March 2017! Hatch with us!

[lilwildrabbit]

For those having tough hatches, I was helping troubleshoot with a local friend that lost several chicks after lockdown. We came up with a few possible (probable) issues, so I thought I'd share.

When everything else seems right, look at the simple stuff.

-Sterilize your incubators between hatches.
-Use rubber shelf liner on the bottom, not towels, paper towels, etc.
-Leave vents open!

Thanks for the insight I did not started a staggered hatch not again! I have a plastic type of panel instead of paper towels nonslick surface mine don't have vents but to ensure low humidity levels the first 18 days I have the top skewered so it can keep a low 30s humidity so it same as a vent huge area and several small air holes so low air supply no issue! Just the staggered hatch not again this is a no touch hatch except at candling time I'm running from day one 37.5 temp 30-35% humidity till day 18 temp same but between 60-70% humidity through hatch turned every two hours till lockdown eggs over 24 hrs upright! Candled at day 0-7-10-18 marking air sack each time

 

[yeye5]

I'd give her the silkie eggs, a good first run for her?

I also don't think chickens keep count, but I probably am wrong

@Mylied In my experience and also feedback I've gotten here, silkies are really bad at counting and math skills so you could sneak extras in. I'm not sure about the 1 week vs 3 weeks to sit. On the one hand, great first run. On the other hand, I'd be concerned to teach/pattern her to only have to sit for a week, feeling that might give her a wrong impression for her next go round.

 

[yeye5]

RULES??

My rule is: MY eggs = MY decision.

Sometimes you have to trust your gut.

I love it.
I have a variation on that theme due to a friend that is often trying to tell me/force the issue on how I should do with my dogs what he does with his. I say, my house, my dogs, my rules.

 

[yeye5]

That's true I never had a male Dutch hen so I can't tell and I don't remember what the partridge Cochin looked like so I'll have to wait there but my sexlinks are that way my buffs are not

I've become fascinated with sex links while on this thread! I bel;ieve I'm going to add a few this season!

 

[yeye5]

I heard a peeper and saw an empty egg under my broody this morning! The egg was still moist, so I didn't bother her too much to see the chick. still a bit chilly outside. But I could hear at least one!!

And I moved all 23 Call duck eggs to the hatcher this morning. Some have already drawn down. 100% fertility, and 100% to the hatcher. I'm not expecting 100% hatch rate (Calls are difficult!) but I can dream.

GREAT!

 

[yeye5]

Sweet!! Good luck! I had this time a total loss but no problem I have 48+ eggs in the wings ready to set tomorrow but I'm waiting till Friday I'm sure each one is viable and just in case I have extra for replacement when I candle them before putting them in to cook lol hope my little
Soufflés will be good ! I'm stoked and with all your help I think I'll have a great hatch since I posted this a few minutes ago I have a new hatch starting they are mixed breed but looks like moma has everything in hand we have kittens!!

What? You have real kittens? (or is that a joke?) Pictures! I adore kittens. *(I seem to adore every criiter!)

 

[yeye5]

What are your ducks?

all flipping ducks are adorable! Love ducks!

Me too, I love ducks! Unfortunately where I live any standing water/pond equals mosquito over population! So I have no pond to offer to ducks. Boouck hatchlings, raiised them and loved them and they were awesome tame adults. When season came to "migrate"(?) they all took off. Curly, Mo and Larry.
Are there any breeds of duck that Do stay where they're raised and if so, what kinds of water solutions are suggested (bearing in mind the standing water mosquito dynamic)?

Congrats on all of the duck hatches going on!

 

[yeye5]

Drat! Lost my last turkey poult.

Oh that's terrible. I'm so sorry it happened! Do you know what caused the losses?

 

[yeye5]

I do! I do!

I used to do a more detailed one for each hatch similar to yours. Now I just keep one, so I can easily look back to see who hatched when, how many, what breeds, etc.

I also make a list on paper of the pip order, time/date, and what order they hatch. Color noted if applicable, etc.

= 3

= 2
Rather have 5 and 0, but I guess it could be worse. When are you setting the new biele eggs? I guess that are for the Easter HAL?

@Cerise1924 and WVDuckchick, I have never done a spread sheet for hatches and I Love the idea. I can't read/see the categories you list in the photos (my eye balls are nearing 54 years of use and even using the "cheater glasses" I'm not getting it). Might you list the categories? I accidentally found where to go to make a spread sheet on my laptop yesterday while looking for something else. So it's great timing to give it a a try! Thanks!

 

[Mylied]

@Mylied
 In my experience and also feedback I've gotten here, silkies are really bad at counting and math skills so you could sneak extras in. I'm not sure about the 1 week vs 3 weeks to sit. On the one hand, great first run. On the other hand, I'd be concerned to teach/pattern her to only have to sit for a week, feeling that might give her a wrong impression for her next go round.

She got up that day, but now it looks like she's really serious. Last night I had to go out to get some vent swabs for a school project and she was in full broody mode. So I just gave her some new eggs. She was only sitting on two eggs to start with. I gave her six more.