Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[happyhensny]

Renee, I think the fresh diet is so key to general overall health...but I too am not an heiress so it's not going to happen here! They do get all the scraps from making salads or peeling veggies etc from our meals.

That is what mine get too. If I can get produce scraps from the grocery store that is extra nutrition for them. Usually it is what they cut off the ends of leaf lettuce, soft apples and tomatoes, heads of greens that aren't attractive enough for people to buy. My birds LOVE it.

 

[gryeyes]

Don't mind me, just marking my place....

 

[CayuseRanch]

Funny you say that because when I read about people cautioning not to over candle/open etc I think, the hen gets off the nest, sometimes for 15 - 20 minutes or more!

Hint ## This is a controversial hint, as many of my opinions may be:

I believe it is beneficial to open the incubator for a few minutes daily. I like to mimic the natural conditions of a hen's care, and she gets up to walk around, eat, drink, poo, etc., for about a half-hour daily- sometimes twice.

This gives me time to turn (if need be), smell, and candle my eggs if I like. I just open it for a few minutes if I'm not intending to handle them. I do this most days until 'confinement.' Some will be aghast and argue this is insane behavior...but I'm just sharing what works for me.

 

[kathyinmo]

Funny you say that because when I read about people cautioning not to over candle/open etc I think, the hen gets off the nest, sometimes for 15 - 20 minutes or more!



Quote:
That is true. However, the problem is with the specific incubator that some use. Many do not cycle up and down well and keep a steady temp in the first place.

Nope, I won't be doing this. I have good hatch rates. I don't candle until lockdown, and I don't mess around with my incubators.

Just my experience............ why fix it if it's not broken.

 

[Noncentzter]

My last two hatches were my best ever and I use ChookChick's dry hatch method and I don't candle until lockdown.

 

[thechickonthehill]

Hint ## This is a controversial hint, as many of my opinions may be:

I believe it is beneficial to open the incubator for a few minutes daily. I like to mimic the natural conditions of a hen's care, and she gets up to walk around, eat, drink, poo, etc., for about a half-hour daily- sometimes twice.

This gives me time to turn (if need be), smell, and candle my eggs if I like. I just open it for a few minutes if I'm not intending to handle them. I do this most days until 'confinement.' Some will be aghast and argue this is insane behavior...but I'm just sharing what works for me.

I have wondered about this myself. I know I have had broodys leave their eggs for up to an hour at a time will no ill effects (100% hatch). I turn my eggs by hand as I work from home so am fortunate in that I can check on the incubator regularly. I candle at 10 days and at 18 days.

 

[gamamachik]

I also will open my incubator...mimicing the hen...I do think it helps....

 

[RareBreedFancier]

How many chickens in every pot?

Great pic! I don't think anyone said it, and I know I'm late but...

Chicken Pot Pie?

Ok, ok, I'll go back to catching up now...

 

[kathyinmo]

Did you notice that we had the THREE top spots yesterday, in site stats, for "top rated posts?"

Keep using those thumbs ups!

 

[ChooksChick]

Great pic! I don't think anyone said it, and I know I'm late but...

Chicken Pot Pie?

Ok, ok, I'll go back to catching up now...

I was thinking, "egg-plant."