March 2017! Hatch with us!

[lilwildrabbit]

Thanks Jessimom.  I just had another look and then had to shake myself into acting like (if not feeling like) a grown up. I'm totally sorry for the public meltdown, everyone. I'm still very upset about it. But I have come nearly to where I was when the other chick in  this hatch died and the other other chick died in the shell trying to hatch. If I am going to become involved in hatching--and I already am involved and will continue to be I know--I am going to have to "man-up" and these experiences are going to happen, hopefully few and far between, yet this is the pokey part of the natural universe. It hurts and it is completely natural. I don't take well to not-knowing what happened, where that little peep went, why. If I'd have found it it would've been just as gone but I wouldn't be as confounded.
I'm concerned, but about conflicting things:
I'm concerned that it will get very cold tonight, that the one chick in there might be a butthead and take a walk and "whatever" can happen. I'm also concerned that Mima has never been inside the house. If Mima is in a nest inside then the chick will be --better be--under her. I have one out of my 3 dogs that would WANT to hunt her, another dog that would jump on the band wagon and the 3rd dog wouldn't desire to harm a fly...but the dogs are big, the chicken is small. And I live in a doublewide trailer. There are no illusions about it being a sealed environment.
So I don't know which of the dangers is more or less dangerous if that makes any sense.
Whichever environment I choose to go with, I am going to change out the box. At this stage the chicks usually can wander out thru the handle-holes (produce boxes). That's usually a good things as that's how they learn...But not right now. I'd rather an under-educated chick than a missing one.
Once I can make the nest into as close to a sealed environment as possible, then I hope the next step can come to me.

Weird about the cardboard! I was told, can't recall where, that I should only use cardboard not styro? By using cardboard moisture seeps out. That makes sense. The egg and embryo need as much moisture as possible? That also makes sense. I usually "store" eggs for one week, then they become food and there are the next week's eggs stored. Would it be a big difference for a 1 week period?

I realize now that when you said if I'm concerned I should move them...you might've been talking about the eggs/microwave and not the nest/mom-chick. But I suppose this can be true for both scenarios.
I'm also going to move either the microwave or the egg storage station.
My friends already know I'm nuts so they don't think much about going to get a plate or glass and finding eggs on a tilt in the cabinet. It's been a pretty funny thing for me to just watch their faces, see the looks of bewilderment. If someone asks, I do my best to explain why they're in the cabinet and not the fridge. I have had ppl tell me they wouldn't eat those eggs--my response is "you're not obligated to eat those eggs". I've had one friend make egg burritos with the food-eggs that she knew came from the cupboard.
So yup, step #1 is change the nest box. Step #2 is figure out what is least consequential, moving the nest indoors (which would freak Mima out to no end) or covering it well and trusting.
#3 deal with the dern microwave.
Once I realized the chick was in mystery-land for real I just happened to call the feed store--no connection there--and happened to ask them what chicks they had in or were getting...Thinking of a buddy or two for my little person who apparently is the toughest chick on the block.
Life will return to normal. I will have the peep I call Itsy, maybe another or 3. Mima will brood again bcs it is her nature and we'll be in that place in the cycle of a constantly moving equation.

Your just like everyone of us new to chickens people I rant and rave here too but I do think that the majority here do understand that's what's so good about it it might be old hat to them but they truly understand!!

 

[coloradowildflower]

I HAVE A SUPRISED visit from an egg!!
The eggs that I rescued from the cold this morning that I didn't think had a snowballs chance in hatching one just hatched I was sitting here after checking the eggs about 5 minutes before I herd a chirping and thought the ones in the living room are awful loud but looked up into the incubator and saw this little thing looking at me! I a astounded and amazed that one hatched them eggs were ice cold!!! It's doing great I'll make sure it stays in the heat for a while but I might just have one or two !!! That makes my day!!!!!!!

 

[yeye5]

Mystery solved.

