Laree's "I CAN'T STOP MYSELF FROM HATCHING!!!" Hatch-a-long

[dsqard]

Laree, that cake just made me laugh!

Awesome job! I made a "truck" cake once for my DS for his birthday. Had to fix it the next day as the dog was able to get at it and eat part of it. I was ready to kill her for that!

ETA - I think the cake is a hatchery quality Leghorn roo!

 

[pete55]

Quote:
No that would be youngjedi... Pete was simply trying to help

Yep, that's me, the Nervous Novice! Thanks, Pete, that's a crazy amount of info! I will definitely read every last word! My son really wants a couple chickens of his own! We've tried twice to hatch, with no results! We really want to get to the pip and zip stage this time! My son is Luke Sky Walker (yes, it really is! explains the youndjedi, eh?) and he said he will "use the force" this time around and I should stop being so nervous! Words of wisdom from a 9 year old. I would expect nothing less from the young Jedi!!!

Great pic of the turkeys!

YoungJedi - I hope you find the hatching guide useful, although written for hatching geese the theories remain the same for almost all breeds and species. If you click below my Avatar on View My BYC Page you'll find links to other incubation threads which you may find interesting

Pete

 

[youngjedi32002]

Quote:
Yep, that's me, the Nervous Novice! Thanks, Pete, that's a crazy amount of info! I will definitely read every last word! My son really wants a couple chickens of his own! We've tried twice to hatch, with no results! We really want to get to the pip and zip stage this time! My son is Luke Sky Walker (yes, it really is! explains the youndjedi, eh?) and he said he will "use the force" this time around and I should stop being so nervous! Words of wisdom from a 9 year old. I would expect nothing less from the young Jedi!!!

Great pic of the turkeys!

YoungJedi - I hope you find the hatching guide useful, although written for hatching geese the theories remain the same for almost all breeds and species. If you click below my Avatar on View My BYC Page you'll find links to other incubation threads which you may find interesting

Pete

Thanks, Pete! I will check it out! Well, here we go! I am diving in:

Gulp! Any advice on what I can rest them on, instead of the wire, to keep them from rolling around? I know they aren't exactly on satin sheets under a hen but there has to be something I can do to lessen the rolling around when I am turning them! Can I put a teeny bit of hay in there or would that be a major fire hazard? Keep fingers crossed for me! Temp and humidity seem to be okay and I'm just hoping for the best!!!

 

[youngjedi32002]

By the way, that cake is FANTASTIC! My son would love that! Ever read the kids book "Tillie Lays An Egg" by Terry Golson? You should check it out! That chicken cake looked just like Tillie!

Terry also has a Hen Cam!!! http://hencam.com/

 

[pete55]

Hi

Definitely would'nt put anything organic like hay in there - the incubation process could cause a rise in bacterial and/or fungalin spores. Stick with wire and if its 'dipping' then cut a piece thats of a stronger guage.

Pete

 

[sk acres]

I,m in I got eggs shiped from pasofinofarm. I set them 5/11. This is to much fun. I have W/BW Ameraucanas.

 

[youngjedi32002]

Quote:
Gotcha. Good point! I know some folks have talked about setting them on egg carton rings going into lockdown. I may put them on heavier gauge for the first 18 but worry about wire when they are hatching and their little feet falling through the wire and them getting hurt! I am using 1/4" hardware cloth in my incubator.

Sk acres, I set today, you set yesterday, we will have to keep in touch! Mine are Araucanas I ordered from Birdbrain5 here on BYC!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I am very lucky to have the dog(s) I have. We do have 2 who are known killers but they are tied up. Unless the birds are dumb enough to wander in range or the dogs get loose, the birds are safe. However, I have a rat terrier who runs loose when I'm outside (house dog). She is the BEST dog I've ever had! I think she enjoys the birds just as much as I do. Whenever one of them cries out like it's scared or hurt she runs off to see what the problem is. Just the other day 2 of my ganders were fighting in the yard and she tried to break it up. Yesterday a 6 week old chick (free range/hen-hatched) literally walked over her when she was lying on the ground. She's a good ratter/mouser and will run off anything bigger.
This is Rainbow, the best little LGD in the world

(young pic)

(with her pups this past winter)

Then dad has another dog who stays outside but is also loose all the time. She isn't quite so 'loving' with the birds but she's also a good protector. She won't run off to see what's up when one cries out but she will kill anything that comes within range if she can catch it (coons, possums, rats, fox). This is Princess, the second best LGD in the world

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
YoungJedi - I hope you find the hatching guide useful, although written for hatching geese the theories remain the same for almost all breeds and species. If you click below my Avatar on View My BYC Page you'll find links to other incubation threads which you may find interesting

Pete

Thanks, Pete! I will check it out! Well, here we go! I am diving in:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/89954_img_1138.jpg

Gulp! Any advice on what I can rest them on, instead of the wire, to keep them from rolling around? I know they aren't exactly on satin sheets under a hen but there has to be something I can do to lessen the rolling around when I am turning them! Can I put a teeny bit of hay in there or would that be a major fire hazard? Keep fingers crossed for me! Temp and humidity seem to be okay and I'm just hoping for the best!!!

You can put them in the bottom of an egg carton and just tilt it from side to side to 'turn' the eggs.

 

[thebirdguy]

Quote:
I use rubbermaid shelf liner on top of the wire in my trays. I cut it to fit and you can either wash it out to reuse or toss it.. I also use it in my brooders for the first week. I get mine at the dollar store..