Lockdown in 2 days

[scflock]

What is the humidity you guys do the first 18 days?

I ran 40-42% on my first run, hatched 17 of 19, but the pips looked close to the end of the egg. Trying 35 this time. Hatch will be Feb.6-7. I will post the results

Nature's way of culling the weak. I like the way you put that. I received my order from McMurray yesterday and out of 76, I've lost a dozen already. If I think about it too much, I just want to cry. I've never lost this many and I've ordered from them quite a few times. I think I like incubating better.

I hate to hear that. I've only had one order of 22 chicks from McMurray. All lived, even the extra. Those were my Polish and cuckoo marans.

Since this has kind of turned into the chat thread, I wanted to tell you guys about my find yesterday. I've been looking for some BCMs so I could get those chocolate eggs to mix with my EEs. I found some 2 hrs away. I drove down yesterday to pick up 8 straight run chicks. The man let me peek in his nests while I was there. They were so dark and shiny that I checked my fingers to see if they were stained after picking one up. I can't wait until these girls start laying! They are in the Wade Jean line

 

[Gingersnap722]

I ran 40-42% on my first run, hatched 17 of 19, but the pips looked close to the end of the egg. Trying 35 this time. Hatch will be Feb.6-7. I will post the results

I hate to hear that. I've only had one order of 22 chicks from McMurray. All lived, even the extra. Those were my Polish and cuckoo marans.

Since this has kind of turned into the chat thread, I wanted to tell you guys about my find yesterday. I've been looking for some BCMs so I could get those chocolate eggs to mix with my EEs. I found some 2 hrs away. I drove down yesterday to pick up 8 straight run chicks. The man let me peek in his nests while I was there. They were so dark and shiny that I checked my fingers to see if they were stained after picking one up. I can't wait until these girls start laying! They are in the Wade Jean line

Yeah, I was so disappointed. It's heartbreaking. So far I've lost 15, but they did refund me for them. I've had minor losses from them before, but nothing like this. I'm thinking it was probably because of the weather, just too cold for these little ones.

I'm starting to do research on breeding. There's so much to learn!

 

[Mike10]

I ran 40-42% on my first run, hatched 17 of 19, but the pips looked close to the end of the egg. Trying 35 this time. Hatch will be Feb.6-7. I will post the results

I hate to hear that. I've only had one order of 22 chicks from McMurray. All lived, even the extra. Those were my Polish and cuckoo marans.

Since this has kind of turned into the chat thread, I wanted to tell you guys about my find yesterday. I've been looking for some BCMs so I could get those chocolate eggs to mix with my EEs. I found some 2 hrs away. I drove down yesterday to pick up 8 straight run chicks. The man let me peek in his nests while I was there. They were so dark and shiny that I checked my fingers to see if they were stained after picking one up. I can't wait until these girls start laying! They are in the Wade Jean line

I will be trying 35 for humidity. I have birchen marans that give me a 6 from the chart. No really dark but it's a nice color. I had a EE but passed away about a month ago. I really wanted to see colored eggs. I have one baby chick who chirps alot this morning there was one standing over the baby. It was just laying there it struggled a bit to get back up. I feel I might lose the chick, I hope not. They are a week and a half

 

[scflock]

I will be trying 35 for humidity. I have birchen marans that give me a 6 from the chart. No really dark but it's a nice color. I had a EE but passed away about a month ago. I really wanted to see colored eggs. I have one baby chick who chirps alot this morning there was one standing over the baby. It was just laying there it struggled a bit to get back up. I feel I might lose the chick, I hope not. They are a week and a half

Hopefully it will hang in there, but keep your eye on it. Did it have trouble hatching? I usually lose the ones that had a tough time. I have cuckoo marans, and the eggs are a nice brown, but only about a 3 on the maran scale. These black coppers are laying 6-7. I just give extra eggs to my friends, and love seeing the dark brown mixed with the EE eggs in the cartons. I go into lockdown next Tuesday, so I will have results on my 35% after next weekend

 

[Purpletie3]

Hopefully it will hang in there, but keep your eye on it. Did it have trouble hatching? I usually lose the ones that had a tough time. I have cuckoo marans, and the eggs are a nice brown, but only about a 3 on the maran scale. These black coppers are laying 6-7. I just give extra eggs to my friends, and love seeing the dark brown mixed with the EE eggs in the cartons. I go into lockdown next Tuesday, so I will have results on my 35% after next weekend

You know that's what is it really all about...finding the humidity that works well for your specific location, equipment, environmental factors and maybe even breed you are hatching. My last round did so well that I am going to keep my humidity at 50% 1-18 and 65% @ lockdown. The silkies really responded well to that. Also, determining if it is something with my incubation procedures or just the fact of dealing with shipped eggs that are the issue...

So, i have gone from a zero hatch rate to 78%.

