Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[duluthralphie]

Me too.

I've got 16 two to four day olds under a 12 x 24 right now and there's plenty of room.....the back is open for egress.

I have found the back being open makes me sleep easier. I move mine out from the edge of my pens so they can get out on two or three sides depending on which pen they are in. I do not get the distress screams I use to get now and then when the back was closed.

 

[aart]

So whatcha all think......about hatching percentage?
Not that it really matters, but it is often cited and distressed over or bragged about.
I've always wondered if folks use the same criteria when coming up with 'the percentage'.

Possibilities and my numbers for this just completed hatch:

Eggs set : live chicks? 45%
Eggs in lockdown : live chicks? 52%
Fully developed eggs(at eggtopsy) : live chicks? 66%

Just did eggtopsies and out of 8 remaining eggs. 4 were early to mid development quitters,
and they would not have been put into lockdown if I had been able to see into the dark eggs.

Just me, thinking in maybe too much detail about things that might not matter. haha!


..and to contribute to topic...that one chick that stands on top of MHP hollerin' when every one else is underneath chillin' (warmin'?)

 

[lalaland]

You will have lots of room for the first week or so, probably longer as they will just start sitting on top of the pads or in front of it.

BTW Ole's (RIP) is a grandpa many times over!

I've been hearing about how many you are hatching, good to know some of Ole's descendents are in that group. WIll llet you know how the chicks from your rooster turn out - but probaby won't let anyone brood for a couple weeks yet.

 

[lazy gardener]

So whatcha all think......about hatching percentage?
Not that it really matters, but it is often cited and distressed over or bragged about.
I've always wondered if folks use the same criteria when coming up with 'the percentage'.

Possibilities and my numbers for this just completed hatch:

Eggs set : live chicks? 45%
Eggs in lockdown : live chicks? 52%
Fully developed eggs(at eggtopsy) : live chicks? 66%

Just did eggtopsies and out of 8 remaining eggs. 4 were early to mid development quitters,
and they would not have been put into lockdown if I had been able to see into the dark eggs.

Just me, thinking in maybe too much detail about things that might not matter. haha!


..and to contribute to topic...that one chick that stands on top of MHP hollerin' when every one else is underneath chillin' (warmin'?)

When I do my hatching stats, I do 2 sets:

1. Eggs set/eggs hatched. IMO, this number is not as important as the second number. Because the eggs culled as clears, or early quitters are NOT a result of faulty incubation... unless... of course, they ARE a result of faulty incubation. (That makes no sense, but I'm guessing you know what I mean!)

2. Eggs to lock down/eggs hatched. IMO, this is the most important number. It reflects the eggs that were viable from the start. So, I do my stat separately on this group. eggs to lock down/eggs hatched. I might do a sub set stat on this group to take into account assisted hatches, or eggs fully developed but failed to pip or hatch.

Dark eggs that can't be candled skew your results. But you could do eggtopsy after hatch, and make an assumed assignment to stat group 1 or 2 based on IF they would have made it to lock down based on age at death.

The one chick who stands on MHP yelling? In my opinion, he's just not the brightest crayon in the box, and needs a bit of remedial education and lovin. That's one more reason why I like to leave MHP open at the back, to give the slow learner one more option for joining the flock.

 

[junebuggena]

I have to say, while I think the experiment is interesting, I am a real doubting Thomas on this.

Same here, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try. My first sexlink hatch of the year, I got 3 girls and one boy.

 

[duluthralphie]

I've been hearing about how many you are hatching, good to know some of Ole's descendents are in that group. WIll llet you know how the chicks from your rooster turn out - but probaby won't let anyone brood for a couple weeks yet.

Oh I am sorry, I forgot I gave you the Creamer!.... I was thinking it was you I gave Ole too, Duh,,senior moment and frozen brain fart this Morning..



Aart the one on top screaming just wants to be held.

I actually gave up on hatch rates because if I am honest it is around 30%. The ones I set that are clear, the stoppers and those that just fail to hatch. If you just count what goes into the hatcher I do way better. Some roosters just seem to do a better job of fertilizing eggs than others do. Their eggs are the ones I seem to want more of so they go into the incubator in higher numbers and that skews the results.

BUT if I go by the chicks I put under the MHP I get 100% rate everyone I put under it is alive!

 

[beautifulpirate]

Aart- I had one for the first couple weeks that would be on top of the MHP, or beside it, chirping up a storm while everyone else was snug as a bug. Definitely attribute it to the "not the brightest crayon" argument in my case haha. Additionally, I believe that particular chick may be a rooster. Only time can tell though. I've read every possible theory on sexing chicks this early (they're about three weeks now) and nothing seems to be definitive enough to tell haha.

 

[bruceha2000]

Additionally, I believe that particular chick may be a rooster. Only time can tell though. I've read every possible theory on sexing chicks this early (they're about three weeks now) and nothing seems to be definitive enough to tell haha.

As one would expect. 3 weeks is too young for pretty much anything other than a sexlink.

 

[beautifulpirate]

As one would expect. 3 weeks is too young for pretty much anything other than a sexlink.

Oh I know. But it doesn't stop me from wondering and guessing anyway.

 

[aart]

Thinking the one on top is the rebel, the most hardy....saying... c'mon you lazy lunks, let's party!!
It's one of the mill chicks, all pullets, right? haha!