January 2017 Hatch-a-long

[NysiaAnera]

Okay, I have 3 broodies on eggs right now, and a severe weather week coming up. Any suggestions as to how best to protect my chickens would be appreciated! I am thinking about packing straw under and around the nest boxes on the outside, and possibly covering them with plastic as well. I do not want 3 dozen developing chicks to freeze. So far, I have not done anything to the hen house, I think the coldest it has gotten this year is -9°, and only 1-2 nights. This cold is going to be a week or so long.

The nest boxes are on the outside of the coop. I do not heat my chicken coop, but seriously, this is going to be COLD. Should I put heat out there?

 

[Karen523]

I'm a bit late to the party. I just set some eggs this morning

 

[kie4]

Hi @karen523, I'm late too. But it's so easy to set eggs on the 31st, makes counting what day you're on easy!!

 

[Karen523]

Hi @karen523, I'm late too. But it's so easy to set eggs on the 31st, makes counting what day you're on easy!!

I know I'm cutting it pretty close, but I'm hoping to be able to participate in the Valentines day hatch as well. I have a couple of styrofoam incubators I can use if needed, but I get lower hatch rates with them. I like my GQF incubator best.

 

[burdboy]

Put in 6 of my triple L mix eggs due 15 threw the 18

 

[kie4]

Put in 6 of my triple L mix eggs due 15 threw the 18

What does triple L mix mean?

 

[burdboy]

Triple L mix is what my cousin called my farm there just barnyard mix but I think it sounds better

 

[mich9510]

I weighed my emu eggs yesterday and they are still on track. Very slightly overweight but that is easily fixed by lowering the humidity in the incubator. Its only by a few grams. Being unable to candle is killing me! I even got out the night vision goggles and put them on infrared. I only saw what the cooling test already told me. Cool at the air cell end warm at the other end. Still can't hear anything with my stethoscope....*sigh* today is day 30 though so I should be able to try the wiggle test in a few days. Good luck to everyone who is incubating and happy new year!

 

[sclanimals]

We set 96 eggs in the Dickies Bator 2 nights ago, we'll see how it goes!

This spring well be hatching out more Lemon Blue EE'so, I am so excited!

 

[rir264]

On day 19 now and it looks like the bantams will be the first to the party! There are 3 external pips would figure bantams like to hatch out early but that would be a good thing that gets them out of the way before the EEs hatch. Looks like it is going to be a busy start to the year.

Happy New Year to all!