 

[Acornewell]

Quote: How exciting. I have been looking all over for a Black Cochin Rooster! I even have two other people looking for me. I want to hatch some of those!

I have another sick hen inside. I am just not having the best luck with my birds lately. I have a Rooster inside, his comb is healing from frostbite. He is a silver phoenix mix...apparently he is prone to frostbite. Both he and I are ready for him to go back out to the barn.

Now I have another hen who is not acting herself. Her belly felt a little swollen and I brought her in, gave her a warm soak in the sink. No egg? I really hope this is not the same thing the last one had she passed a few weeks ago. This hen is eating, not as much feed, but is drinking normal too. What am I doing wrong. I feel like the worst chicken lady in the world. Her feathers look rough, she is almost bald on her head near her comb. She is just standing falling asleep. Not her normal chatty self. Oh and her poo is almost all white,like a white paste, or ricotta cheese? I am just terrified that I am going to start losing one bird after another.

I just took out the incubator and cleaned it last night...But now I am starting to second guess myself about raising chickens. If I lose another one I think my husband will have to have me committed!

 

[scflock]

You know that's what is it really all about...finding the humidity that works well for your specific location, equipment, environmental factors and maybe even breed you are hatching. My last round did so well that I am going to keep my humidity at 50% 1-18 and 65% @ lockdown. The silkies really responded well to that. Also, determining if it is something with my incubation procedures or just the fact of dealing with shipped eggs that are the issue...

So, i have gone from a zero hatch rate to 78%.

I drowned every egg that I incubated at 50% in a styrobator, but I think some of the problems were temperature control, too. That's why I went to the Brinsea. I'm keeping meticulous notes on parameters, breeds, outside weather,hatch rates, total time of hatch, etc..., so that I will have a reference for years to come. There are so many variables that come in to play that I don't think there is one correct humidity for everyone. That's why I enjoy reading on here all the different setups that people use
So glad to hear that your last hatch was so successful

How exciting. I have been looking all over for a Black Cochin Rooster! I even have two other people looking for me. I want to hatch some of those!

I have another sick hen inside. I am just not having the best luck with my birds lately. I have a Rooster inside, his comb is healing from frostbite. He is a silver phoenix mix...apparently he is prone to frostbite. Both he and I are ready for him to go back out to the barn.

Now I have another hen who is not acting herself. Her belly felt a little swollen and I brought her in, gave her a warm soak in the sink. No egg? I really hope this is not the same thing the last one had she passed a few weeks ago. This hen is eating, not as much feed, but is drinking normal too. What am I doing wrong. I feel like the worst chicken lady in the world. Her feathers look rough, she is almost bald on her head near her comb. She is just standing falling asleep. Not her normal chatty self. Oh and her poo is almost all white,like a white paste, or ricotta cheese? I am just terrified that I am going to start losing one bird after another.

I just took out the incubator and cleaned it last night...But now I am starting to second guess myself about raising chickens. If I lose another one I think my husband will have to have me committed!

Swollen belly sounds like maybe an egg isn't passing. I lost one that way. Bald on her head? Watch and see if the other hens are picking on her. Was she added to the flock later? Hens can be very aggressive to a new addition. I lost an EE that way, they literally pecked her to death, and mainly on the head. I try not to add to my flocks any more.
Don't give up. My first two years were painful. I've learned from my mistakes, and have also learned that sometimes culling is the most humane thing to do, and beneficial for the rest of the flock. I haven't had any unusual losses in 2 years

 

[Acornewell]

She is actually one of my older girls. An ISA Brown. She is among the top hens club. She I would say has become one of the top birds. I dont know if her molt just stopped? Her feathers look rough.

I know that I cant cull yet. I'm not even sure my husband can now that he is in love with his 6 pack of birds. I really need him to be my tough husband!!! I know he would be if they needed to be culled immediately! I think I may try to drain her and see what happens?

 

[Mike10]

So the baby was finally giving up. It was laying there barely taking a breathe I had to take it out of misery. Literally never thought I would, a had a tear in my eye I won't lie. Hopefully the 3 can keep going. There is still 1 that is smaller than the other 2. Who are just great and one tries to fly out lol cutest thing ever. Because of the healthy ones makes me want more of them. I have my incubator plugged, just trying to get humidity right.

 

[Purpletie3]

So the baby was finally giving up. It was laying there barely taking a breathe I had to take it out of misery. Literally never thought I would, a had a tear in my eye I won't lie. Hopefully the 3 can keep going. There is still 1 that is smaller than the other 2. Who are just great and one tries to fly out lol cutest thing ever. Because of the healthy ones makes me want more of them. I have my incubator plugged, just trying to get humidity right.

My boyfriend is a softy too when I have him to the dirty work I don't want to do! It's okay to have a heart. Hope the next hatch works out okay for you.