JANUARY 2015 Hatch-A-Long

[ChickenLady2014]

Yippee...They are finally breaking out!! Very happy for you!  They are so cute once they fluff up!

:cd

Thanks Purpletie3, 2 made it out, 1 is zipping as we speak & 2 others have died due to pipping in the side of the egg & not being able to breath. I have a 7th pip in there somewhere, but the moving chicks have stirred it enough that I can't see where it is anymore.

 

[hausfrau77]

Day 21 starts for us with 2 babies, 2 pips and 1 malposition pip at the bottom (I opened and its not ready yet)

 

[blackgoat]

Picture Day!
Here are the 2 day-olds along with the 2-week-olds.

 

[Renee572]

Picture Day!
Here are the 2 day-olds along with the 2-week-olds.

so cute!

 

[Renee572]

Thank Renee, how big is the tote? From experience in my past hatches, they out grow them pretty fast. Especially with 18. Can you purchase a second tote the same size as the one you have and either split the batch or cut a hole in the side of each of them and then duct tape the openings together?

Hey thanks!  I know..I am totally addicted too! LOL
I am with Chickenlady...if they outgrow it just attach another...then you really still need heat in one area maybe???

If I had to guess I'd say maybe 2 feet by 3 feet. I guess I could try adding a second tote but on Monday they will be moving over to my neighbors house to live for a few weeks till we get another coop built. The spot she had our 2 older chicks in probably isn't big enough for a 2nd tote.

I have a big cardboard box that's maybe 4 by 4. Maybe I can tape the sides up to make it taller and I can put them in there? I don't really want to split them up because if I decide to keep a couple from each box then I'll have a struggle to mix them back together. It would be easier if I knew which ones were roos and then choose from the pullets but I probably won't know that for awhile.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Picture Day!
Here are the 2 day-olds along with the 2-week-olds.

Very cute chicks, all of them!

 

[blackgoat]

you mean I can't stay in this hatch a long forever? I am so in love with my chicks and chickens too. Never ever did I think I would ever care about one the way I do.

I'm freaking out thinking my rubbermaid tote is not going to be big enough for much longer for these 18 chicks. I'm going to have to do something and quick. How long do you figure it will be big enough for them?

Hausfrau77, ChickenLady2014 and Purpletie3 I am really hoping all of your hatches go well.

When I had 15, I had to keep adding cardboard boxes with holes cut in the sides with some plastic poultry netting over the top. Fortunately, it was warm enough for them to go outside when they were 4 weeks old. The 12 I have now are from the NYD hatch-a-long, and it is still around freezing outside, so they are in a wire exercise pen in the living room.

 

[blackgoat]

Great job! I am very happy for you! Are they marans? Did you drive your eggs back or fly? I was wondering if they would let you through TSA with them!

They are Modern Game Bantams. I've wanted this breed for years. I drove back, although it would be interesting to see if you could bring them through TSA, lol!

 

[Purpletie3]

Thanks Purpletie3, 2 made it out, 1 is zipping as we speak & 2 others have died due to pipping in the side of the egg & not being able to breath. I have a 7th pip in there somewhere, but the moving chicks have stirred it enough that I can't see where it is anymore.

Chicken...how are things now? Any more lil chickee's?

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Chicken...how are things now?  Any more lil chickee's?

Please call me Lisa, I still just have the 3 hatched & 1 with a small pip. 3 eggs, chick died & 5 not doing anything. Tonight at 11 pm is the end of day 21. The 3 that are hatched are getting stir crazy, but I dont want to jeopardize any that might hatch yet. Tomorrow night will be day 2 for 2 of the chicks in the incubator. As long as the pipped egg has hatched & there aren't any additional pips I will take the babies out tomorrow night.