Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

Four so far, all yellow with varying degrees of black. At least one has the Egyptian eye liner, whatever its called officially. Yes, my barn really is that dusty, sorry. Six more eggs in there, the four hatched have been moved to the brooder box to finish drying out. More photos at lunch, if I have time.

 

[Sally PB]

Yes, my barn really is that dusty, sorry.

Chickens = dust.
Dust LOVES plastic.
So it goes.

 

[3KillerBs]

Dust LOVES plastic.

Worked in a boutique gift shop one Christmas season. We had to dust the entire shop at least twice a day.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Its five birds now, external pips on four others. All yellow with some measure of black/brown so far. Weather tonight is challenging - frost warning, incubator is in an unheated barn. I suspect the incubator will drop to 90, nothing I can do but hope and pray.

I don't put much faith in hopes and prayers. Last night hit 40, and I woke to four birds in good health. I expect things will be fine.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Its five birds now, external pips on four others. All yellow with some measure of black/brown so far. Weather tonight is challenging - frost warning, incubator is in an unheated barn. I suspect the incubator will drop to 90, nothing I can do but hope and pray.

I don't put much faith in hopes and prayers. Last night hit 40, and I woke to four birds in good health. I expect things will be fine.

Can you wrap it in a towel? I do that if we have an outage

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Can you wrap it in a towel? I do that if we have an outage

It's wrapped in tanned rabbit hides from last bunny cull. Waste not, want not (as much).

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Two more - one still in the incubator. Its 37 outside, incubator is holding nicely at 99.5. I did NOT expect that. Though the humidity dropped to high 50s in spite of the water inside. Didn't even think about that, but it will come up as the temp does, and the birds are hatching fine, so I'm not freezing my fingers to add water right now

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Two more - one still in the incubator. Its 37 outside, incubator is holding nicely at 99.5. I did NOT expect that. Though the humidity dropped to high 50s in spite of the water inside. Didn't even think about that, but it will come up as the temp does, and the birds are hatching fine, so I'm not freezing my fingers to add water right now

Sounds great!

 

[Sally PB]

Excellent news!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Lost one during hatch. Went out for lunch, two shell halves, side by side, chick laying between them, dead. Didn't bleed out, no idea as to cause, though the belly did seem quite bloated. Temp was 99.5, humidity 61%. Another had quit after the 10 day candling - and not much after, by the looks. That leaves one more pipped and one doing nothing so far.

Terrible hatch rate this time.