"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Cody A]

Mine would still be alive if the dog hadn't killed her. ..just took the opportunity to practice for the future. When I have had to wring a neck I just make it as fast as I can and be as calm as I can so it's not too horrible for them. I don't enjoy doing it, so I try to make it as peaceful for them as I can.

So the dog did the hard part for you? How convenient.

 

[Cody A]

I have been taking heads for awhile now and I still feel bad when I know I have to do some. They go on the schedule with a sad face. I have had to send my kids away while I do the deed for the last 6 months. That's because everything we have killed has been named "pet" chickens. I just can't do it with a kid standing there. They think I'm goofy. After they are bled out I'm good though, and the kids help clean birds. Well, one kid more than the other, lol.

It's good you have a kid/s that's interested and will help.

 

[topdog24]

Well everybody,my early hatch is going fairly well, out of 13 i have lost one due to sufocation, i didn't catch it in time to save it, when i got up yesterday the humidity had dropped to 40% from 65/70 the night before, i raced and added water and got the humidty back up, then at noon the critters started hatching 2 days early, i now have 12 live chicks, although i have 1 that is still a ? mark, it pulled the yolk sack out when it kicked out, i cleaned it up and put it in a folded paper towel in a tea cup, it seemed fine, then when i got up at 4 am to check on them, i found it had gotten out of the cup, the first 2 chicks that hatched had pulled some of its intestines out, i though that was the end, but decided i woul try to save the little feller, i took some sterile tweezers and carefully inserted them back inside, it imediately crapped in my hand, that was over 12 hours ago and he is still kicking, he took water, but hasn't eaten, i am afraid he may starve as the yolk sack was rupured. going to see if i can give him some honey water till it gets an appitite. this was 1 of the 2 CL eggs i had hatching, so far the other one hasn't pippied, the 3 WL X barred rock eggs gave 2 roos, yellow all the way and one barred pullet black with white breast and a white dot on its head, i RSL was successful, black with white spot on head, from the BR cross, i assume it is a pullet asthe dot is small and well defined, i have a few FBCM X EEs, they have down on their legs, and some EE over EE chicks as well.

BR roo over WL

FBCM over EE

BR roo over WL

CCL over CL this is the little fellow that is in trouble, as you can see, he /it is resilient other than getting tired real fast, i think he retianed a small amout of yolk, I think i have 22 eggs left to hatch tomorrow on time, I got 4 hours sleep last night and wished i had been awake all night, i think this chick would be better off, and the one i lost would have made it, this is the cherry hatch thogh so i see it as a success even if no more hatch, I know a lot more than before and that was my goal, before i set a hatch that will mean make or break.

 

[Cody A]

WOW! TD you've got your hands full. Will be interesting to see if the chick with the torn yolk sac makes it.

What caused the humidity to drop like it did?

Congratulations on your hatch so far.

 

[campingshaws]

Well, I've had my first panic. Against advice I added the third thermometer. So I've got two reading the same (acurite from Walmart) and the third (little giant) is 4 degrees warmer. On my last check the little giant was up to 104!! I guess the difference is being closer to the heat source? I added the acurite to the top of the eggs, where the little giant is. I'm just not sure which to trust.

 

[Cody A]

Ok, bator update: added the thermometer/hygrometer last night, and one in the laundry room. My two thermometers are reading diff temps: the one that came with the bator read 100~, and the new one was 98. So I bumped it up slightly and now the new one is reading 100, but the original is around 102. Should I bump it back down and trust the original? Add a third and take an average? The humidity inside the bator is steady around 30%, dry. The humidity in the house is 60%. I reread that article and took out the second red vent plug, so we'll see how that affects the humidity. I feel bad bothering the lady on a Sunday (and there are a ton if extra vehicles, so extra family?) so I may wait til tomorrow for eggs. Then again, it would be fun to hatch over the weekend when the kids are home. So maybe I'll wait til Friday.

 

[campingshaws]

It's a small foam bator, so don't think it takes that long to catch up. Someone (can't remember) said it takes two hours for the temps to stabilize after being bothered. Temp was down around 90 after I loaded the eggs, so it came up from there. Thanks for being a good reminder, though. It feels like DAYS ago that I asked about using the third thermometer. When the kid is out of school, I lose track of everything.

At least the turner is working.

 

[Cody A]

I wonder if there might be a problem with the thermostat.

 

[campingshaws]

I wonder if there might be a problem with the thermostat.

It held steady for almost a week. I think it's user error.

Meaning I think one of the times I bumped down I actually bumped it up.

It's at 102 and 100 now, and the thermometer on the side wall is at 96. So I think I'm in the right direction. I'll check again in a few hours, and sit on my hands til then.

 

[Ron Skekel]

Well, I've had my first panic. Against advice I added the third thermometer. So I've got two reading the same (acurite from Walmart) and the third (little giant) is 4 degrees warmer. On my last check the little giant was up to 104!! I guess the difference is being closer to the heat source? I added the acurite to the top of the eggs, where the little giant is. I'm just not sure which to trust.

No kidding. I'll try my best anyway. calm down take a step back. Use your God giving intuition. Leave one thermometer in trust that you just bought your incubator and it's more than likely working correctly. What's the worse that could happen? They don't hatch then you make adjustments and try again. If you remember my first hatch got unplugged I don't know for how long I thought they would all be dead but two hatched to my suprize. Their is a learning curve to hatching. As you get more experience you will get better. Stay calm relax before you flip you lid and lose your eggs. :yiipchick watch you hatch them all. lol. Pam