June 2023 Hatch-a-long

[gimmie birdies]

I checked my lockdown day, it looks like it is actually tomorrow. I put some water in the incubator. It is a staggered hatch, and I have a hen that went broody. If tomorrow is not windy, I may take some of the staggered eggs to the broody hen. (The ones due later.)

 

[Iluveggers]

Hi everyone!
I ended up with 49 in this hatch. 19 went to a lovely person who wanted Easter Eggers (saved her chicks from blue & green eggs…roos at the farm are also EE), and 29 are going to their new farm tomorrow. One had splay leg that I was able to correct. I had my first failure to thrive…looked like a bantam when the rest kept getting bigger. Lasted about 4 days and died peacefully in the evening.

I have my new chick order arriving next week, and the following week some quail hatching eggs. That should be the last hatch of 2023…I don’t know what I’ll do with myself after that! Good thing I have new additions on the way & staying!

Next year I want to keep some of my hatchlings, but have to have a plan if the cockerels start crowing early. I don’t mind having them for meat, but they have to get big enough & stay quiet until then…lol.

 

[AusHen]

one of the Silkie eggs quit so I'm down to three. all of them hatching would be great but I hope at least 2 do so I don't a solo chick, well until the next batch hatch at least

 

[Justadoz3nshort]

Do broody hens go into "lock down" like we do for eggs in incubators? By that I mean do they not get up for 2 days? Or do they still do their daily trip up to eat and drink?

 

[Honora]

Day 21, 8 chicks are out and I have 2 pips, one at the wrong end. Some of the chicks are desperate to get out of the incubator

 

[Canadian Wind]

Do broody hens go into "lock down" like we do for eggs in incubators? By that I mean do they not get up for 2 days? Or do they still do their daily trip up to eat and drink?

No, they get up but as the time approaches they do so less and less.

It's one of the reasons I'm not so gung-ho on keeping completely away and not even daring to breathe in the room the incubator is in. I open it all the time and check the eggs, lol.

 

[Climax]

My mandarin ducklings getting some morning Sun.

 

[gimmie birdies]

We have been windy yuck.
My broody hen got 5 eggs that are almost day 14.
She is excited about eggs, and put straw on her head.

The 5 eggs she got are store eggs, from local farm.

Below are the eggs to the back are day 18, 4-5, then the ones to the front 4-5 are due 3 days after. the blue egg and the extra dark egg (to the left) are store eggs all the other eggs are from my friend with the lavender rooster. He was fertile, but my friend's hens were older. Not all the eggs developed. Blue egg to the far back is a store egg with the nailpolish. It is still going. Day 14, but the moisture will be good because with a crack it may lose moisture too fast.

Below I have 16 in a pen that can see into adult hens pen...5 weeks old

8 week old chicks in a diff pen.

And some adult hens running about.

 

[Iluveggers]

Ok guys, I know I said I’m done hatching chickens for the year, but my neighbor just called in a panic. Her hen has been sitting for about 3 weeks, she was super mean and agressive when she tried to remove her a few times so she just let her sit. She finally caught her off the nest and said the poor thing looks terrible…

She grabbed the eggs and brought them to me. (She doesn’t have a candler or incubator). 9 are viable. I’m going to try to hatch them for her, but I don’t know when to start lockdown. A few eggs look like they have been growing for a week, so I’ll hand them them. The others look much further along but I can’t tell how far. If any hatch, she’s going to sneak them under the momma at night.

Here are some pics:

 

[junior67]

My mandarin ducklings getting some morning Sun.View attachment 3546857

I just love ducklings!!!!