Sorry to hear about everyone's chick losses. It's always painful, but that's a part of it. I just look at it as nature's way of culling the weak birds. I only had one die out of my last hatch, and that was the one that I had to help hatch. The other 12 marans and 4 polish are looking very active and healthy. The marans from my own flock look better than any I have ever purchased. I have another batch of the same mix due on Feb.6-7. Only 4 polish set, though. Hopefully they will start laying more when the days get longer. 0 eggs out of 6 hens last week... I haven't candled this set yet because I ordered a real candler, and am waiting until it arrives to try it out. Here is an updated shot of the last hatch. I have recovered the floor in the brooder with linoleum and added 2 inches of shavings since that picture was taken
Great pic! Glad your hatch went well! I am really starting to think you are onto something about the nature comment. I however, had my own struggle with my learning curve on icubation. I blamed myself if they came out all goofy or couldn't get out of their shells.
Out of my four assisted chicks...the first one passed at 9 days, the second one passed at 3 days, the third one is alive and well, the fourth one had to be culled because it was terribly deformed and smelled dead.
It's all such a learning curve here....
