Incubators Anonymous

[gimmie birdies]

I am using the same.- at lock down I toss in a warm moist 1/2 paper towel, but I have a very small bator.

 

[roostereggs]

I just had a chick hatch with its brains exposed. This was my first cull and it really sucked! I'm glad the majority of my hatches have been healthy, but when they go wrong it is hard to deal with and makes you wonder what you are doing. Thanks for listening.

Oh, Carrie...so sorry! I am pretty sure I read somewhere...and this would make sense...just like many other species, brain and spine development occurs very early during gestation, so not likely something you are doing at all. Probably genetic?

Regardless, that must be upsetting to see.

 

[roostereggs]

I had to cull a 4 week chick a month and a half ago and it was traumatizing to me. I knew I wouldn't be able to cut the head off. I read about how to snap the neck but nothing...NOTHING...can prepare you for that! It took me literally hours to get up the nerve to do it, and then it didn't work. It took several attempts and it just kept peeping at me. It was so weak anyway from weight loss I finally just squeezed the neck and it tried to gasp about 7 times but then slipped away.

I think I will use the freezer technique next time. I still get very sad about it. Suppose when everyone is new at this they just have to use experience to guide them with the right way to do things as it is probably very individual.

It was also hard because I wanted to cull on a Sunday when I found it really sick...but dh wanted me to help it so I ended up getting a 5F tube from work we use on preemies and tube feeding it baby bird food but it just wouldn't gain. The corid didn't help and by the smell of the diarrhea probably had a secondary clostridium infection. By Friday when it showed signs of discomfort and I had to cull it I was attached to it and cried for a week. I think that dh learned sooner is better for me, emotionally.

 

[ozexpat]

Larger birds and animals are tougher but I still feel that wrapping a chick in a paper towel, stand over the toilet bowel and snip. I dropp it into the toilet and flush. Its all over in 15 seconds.

Freezing a bird to me seem less humane. Rigging a CO2 device is a great way to do it. Its very effective and painless. Its great for bunnies, pups and the like.

 

[ki4got]

I had to cull a 4 week chick a month and a half ago and it was traumatizing to me. I knew I wouldn't be able to cut the head off. I read about how to snap the neck but nothing...NOTHING...can prepare you for that! It took me literally hours to get up the nerve to do it, and then it didn't work. It took several attempts and it just kept peeping at me. It was so weak anyway from weight loss I finally just squeezed the neck and it tried to gasp about 7 times but then slipped away.

I think I will use the freezer technique next time. I still get very sad about it. Suppose when everyone is new at this they just have to use experience to guide them with the right way to do things as it is probably very individual.

It was also hard because I wanted to cull on a Sunday when I found it really sick...but dh wanted me to help it so I ended up getting a 5F tube from work we use on preemies and tube feeding it baby bird food but it just wouldn't gain. The corid didn't help and by the smell of the diarrhea probably had a secondary clostridium infection. By Friday when it showed signs of discomfort and I had to cull it I was attached to it and cried for a week. I think that dh learned sooner is better for me, emotionally.

I feel your pain... I've broken chicken necks before without problems, and had a parakeet with a massive tumor develop almost overnight on her side interfering with her mobility, so I did the same thing...

except that instead of just breaking her neck, her head popped off! I had nightmares for weeks and still get the heebie jeebies about that. can't do chickens any more either. hubby has to. or if they're small enough, they go in a box in the freezer.

 

[ozexpat]

The success tropical hatching continues.

We have scored a hatch rate of 87% and 86% on the last 2 hatches. There are 33 due in Feb 25 and another 36 on March 1.

Our major change has been the dehumidifier running in the egg room to keep the ambient humidity at 40%. Inside the bators its 30s

 

[ozexpat]

ChooksChick's Incubation Cheat Sheet


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chookschicks-incubation-cheat-sheet

 

[CoMtnGal]

Such an interesting thread, I've read many pages to catch up. Quite an education!

 

[ki4got]

well this is one of the best hatches I've had in a while... 38 eggs, all but 7 hatched.

24 sfh, 6 ee/mix, and 1 very surprising silkie that was supposed to be a SFH! almost dropped the egg when I popped the (already zipped but stuck in 1 spot) cap off the egg and this little black blob popped out at me. LOL

thought maybe she's blue, but after fully drying, she's black. the flash just washed it out some.

 

[carriebain]

well this is one of the best hatches I've had in a while... 38 eggs, all but 7 hatched. 24 sfh, 6 ee/mix, and 1 very surprising silkie that was supposed to be a SFH! almost dropped the egg when I popped the (already zipped but stuck in 1 spot) cap off the egg and this little black blob popped out at me. LOL thought maybe she's blue, but after fully drying, she's black. the flash just washed it out some.

Omg that is so cute! For every bad experience I have with a hatch, these chicks with their super cute faces and funny little antics make up for it. If I'm ever feeling sad sitting with the chicks/ chickens always cheers me up!