january hatch-a-long

[muddy75]

while I know that most birds can tolerate cold weather I broke down and put a cozy coop heater in the big coop and made ALL the chickens go in for the night. I moved my 7 adult quail back to lower level of the brooder under the babies and have heat on that hutch. I plan to open the door in the morning on the coop but put food inside for the day as noon is when windchill forecast is at low point. fingers crossed everyone will be ok as we should be able to remove heat and get everything back to normal by the weekend! Thinking of possibly thinning my numbers a bit on Sunday when temps in upper 50’s. Only issue is that I have 7-8 layers now so not sure which ones to take out except extra and/or noisy cockerels.

 

[BReeder!]

while I know that most birds can tolerate cold weather I broke down and put a cozy coop heater in the big coop and made ALL the chickens go in for the night. I moved my 7 adult quail back to lower level of the brooder under the babies and have heat on that hutch. I plan to open the door in the morning on the coop but put food inside for the day as noon is when windchill forecast is at low point. fingers crossed everyone will be ok as we should be able to remove heat and get everything back to normal by the weekend! Thinking of possibly thinning my numbers a bit on Sunday when temps in upper 50’s. Only issue is that I have 7-8 layers now so not sure which ones to take out except extra and/or noisy cockerels.

Here we go! I am in IL and dealing with this nasty cold weather as well. Added a 100 watt heat lamp to my cup to try to keep the cool out. Hope is enough.

 

[Cntry1958]

Checked my eggs at 8-pm and nothing at all. Its 11:39pm and we have 2 pips. Both eggs are Easter Eggers. Chicks inside the eggs look like they are resting as they are not rocking now. So I will try to get some sleep and see what has happened by morning.

 

[Ginmary]

Well, our 3rd egg didn’t ‘t make it. Haven’t opened it yet. I hope these 2 chicks are pullets! Our first 3 chicks all look like they are Roos ...what are the odds!

 

[Tbird84]

I had a late comer to the party. He pipped last night and made it out early this morning. Monday was the 21st day. The rest of the eggs appear to have quit right at the end for whatever reason. Such as shipped eggs go but I did get two pullets and a little cockrel hatch from the Bielefelders.

 

[mitziworm]

2 more chicks hatched yesterday, 2 days late again! I'm assuming that it was the blackout or my temperature isn't quite right. Next batch due on Feb 4
The chick at the back was the earlier hatch, they are all Belgian Duccle Milliefluer

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I had a late comer to the party. He pipped last night and made it out early this morning. Monday was the 21st day. The rest of the eggs appear to have quit right at the end for whatever reason. Such as shipped eggs go but I did get two pullets and a little cockrel hatch from the Bielefelders.

Any idea when the shipped eggs were collected?
Protracted, late hatches and late quitters (if temp, humidity and turning were adequate) are often from eggs being stored too long. Late quitters can be a breeder nutritional deficiency or from old breeders. Those are things out of your control.

2 more chicks hatched yesterday, 2 days late again! I'm assuming that it was the blackout or my temperature isn't quite right. Next batch due on Feb 4
The chick at the back was the earlier hatch, they are all Belgian Duccle Milliefluer
View attachment 1658986

If it were me, I would lower the heat plate to almost half the height it is at unless the room is very warm. I like to have it almost touching the tallest chicks.

 

[aliciaplus3]

Ok Turkey poults due tomorrow.....

and we have our first external pip!

 

[Tbird84]

Any idea when the shipped eggs were collected?
Protracted, late hatches and late quitters (if temp, humidity and turning were adequate) are often from eggs being stored too long. Late quitters can be a breeder nutritional deficiency or from old breeders. Those are things out of your control.

If it were me, I would lower the heat plate to almost half the height it is at unless the room is very warm. I like to have it almost touching the tallest chicks.

Good point. No, I'm not sure what date they were actually collected. They were packed very well and tolerated the shipping very well too. I kept a very close eye on temps, humidity and turning. So, I'm inclined to agree with you. Probably won't buy from there again. At least I have a healthy trio.

 

[Cntry1958]

Our First chick just hatched at 2:00 pm today. Pips in most of the others now you can see but chicky is moving them all over the place and chirping to them. It took her 22 minutes to zip and come out. She is a EE.