I selected a box that is so snug that the Itsy chick has to get warmth from Mima. There are no holes nor escape routes. I set a blanket down the back inside the box, across the floor of it and back up and out. I replaced the grass/dirt bedding stuff. (I often pull up grasses from the roots which stay green longer and offer softer bedding). I used a brick to lift the water.
When I pulled out the nest box to replace it with the smaller version, I found the missing chick, already dead behind the box, in an impossibly small crevice. Not sure if it died and Mima "hid it" there or if it got out and couldn't find it's way back in. Regardless, the new improved box won't allow for this.
I covered the box with another flattened cardboard box overlapping both front and back so I could, and did, pinned it down with bricks safely. The closed environment will also hold in heat better. Last step=bring the blanket around and cover the whole thing from the outside.
I doubt this will be Mima;s favorite hotel room ever--I feel like she's being detained at the chicken-station-house, argh-- but she should be fine thru the night and will Hopefully still have her tough little hatcher Itsy.
Now I'll go to check hourly weather again.
On one hand i feel like I've been talking to myself but in all of your ears All Day Long. On the other hand, I feel an incredible comraderie with the ppl I have met on this thread. You are all very amazing!
I know these posts must be tedious to read.
The good news is I'm exhausted and under other circumstances I'd probably be staying up all night typing out hourly updates like the chicken-weather-lady. If I do, I am guessing that this too will be met with the warmth and compassion I've found here.
Nobody in my life, absolutely no one, ZERO humans, know I have been having this wonky hatch. I've chosen to keep it my secret. Ppl who don't love chickens find this kind of things pretty hard to take. I've been harshly judged for the expenses I put in when I am not in a financially sound place; I've been accused of chicken hoarding (I don't have that dern many chickens and folks don't get chicken math). 8 silkies in the silkie house; 2 polish, 2 silkie, 5 "whats this pullet"s in the Condo and 3 Upstairs. My "normal" friends (who are a very far cry from what is considered normal, they just have different craziness) would have an utter breakdown if they heard about 100 egg incubators and ppl who happily use them and do well in life.
Once many years ago I found myself attempting to bottle feed a silly amount of baby rabbits. It happened. I was there. I do not turn away creatures, human or mamal or avian or marsupial, when they need a hand.
One of my close friends (of course I was carrying around a gym-bag with too many baby rabbits, getting kicked out of the gym for it...sketchy craziness, yes. This close friend tried to have a "talk with me" (which translates into "I'm going to have you committed if you don't quit it") and at my house one evening, I handed her a baby rabbit and a bottle. She said "I don't know how to do this". I said "Of course you do. You do it with love".
Within 2-3 minutes her cheeks were rosy pink and she was making all of the appropriate baby anything noises of aw, ooh, wow. She turned to me and reluctantly said, "OK I get it, really".
But, again, I digress.
I'm looking forward to cuddling the doggies tonight once "farm" chores are done, to checking a zillion time on Mima and Itsy, to reading about all of the rest of your days, your successes I hope, and I will hold the hand of anyone who needs it.
You all have done more for me than is possible to describe or conceive. Thank you.

 

[yeye5]

Have been worried about any chance of sub longs for my little preashous one but I just counted 3 pips and one zip I'm crossing my fingers and toes and anything else I can, said a few prayers and pace the floor worse than I did my first hatch already went through a set of batteries, and stepped on a set of glasses. IM FREAKING OUT!!!!

Come on now...any more zips? Can yopu plz say more about the breed of your "dutchie". I'd thought that was her given name until you told me her name is Squirrel. I'd like to hear about the dutch breed part if you will.

 

[orrpeople]

Mystery solved.

