January 2017 Hatch-a-long

[orrpeople]

Fermented feed. There are other forums with a wealth of information about it. I'm doing it for my chickens. It's easy, better for the chickens, makes their poop smell better, and helps make the food last longer. On the downside it does have an interesting smell and takes a little more work than just dumping dry pellets into a large feeder.

And chickens really seem to like the taste of it better than the "straight from the bag" feed.

 

[melaniekemp]

Midway into Day 19 for my 26 shipped sizzles and I see 2 pips! Man it's going to be torture at work today! I'm so excited!

 

[orrpeople]

Midway into Day 19 for my 26 shipped sizzles and I see 2 pips! Man it's going to be torture at work today! I'm so excited!

Go sizzles, go!!

 

[dannyelle123]

Maybe you guys can help... I'm doing the "dry incubation" method and my humidity has been around 30-40% the first 18 days... So I went on "lockdown" last night at day 18 and filled my water channels (magicfly8) and the humidity has jumped to 83%! How do I get the humidity to stay at 65%? Should I lower the water levels, only filling one channel, and drip water in through the air vent if it gets too low? Does using paper towel in the bator keep the humidity more consistent? tia

 

[feedman77]

Maybe you guys can help... I'm doing the "dry incubation" method and my humidity has been around 30-40% the first 18 days... So I went on "lockdown" last night at day 18 and filled my water channels (magicfly8) and the humidity has jumped to 83%! How do I get the humidity to stay at 65%? Should I lower the water levels, only filling one channel, and drip water in through the air vent if it gets too low? Does using paper towel in the bator keep the humidity more consistent? tia

Personally I wouldn't do anything. I shoot for 70+ when I go into lockdown.

If you just added water and still have a day or 2 to go. It will level out and come down.

I dry incubate everything.

 

[dannyelle123]

Update... Mama brought the babies out of the nest leaving the last egg... Hmm, not sure what's up with that, I candled it and as an OE, I cant see anything except the air cell, but it doesn't smell or anything so I put it in the bator for one last chance.

Cutest thing ever!

 

[dannyelle123]

BTW, I'm letting her raise them right along side my other 3 flock members and so far so good... If one of them comes in the coop she signals and they all run under her out of sight... So far only one is being annoying, yesterday climbing into the nest and trying to lay an egg on top of her!!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

BTW, I'm letting her raise them right along side my other 3 flock members and so far so good... If one of them comes in the coop she signals and they all run under her out of sight... So far only one is being annoying, yesterday climbing into the nest and trying to lay an egg on top of her!!

That is the only reason I separate mine. I use bantams for broodies (and my chicks are usually bantams as well) and my RIR and BR can be VERY pushy about the nest boxes. I have nine boxes and I guarantee whichever one mama tries to hide out in with her babies is the one they will want to go in, and I don't want to end up with a squished biddy I do reintegrate them into the flock early, though - by 2 or 3 weeks of age.

 

[dannyelle123]

That is the only reason I separate mine. I use bantams for broodies (and my chicks are usually bantams as well) and my RIR and BR can be VERY pushy about the nest boxes. I have nine boxes and I guarantee whichever one mama tries to hide out in with her babies is the one they will want to go in, and I don't want to end up with a squished biddy I do reintegrate them into the flock early, though - by 2 or 3 weeks of age.

I could see it definitely being a problem for a bantam to get trampled on by a larger breed... I think we're okay though, she's camped out on the floor of the coop and everyone else seems to be minding their p's and q's only going in to lay eggs and not really paying attention to the babies... If they get too close the mama pecks them...

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I could see it definitely being a problem for a bantam to get trampled on by a larger breed... I think we're okay though, she's camped out on the floor of the coop and everyone else seems to be minding their p's and q's only going in to lay eggs and not really paying attention to the babies... If they get too close the mama pecks them...

lol I love a good mama hen. My little bantam mamas will send the turkeys running when they have babies to protect!