of course I've been fussing over these three little babies like a wet, nervous hen since they hatched. Now I'm looking at the clock to see how soon it'll be before I make it home and haven't inadvertently starved them to death.

I know I've seen them picking at it and eating a few pieces. Mostly yesterday they just napped. The two older ones were toddling around this morning while the youngest napped in the little butter lid filled with feed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's a standard chick starter, so crumbles. Is it too big?

No, it is not too big. That's what it is made for. I've had some broods that would eat the bigger chunks and leave the powder. I've had some that eat the powder and leave the bigger chunks. I had one group that only ate the powder so i put the bigger chunks in the blender for them, then they just wanted the chunks.

 

[aart]

Now I'm looking at the clock to see how soon it'll be before I make it home and haven't inadvertently starved them to death.

They'll be ok, probably won't even eat for a day or so.
I grind flock raiser crumbles so there is some smaller and larger.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Phew. I was actually concerned I'd inadvertently given them something too large. It's been so long since I've raised the little ones. I even pulled out some old chicken books I had from when I was 14-16 and was reading through them just to get what I already knew refreshed to calm the nerves.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Another pip last night that hasn't made much headway yet. I was hoping for a fuzzball this morning but it is still screaming at me from inside the shell. I'm at work all day so hopefully the little one is dry when I get home and not shrink wrapped. The humidity in the incubator is like 65% I think this morning. Oddly the two eggs that were next to hatch that both had chicks haven't so maybe those are quitters? If he's out when I get home I'll candle them and see whats up.

 

[aart]

I can not imagine incubating if I was still working...would drive me nuts!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Yes, it is nerve wracking to say the least. I had the first part of the hatch scheduled for the weekend, but with only one laying hen I had to stagger a bit in order to set eggs that wouldn't suffer from being held for too long.