INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Went to check on them and they seemed cold, I put two towels over the cat carrier. It's 46 out there now so I'm going to get my heating pad and put it out there for them, anyone see any issues with that or should it be ok?

You should build them a heat pad cave. It's simply some wire fencing bowed over to make an upside-down "U" just tall enough for the chicks to get under. Put the heat pad on top of the wire, and cover it with a towel. It's a good idea to put something waterproof over the towel to keep it from getting soiled, but that's optional in an emergency. Put some straw or shavings over the towel, and you're set.

 

[kwhites634]

I am REALLY hoping someone responds to my Craigslist, Facebook, or Michigan Farm Classifieds listings wanting chicks so I can fire up the incubators with a good excuse!

You NEED an excuse? That don't sound like you. Who are you, and what have you done with Walnut?

 

[Hawk12]

Jet a Jack Russell

I wish I never would have messed with her. Thebleeding probably would have healed on its own. It was a hernia, not yolk. She died before I even finished mixing the booster water, she cried the whole time she was dying. I feel so sick

So sorry

 

[firedragon1982]

Its seven quantity 10 week old chicks...pretty well feathered but only outside for two days, I bought them from a lady who had them Inside. Its drizzly tonight

I think they'll be ok, I took 15 8 week old chicks and put them in my hoop coop and it was in the mid 40s, didn't have a heating pad, they went from a garage that was in the mid 60's all the time. I *did* put a heat lamp in with them, but put it on the thermo cube so it doesn't kick on until 35 Degrees. It is now in the 20s during the day/teens during the night (they're 12 weeks now, and have some 8 week olds w/them now, have been outside for a few weeks) and they're doing fine. The little ones are sitting with the big ones on the roost, but the little ones stay in their group toward the end of the roost lowest on the pecking order no doubt.

Except Squeaker. Squeaker is the RSS chick from my first hatch from Halloween, He's keeping my singleton from last hatch company right now.

 

[WalnutHill]

You NEED an excuse? That don't sound like you. Who are you, and what have you done with Walnut?

I need an excuse because I don't want to brood a couple hundred chicks inside through a Michigan winter.

My coops are not coops in the traditional sense. They are effectively covered runs with side panels and wood floors. No real walls, just fabric curtains. 12' ceilings, 3 sides open to the wind, only one solid fabric wall to give a place for a door. They can't be beat for ventilation, which is why I can stock them so heavily, but they are NOT good broody houses.

Beginning of March is the earliest I can hope that a heat source can combat the weather. But if someone wants a couple hundred chicks, I'll gather a couple days worth of eggs and fill those babies up!

 

[rossfam06]

Update.

All 10 are out! Out of 12, 1 was too porous to set and 1 quit at 1 week.

Hatched at 100F in my trusty old styro from the 80s. Same thermometer that came with it and registers the same as the backup. It is on my kitchen counter.

I just had 100% of my ducks hatch.

Does that count as 100%?

Whoop whoop!!! e. Congrats!!!

 

[Hawk12]

Wow... if you're hooked after the low hatch rate on those shipped eggs, I can't imagine how bad off you would be if you'd had 41 "fresh" eggs! OMG... they would have to put you in rehab after OD'ing on chicks!!! It's okay though... there are a lot worse addictions out there. Welcome to the Hatchaholic's Club!!!   e

I think it's because my 1st attempt on shipped eggs was 0 out of about 24. I would have been hooked with one...haha. 10 is wonderful My goal is to hatch my own eggs but I want certain breeds.

 

[RIR-YELLOWLEGS]

Walnut hill I could tespine with ya asking for eggs I have RIR eggs but I live down south in GEORGIA.

 

[chicken hawk 33]

I'm back had went to town again.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I think it's because my 1st attempt on shipped eggs was 0 out of about 24. I would have been hooked with one...haha. 10 is wonderful

My goal is to hatch my own eggs but I want certain breeds.

A lot of it has to do with how far the eggs are shipped, how they were packaged, and how fertile they were when gathered. I've heard of a few people switching suppliers and getting better hatch rates. Just something to consider if you're paying a lot for those eggs...