June Hatch-A-Long

[Vantic]

Newbie here so I have no idea, but I already have the shelf liner down and with 18 going in to lockdown in a 22 max bator, I'm guessing I'll be reaching in to grab some of the early ones at least. Otherwise it might get pretty cramped in there.

They will work around the mess, so you don't need to do that. But you will be hard-pressed to find anyone here that lets the chicks (or the mess) stay I am guessing (including me). Just try not to do it if you have external pips. It changes the humidity. There are ways around it, but I prefer to let it be messy and wait until the pips are done.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I know, but I'm worried the hatchlings will kick around the eggs still trying to hatch and kill a few. The mess doesn't bother me but lost babies will.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Talking about aircell position has got me thinking. Does the egg need to roll when hatching? I think no, but I am pretty sure the chicks have done in their brother by rolling the unhatched about (please correct me). What if I put dowels on the hatching tray to keep the eggs from being rolled, it would act like the egg carton did, just without the vertical part... Thoughts?

Chick soccer is to be expected. I don't use anything in the incubator other than the no-skid liner because the hatching chicks could get caught up on it when trying to push out of the eggs. If you want to try something like this, I would highly recommend being there to watch the entire hatch just in case something goes haywire.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I know, but I'm worried the hatchlings will kick around the eggs still trying to hatch and kill a few. The mess doesn't bother me but lost babies will.

I've never lost a chick from the others rolling it around if it makes you feel better. The only time egg rolling poses an issue is when the humidity is too high and there is fluid built up in the air cell.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

ERMAHGERD! I didn't think they would start rockin' and rolling so quickly!
Soon as I took out the tuner and starting spreading them out on the tray it was like- Dance Party, Yay!

18 eggs going into lockdown. The 2 iffy ones were obviously done now that I had 18 dayers to compare them to so I took them out for more room. I'll stick them in the fridge and eggtopsy tomorrow.
Can't wait to start hearing peeping.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I've never lost a chick from the others rolling it around if it makes you feel better. The only time egg rolling poses an issue is when the humidity is too high and there is fluid built up in the air cell.

Thank you! That does make me feel better. I'll be hovering for the next 3 days so hopefully if anyone looks to be getting into trouble I can be there to assist. I did cut the humidity back a little...aiming for 65%. Some of the eggs had bigger air cells than others so I think I'd rather help a dry membrane chick out rather than lose some to drowning.

 

[Vantic]

Chick soccer is to be expected. I don't use anything in the incubator other than the no-skid liner because the hatching chicks could get caught up on it when trying to push out of the eggs. If you want to try something like this, I would highly recommend being there to watch the entire hatch just in case something goes haywire.

That makes sense, watching to insure safety.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

blue plus brown =green.

Isn't that how Olive Eggers are created?
So, just read the rest of the thread (I was a bit behind apparently) and have my question answered! Egg color genetics are so interesting!

 

[Knighstar679]

I know, but I'm worried the hatchlings will kick around the eggs still trying to hatch and kill a few. The mess doesn't bother me but lost babies will.

I have lost ducklings to soccer. It all seems to depend on the size of their pip and breed on ducklings. Black East Indie and Australian Spotted seem to be more sensitive than others. But I can’t speak for chicken chances of that. So now I take ducklings out as soon as they start moving around a lot just to be safe.

 

[Knighstar679]

My second chicken baby hatched just after midnight. It had surprised me greatly. Wasn’t expecting it till morning.

this one has a pale face vs the dark face of the other one. Not sure if that is normal or not for Americanna

but here is the little one.



Also question about brooder bedding for chickens. Can I use an animal safe sand as the substrate? Is that safe for them? I really don’t want to use wood chips or flakes in it because unlike with ducks I can actually scoop the poop out of this brooder easily.