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

[campingshaws]

My kid with the kids! We put them in their half of the barn last night but I think it was too cold for them. We're going to keep them in the dog crate on the porch (smaller space and more sheltered) at night until they get a little bigger. But they'll still go to the barn during the day.

 

[lindalouly]

My kid with the kids! We put them in their half of the barn last night but I think it was too cold for them. We're going to keep them in the dog crate on the porch (smaller space and more sheltered) at night until they get a little bigger. But they'll still go to the barn during the day.

I'll take em!!!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

My kid with the kids! We put them in their half of the barn last night but I think it was too cold for them. We're going to keep them in the dog crate on the porch (smaller space and more sheltered) at night until they get a little bigger. But they'll still go to the barn during the day.

AWESOME!!

 

[chicken hawk 33]

Temp,is acting up.again

 

[attimus]

Temp,is acting up.again

put it in time out

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Morning (__)?

Just a question on layers, got my 2nd egg this morning, it was in the egg box, how long should I leave them in the nest or just take them out 1st thing, clean and put them in the frig.

I know the rooster has been active with the girls I do plan to let nature take it's course at some point. Still new at this kinda thing, still want to know when to leave them be. Yes i'll be using some of the eggs for the house.

Depends on weather. If it is freezing weather or hot (above 80F) I collect often.
If it is mild, I just collect at the end of the day when I lock up. I currently have layers in 5 buildings so it's easier to collect once a day if weather allows.
If nests are clean, I don't wash the eggs nor do I refrigerate them. Washing the eggs will remove the cuticle that protects them from bacteria. If it is rainy weather and they don't wipe their feet before going in the nest, I wash them - in which case I also refrigerate them.
If it is above 80F you don't want to leave them in the nest or they'll start to develop in a couple days.

Leaving them in the nest to promote broodiness rarely works. Pullets/hens must have a hormone change causing them to want to raise a family.
Many breeds have been selected to not go broody.
Some hens of broody prone breeds never go broody, some that aren't supposed to, do.
I've had Orpingtons and Brahmas that never went broody. I've had Leghorns go broody many times.
I've had Orpington and Penedesenca pullets go broody after having just begun laying. I once had 8 Penedesenca pullets go broody at the same time in a community nest. What a disaster.

It's best not to hatch pullets' first eggs anyway. Firstly, they're too small and several other reasons.

What breed do you have?

I don't know... Should I just pull the 2 obviously scrambled ones from the bator? At this point I know I am kinda just leaving them in there to make me feel better... And that's a silly reason to risk exploding eggs..... I'll leave the other one in for another day or two before calling it quits.
What would yall do?
-Banti

I've never had an exploder. I have had a few stinkers and leakers, those are the only ones I pull. I'm not sure if it is possible for an egg to explode if it doesn't stink.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Good morning Chaos18, ChickenCanoe, Duckies Girls, HeatherMarieR, Jessimom, Sally Sunshine, fire370, simpleman403 and everyone else. Way behind again as usual.

-Kathy

Mornin'

 

[kwhites634]

Temp,is acting up.again

Try putting it in a box, with no top; sometimes that works. Build a wooden box if you have to.

 

[country lovin]

3 out two pipped!

 

[lindalouly]

Try putting it in a box, with no top; sometimes that works. Build a wooden box if you have to.

Ohhhhh good idea. Hmmmmmm

 

[lazy gardener]

Morning (__)?

Just a question on layers, got my 2nd egg this morning, it was in the egg box, how long should I leave them in the nest or just take them out 1st thing, clean and put them in the frig.

I know the rooster has been active with the girls I do plan to let nature take it's course at some point. Still new at this kinda thing, still want to know when to leave them be. Yes i'll be using some of the eggs for the house.

I'm out and about often during the day, so when ever I pop out the back door, I check nest boxes. I pull them all day long. That way, if someone gets in the box with muddy feet, she doesn't mess up the whole nest full. Also, I have one gal that needs to be culled. She lays shell-less eggs, and the less eggs in the box when she lays, the better. Pullets are also inquisitive when they first start laying and do some exploratory pecking. No eggs = no risk of cracks.

Alright, I've read that there's no such thing as crested Muscovy ducks. I have a Crested hen that I never planned on breeding because of the risk. Well, I just discovered that half of my eggs in the incubator that I thought were pure Muscovy were laid by my Crested hen. Now what I'm reading makes it sound like it's impossible for a Muscovy and a Crested to breed at all, whether the babies have crests or not, but all of the eggs are developing. I'm seriously confused. I'm hoping that the babies will be alright since Muscovies aren't supposed to be able to have crests anyways.

I don't know ducks, don't know crests, don't know the genetics of it, but would think that if they are developing they should be fine. Time will tell.