Quote: @Sally Sunshine you can take me off the hatch list - I'm done, threw out the four eggs (no eggtopsy, and no float test, I decided I didn't want to mess with any live chicks that late that needed help). The seven live chicks are doing fantastic.
Regarding the "Kristin's horribly shipped eggs" - I just want to be sure everyone understands - I got these eggs inexpensively pre-auction for the express purpose of the seller testing both her fertility and her shipping method (with which she had had previous success), because she was serious about doing her due diligence before auction. I did not instruct her how to ship at all or make any requests, this was a test of HER other method. So in an odd way, it was a "success", as it uncovered weaknesses in her earlier method and we had a very detailed dialog about what went wrong and shipping options, and when her eggs did go to auction, she packaged them completely differently, and they did VERY well in shipping for the buyer(s).
I just didn't want anyone thinking anything bad about her, that's all. Meanwhile, I learned a LOT about salvaging beat up hatching eggs!!!!
Quote: R-Coms are horizontal - the eggs are on this conveyor belt thingie and are rolled to turn.
Busy day (as expected). Got home exhausted, but still was able to set up the new Speckled Sussex paddock. They were SO glad to be let back out again (and on fresh grass, to boot!). New Cream Legbar paddock tomorrow. setting all paddocks up now so there are two for any ranging group (to let the ground recover and give them fresh ground).
And even though the incubators aren't even clean yet, somehow, without even making a conscious decision, THIS is happening!!!!!
Okey dokey, off to catch up on my other threads tonight (yes, I have other threads. Please don't be jealous. I'll be back...)
- Ant Farm
awwwwwww Thank you for explaining the eggs in more detail! chicks are adorable!!!!! so leave your name on the hatching list just get rid of the current hatch!! ha ha ha gotcha!!!
I got sloppy collecting and she was setting four eggs, but still off during the day. I took those four and put them in the bator. She sat on an empty nest and then one eggs, and she may have two now. I can give her the original four, plus one from the counter. That'd be a good little clutch. She's 11 months.
Hey all of you who may be worried about the little birds getting into your chickens pen and bringing bird flu; I found a source of affordable bird netting at Raintree Nursery. They sell fruit trees and have the bird netting to keep the birds out of the trees. They sell it by the foot at $1.50/ft in 5 foot increments and it is 22 feet wide. You can order the size you need.
I have started collecting my duck eggs for hatching and I cracked open a couple to see if they were even getting fertilized and one had blood in it. Does anyone know what this means?
your talking to a guy who spent his life not sleeping....it's not overrated.....I would trade my left arm for the ability to sleep every day....instead of twice a week or something like that.
Seems like I was always sick because I could never get a good day's sleep. Constantly changing from evenings to midnights and working 7/12s.
I now go to bed shortly after dusk and get up between 3 and 5, get to see sunrise every day and never get sick again.
That's what my goal is, strong chickens resistant to the stuff on my property (e.g., Mareks) as best I can get them (and yes, other goals as well, of course) but as I'm just starting, I'm "trying" a few different breeds this spring, and also giving myself the opportunity to see which birds are most hearty from a variety. I'll have a number of families and chickens in this next year while evaluating them and how they do/how I like them (especially how they do in the heat here). Ultimately I'll get it back down to fewer of what I like that don't require copious ice and mister fans in the summer. I'll always have Naked Necks, other than that, anything is on the table.
@ChickenCanoe I hear that Penedesencas are good with hot weather - can you comment on that for your experience?
They are very good in hot weather and in general, so are other Mediterranean breeds or any bird with huge combs/wattles.
If you want to experience lots of varieties, check out Sandhill Preservation. They have a lot of obscure and rare breeds. I believe they still have a deal where you can get a huge mix of whatever is left over from hatches and not sold. I did that once and got 17 breeds. That's a good way to learn characteristics of disparate breeds.
Incubation temps are supposed to be 99.5 degrees. When you calibrated them, did you do the ice water one? This is the same for all of he methods, but for ice water, the thermometer will go down to 32 degrees exactly if it is perfectly on point. If one of your thermometers reads 31, then your thermometer is -1 degree off. I write the difference on my thermometers. So if it reads 90, you know that temperature is actually 91.
I'm shy of the ice bath calibration.
I had a thermometer I purchased from an incubator company and it was accurate at 70 F but off by 2 degrees at 100.
I prefer to compare them to a medical thermometer because then the comparison will be at close to incubation temperature.
At least that's the way I'll do it till I have more time to do it scientifically or can afford to send them off to be calibrated at Thermoworks.
Im on day 22 of chicken incubating in a still air incubator i got from my parents its ~20+ years old homemade. They never managed to hatch anything. I only have 3 eggs on day 21 i was back and forth all day thinkibg they must all be dead because nothong was happening (this is my first time) spent most of the day on here reading and rereading the "hatchig 101" thread... i have chirping! So excited. I can barely wait! But i WILL lol
Im on day 22 of chicken incubating in a still air incubator i got from my parents its ~20+ years old homemade. They never managed to hatch anything. I only have 3 eggs on day 21 i was back and forth all day thinkibg they must all be dead because nothong was happening (this is my first time) spent most of the day on here reading and rereading the "hatchig 101" thread... i have chirping! So excited. I can barely wait! But i WILL lol
(__)? morning, I went to feed this morning and check the egg box, Found a crushed egg shell was paper thin, this is the 1st I have found that way the other are hard like normal, is this a normal thing or should I look into diet, right now using 15% layer crumbles, birds are 4 and a half months, just started laying
(__)? morning, I went to feed this morning and check the egg box, Found a crushed egg shell was paper thin, this is the 1st I have found that way the other are hard like normal, is this a normal thing or should I look into diet, right now using 15% layer crumbles, birds are 4 and a half months, just started laying
Good morning. Sounds like it could be just them working the kinks out of there system. I'd keep an eye on it for now but wait to do anything until the problem continues (if it continues)
(__)? morning, I went to feed this morning and check the egg box, Found a crushed egg shell was paper thin, this is the 1st I have found that way the other are hard like normal, is this a normal thing or should I look into diet, right now using 15% layer crumbles, birds are 4 and a half months, just started laying
I've had a few shell-less and soft shelled eggs. This sometimes happens especially with new layers trying to get everything together in there. If it becomes consistent I would think it would be something to worry about
@campingshaws nice kids, I am glad they are adapting and doing well.
