June Hatch-A-Long

[SnapdragonQ]

It may take longer because the USPS appears to be taking the opportunity of the CV-19 thing to put their collective feet up on the coffee table and do an even poopier job than usual, but ime the accuracy of the tracking info (not the delivery time) has been the problem in the past. All my chicks have come ahead of schedule. Hope yours do, too!

Yeah, Hoover to here usually only takes 2 days but with Covid there are all kinds of delays everywhere so I'm concerned. I have noticed the tracking for USPS for the past year on anything has been crappy. My chicks are showing that they are stuck still in Iowa as "Package Acceptance Pending." After already going to two different places.
I'm seriously hoping it was just a missed scan and they are closer to my area.

Doesn't help my mood that the incubator went in to lockdown yesterday but I don't have any pips yet. Brooder is all ready to go but I can't candle eggs right now and am in that few days where time just seems to creep by. Can't focus on anything else but chicks but can't actually do anything chick related. Ack!

 

[Offshoreorca]

Here are my first two little BCM chooks! All fluffed up and dry now - the others are externally pipped and resting. I'm expecting to wake up to a fluff ball or three tomorrow morning

 

[CindyinSD]

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?

Just take the hatched chicks out and put them in your brooder. You can do this wet, if you like. They'll fluff just fine under your lamp or brooder plate. I don't yhink they hurt anything by rolling the slower sibs around--and they may even encourage them to get a move on--but it won't hurt to get them (and their empty shells too, if you like) out of there.

Think through your movements, have everything you might need (such as a container for the rowdy babies) ready, then when you close the lid, make sure you get it on properly. This is also a time to add a bit of warm water if your humidity is too low. Not usually a problem, but occasionally...

Tuck those littles under the heat source and you're done. All's right with the world again. You can take the hatched ones out as they hatch or you can wait until a bunch accumulate--however you want to do it.

 

[CindyinSD]

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.

View attachment 2188059

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.

I know of at least one person who broods on sand and swears by it. He lives in a sandy location and uses sand from his own property. No reason you shouldn't do the same as far as I can tell. I would not, because I don't have a permanent brooding location and sand is heavy. Plus I'd have to buy it anyway. Wood shavings are easier for me to manage.

 

[2102Simm]

The curse of the ancient incubator strikes again. So of my 17 that made it to lockdown 4 hatched, 1 pipped then drowned in its shell the rest the incubator killed by spiking to 104 for an undetermined amount of time. Im done stick a fork in me. I have been promised a new incubator next year, I will get a Nature Right 360.

But of my little balls of fluff that made it it looks like we have 2 buffs (1/4 white rock 3/4 BO) a RIR cross and an Australorp cross

 

[Trisseh]

You must’ve seen her when she came home lo big fat cotton ball. I think I named her Chubs the instant I saw her.

My husband says she looks like she got electrocuted She’s even more floof now. I’ll have to get pics of her and post them. She’s very smart because if you say Chubs she comes running and looking.

He was riding on Chubs back and she was like a bucking bronco We were crying from laughing so hard

Yeah, I remember you posting about her when you first got her. Would love to see updated pics of her.

bahaha, good training experience for that little cockerel.

 

[FortCluck]

Yeah, I remember you posting about her when you first got her. Would love to see updated pics of her.

bahaha, good training experience for that little cockerel.

Haha he held on for only 3 seconds. Maybe we will hit 8 eventually

I’ll get a pic tomorrow if it’s not raining

 

[Trisseh]

These 2 are so cute... lol my hedemora has slightly feathered legs!

both d’uccles are porcelain.

The first one is doing well, the second is a little sluggish but seems ok. I also set my quail eggs tonight. 2 dozen shipped (with a freebie extra again) 2 cracked, otherwise look good. This will definitely be a new experience. lol.

 

[BuckeyeFoodie]

First blackout-baby has hatched! A cute splash silkie. Two more are externally pipped, but I'm not anticipating much more until tomorrow night.

I'm just hoping the few eggs that are at day 16 will be OK with the raised humidity....

 

[jolenesdad]

My summer 2020 basket is better than my 2019 basket and I still have two BCMs from the darkest eggs I’ve had to come on line soon! Yay!!!!