July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[SnapdragonQ]

I think my hatch is done and for the Bieles I ended up with 4 girls and 2 boys.
All 7 of the Biele eggs that went into lockdown hatched, but one had not absorbed any of it's yolk. If these chicks weren't so robust the deep cup trick I tried might have worked, but the little guy (it was a boy) insisted on being the energizer bunny, instead of calm, and it was his downfall.

One of the girls is a little lighter than the others, but the boys are SO obviously different I'm fairly sure that one is a girl. Think I'm going to like the auto-sexing feature of this breed.

Add 3 hatchlings from my flock's eggs for a total of 9 fluffs. I'll try to get some pics of the fuzzballs today.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Sadness this morning. One of my Bielefelder babies is dying. He's noticeably smaller than the rest... like he hasn't grown at all except for wing feathers but not size. Yesterday he had pasty butt and this morning I find him breathing hard, lethargic, and offering no resistance to being picked up. I have no idea what to do for him. I have him next to me away from the flock but my heart aches for the little one and I feel completely helpless.

I'm sorry. Sometimes snuggles are the best medicine we can offer our little fuzzy friends.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I think my hatch is done and for the Bieles I ended up with 4 girls and 2 boys.
All 7 of the Biele eggs that went into lockdown hatched, but one had not absorbed any of it's yolk. If these chicks weren't so robust the deep cup trick I tried might have worked, but the little guy (it was a boy) insisted on being the energizer bunny, instead of calm, and it was his downfall.

One of the girls is a little lighter than the others, but the boys are SO obviously different I'm fairly sure that one is a girl. Think I'm going to like the auto-sexing feature of this breed.

Add 3 hatchlings from my flock's eggs for a total of 9 fluffs. I'll try to get some pics of the fuzzballs today.

Sorry to hear about the one that didn’t absorb it’s yolk! Glad to hear about your nice hatch though!

 

[Hucklekree]

@SnapdragonQ I think as I hear your observations as well, that the unabsorbed yolk issue might be a case of a super robust chick hatching too easily and too early from the egg while positioning. I could NOT get my little girl to sit still with that yolk.

@FortCluck I second all the advice about acreage with guineas. We had them on 15 acres. They were bordered by a gorge on one side a property boundary on another and a road for the the last (triangle shaped). They had pasture, forest and yard to wander through. They were at the one neighbors quite frequently and also in the road almost everyday. My experience. If others hadn't said anything I would have thought maybe it was just my experience too lol. Guineas are really cool looking IMO. But they are a handful to keep safe and also to keep your sanity.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Sorry to hear about the one that didn’t absorb it’s yolk! Glad to hear about your nice hatch though!

Thank you! This is only my second go around with the new incubator and my first real hatch problem. Bound to happen sooner or later I suppose. It was a little easier to take since it was the last one and the other 6 zipped and popped perfectly.

Sometimes I think it's easier when things happen under a broody hen because then you can blame nature instead of oneself.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

@SnapdragonQ I think as I hear your observations as well, that the unabsorbed yolk issue might be a case of a super robust chick hatching too easily and too early from the egg while positioning. I could NOT get my little girl to sit still with that yolk.

@FortCluck I second all the advice about acreage with guineas. We had them on 15 acres. They were bordered by a gorge on one side a property boundary on another and a road for the the last (triangle shaped). They had pasture, forest and yard to wander through. They were at the one neighbors quite frequently and also in the road almost everyday. My experience. If others hadn't said anything I would have thought maybe it was just my experience too lol. Guineas are really cool looking IMO. But they are a handful to keep safe and also to keep your sanity.

Oh interesting you had the same with one of your chicks. I'm sure you posted about it before but I've been up all night and have mush for brains. Robust doesn't even to begin to describe these little things! Holy Cow!

Sorry about your little girl! I swear if we'd have put these chicks at the base of a little mountain it would have been a race to see who got to the top first. Perhaps how the chicks hatch out will be something we'll have to think about going forward with this breed. I had decided that if the chick survived I'd band it's leg and put it in the boy grow out pen to make sure it's genetics did not reach any of the female Bieles or any of my layers.

Guineas...Um, yeah. No amount of acres seem to be enough for these birds. And roads are like their dirty addictions. They. Can. Not. Resist!

 

[Hucklekree]

Yep. I would like to experience that heart wrenching situation as little as possible in the future. I am sorry you had to experience it as well. I do feel more equipped now for future situations.

@TheBajan I am sorry you have a chick that is languishing. I really don't like that part of hatching at all.

 

[FortCluck]

Oh interesting you had the same with one of your chicks. I'm sure you posted about it before but I've been up all night and have mush for brains. Robust doesn't even to begin to describe these little things! Holy Cow!

Sorry about your little girl! I swear if we'd have put these chicks at the base of a little mountain it would have been a race to see who got to the top first. Perhaps how the chicks hatch out will be something we'll have to think about going forward with this breed. I had decided that if the chick survived I'd band it's leg and put it in the boy grow out pen to make sure it's genetics did not reach any of the female Bieles or any of my layers.

Guineas...Um, yeah. No amount of acres seem to be enough for these birds. And roads are like their dirty addictions. They. Can. Not. Resist!

I probably would make a massive aviary and put them in it. I want peacocks I want a pair. Emus are another I want

I’m sure we will get lots of acres. We just need to be wise when we choose.

 

[Perris]

Sometimes I think it's easier when things happen under a broody hen because then you can blame nature instead of oneself.

I intend to keep that in mind as we go into day 21 with a broody!

 

[FortCluck]

Thank you! This is only my second go around with the new incubator and my first real hatch problem. Bound to happen sooner or later I suppose. It was a little easier to take since it was the last one and the other 6 zipped and popped perfectly.

Sometimes I think it's easier when things happen under a broody hen because then you can blame nature instead of oneself.

So true! My SSC hatch was horrible so bad that I have been crying all morning. This week has just been a complete mess!