Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[Cynthia12]

don't tell anyone else but I open the bator as needed...not a problem....personally I prefer to keep my eye on things

 

[Cynthia12]

Day 18... One of my eggs just keep on wiggling!

Early bird on it's way?

 

[dolfi]

Dolfi, when rabbits breed they run in circles for a while. That's normal. Then the buck mounts, does his thing and will growl/squeal and fall off backwards or sideways when he's done. That tends to happen 3-4 times in a "session".

Then you either learn to palpate (kinda tricky, you feel the tummy on the doe and try to feel where the babies are, they'll be like big marbles at 14 days, helps to have practical experience with rabbit anatomy), or you just wait until you see a nest. Some people try weighing their rabbits, or re-breeding, but that's really unreliable. The most reliable method for me is just KNOWING my rabbits. I know how they feel, act, eat and look like all the time, so when they're full of kits I usually know around 3 weeks by changes in diet, behavior and shape. This is the most reliable thing for me. Palpating is pretty hard to learn but is more accurate and can be done at like 10 days if you get good.

he did fall back on one occasion yet I don't think he did hit the mark. I'll leave her in for the night.

 

[Cynthia12]

Can I join the Feb. hatchalong? This is my first time incubating eggs and I started just today. Very exciting!

I'm hatching 18 LF eggs of mixed breed mutts so I can test out my incubation method before I get better eggs to hatch. I'm using a simulated natural nest incubation for my first go round.

 

[mustangluvrjen]

Can I join the Feb. hatchalong? This is my first time incubating eggs and I started just today. Very exciting!

I'm hatching 18 LF eggs of mixed breed mutts so I can test out my incubation method before I get better eggs to hatch. I'm using a simulated natural nest incubation for my first go round.

The more the merrier. Only you have to promise us one thing.......post tons of pictures. I'm intrigued in the natural nest method. Could you explain? I'm not a newbie but I'm not as seasoned as some of the pros here. I'm hatching quail for the first time which I'm a bit nervous.

 

[dolfi]

On day 18/15. day 14/158 and day 1/23.
I'll be busy for the next few weeks. Yeee

 

[Cynthia12]

Not chicken related at all..but look! What I am thinking about keeping. I have her here, trying to decide..she sure is laid back. Great Dane. 4 months old. Blue Fawn in coloring.

I hope she doesn't like chickens like I don't want her to like chickens..only friends..not food. Unless it's cooked.

 

[ChirpChickens]

Not chicken related at all..but look! What I am thinking about keeping. I have her here, trying to decide..she sure is laid back. Great Dane. 4 months old. Blue Fawn in coloring.

I hope she doesn't like chickens like I don't want her to like chickens..only friends..not food. Unless it's cooked.

she's adorable! keeeeep her! lol

 

[Beekissed]

The more the merrier. Only you have to promise us one thing.......post tons of pictures. I'm intrigued in the natural nest method. Could you explain? I'm not a newbie but I'm not as seasoned as some of the pros here. I'm hatching quail for the first time which I'm a bit nervous.

I started a thread about it...here's the link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ral-nest-incubation-experiment-1-so-it-begins Just an experiment I wanted to do to see if I could mimic a broody hatch in every way except the broody. Will also use the same "fake broody" to brood the chicks without a light, but more like a broody would.

Should be a hoot if it works out!

 

[StewedMammal]

So, the chicks are 3.5 weeks old now. All 34 are still alive and are doing great! I counted today how many roosters and hens I should have today. I counted 24 roosters and 10 pullets. yay..... Just my luck there. Now time to find homes for all the roosters (The hens are already sold

).

Well it didn't take long for someone to respond to the roosters.

It took about an hour of being on craigslist before someone responded and took all 24 roosters for $54. NOW I CAN GET MORE CHICKS!!!!