I selected a box that is so snug that the Itsy chick has to get warmth from Mima. There are no holes nor escape routes. I set a blanket down the back inside the box, across the floor of it and back up and out. I replaced the grass/dirt bedding stuff. (I often pull up grasses from the roots which stay green longer and offer softer bedding). I used a brick to lift the water.
When I pulled out the nest box to replace it with the smaller version, I found the missing chick, already dead behind the box, in an impossibly small crevice. Not sure if it died and Mima "hid it" there or if it got out and couldn't find it's way back in. Regardless, the new improved box won't allow for this. 
I covered the box with another flattened cardboard box overlapping both front and back so I could, and did, pinned it down with bricks safely. The closed environment will also hold in heat better. Last step=bring the blanket around and cover the whole thing from the outside.
I doubt this will be Mima;s favorite hotel room ever--I feel like she's being detained at the chicken-station-house, argh-- but she should be fine thru the night and will Hopefully still have her tough little hatcher Itsy.
Now I'll go to check hourly weather again.
On one hand i feel like I've been talking to myself but in all of your ears All Day Long. On the other hand, I feel an incredible comraderie with the ppl I have met on this thread. You are all very amazing!
I know these posts must be tedious to read.
The good news is I'm exhausted and under other circumstances I'd probably be staying up all night typing out hourly updates like the chicken-weather-lady. If I do, I am guessing that this too will be met with the warmth and compassion I've found here.
Nobody in my life, absolutely no one, ZERO humans, know I have been having this wonky hatch. I've chosen to keep it my secret. Ppl who don't love chickens find this kind of things pretty hard to take. I've been harshly judged for the expenses I put in when I am not in a financially sound place; I've been accused of chicken hoarding (I don't have that dern many chickens and folks don't get chicken math). 8 silkies in the silkie house; 2 polish, 2 silkie, 5 "whats this pullet"s in the Condo and 3 Upstairs. My "normal" friends (who are a very far cry from what is considered normal, they just have different craziness) would have an utter breakdown if they heard about 100 egg incubators and ppl who happily use them and do well in life.
Once many years ago I found myself attempting to bottle feed a silly amount of baby rabbits. It happened. I was there. I do not turn away creatures, human or mamal or avian or marsupial, when they need a hand.
One of my close friends (of course I was carrying around a gym-bag with too many baby rabbits, getting kicked out of the gym for it...sketchy craziness, yes. This close friend tried to have a "talk with me" (which translates into "I'm going to have you committed if you don't quit it") and at my house one evening, I handed her a baby rabbit and a bottle. She said "I don't know how to do this". I said "Of course you do. You do it with love".
Within 2-3 minutes her cheeks were rosy pink and she was making all of the appropriate baby anything noises of aw, ooh, wow. She turned to me and reluctantly said, "OK I get it, really".
But, again, I digress.
I'm looking forward to cuddling the doggies tonight once "farm" chores are done, to checking a zillion time on Mima and Itsy, to reading about all of the rest of your days, your successes I hope, and I will hold the hand of anyone who needs it.
You all have done more for me than is possible to describe or conceive. Thank you.

I had a moment this last Christmas at a party that I'm pretty sure I freaked folks out with 'chicken conversation'. When I got home, I asked my husband to kick me or give me some secret sign that I was going beyond normal "How's life?" chat about my backyard buddies!!

 

[Mylied]

OK, bcs I have to distract myself and do something/anything in between my trips outside to check for the peep, I am going to make myself post the questions I've been writing out between last night and this morning (when I discovered the chick missing).
(I'm sure no one here has noticed that I use words to cover up emotions...)

* After 2 days of rain I collected several eggs from the condo most of which are filthy. Mud, yes, but I'm sure it's not just mud but a fair share of chicken poop as well. I have heard we shouldn't wash eggs that we want to set. These are those. How can I best clean them up without disturbing "the bloom" (I think it's called that is the film that coats an egg)?

*If a pullet seems to want to sit on eggs (fake or old eggs I use to encourage this and encourage a location I think is good), how long is it best to wait before switching the fake eggs out for the real ones I want her to brood? I've heard 24 hours? I know Mima's patterns so I know when she's ready to go. (I still always show her the real eggs and tell her "these are the important ones" bcs I can be a doofus at times).
I thought a few days ago that Mima's oldest daughter (Zuza who lives with her own chicken family in the Condo) was getting ready to do it. She must've just been having a time of it laying an egg. She is very tiny so she rocks the egg laying like she should but I think it takes quite the effort. In 2-3 hours the egg was there, the pullet was boogying around the ground floor saying "feed me something yummy! I just went thru all that effort, you know". They all got an awesome mix of fruit I'd bought on sale in a use it or loose it fashion. 
I'm very glad I did not switch out the eggs!
So the question is that, how long before you Know to the best of possible knowing that she'll stay put?

* Now, "THE QUESTION": I have steadfastly avoided owning an incubator bcs I ca;t be trusted not to over-use it. I want to enjoy the birds I have, the process that nature has set out to exist. And I sort of kind of think I want to begin research on a SMALL, Very Small, incubator. I don't want super cheap junk that'll break mid-incubation (like the one a friend bought on ebay for $20 and loaned me when my broody Betty got killed half way thru brooding a large clutch. Incubator failed, eggs were gone. I was not a happy camper. So, while I do want good value for my money (which is spare around here), I want something reliable. I'd much rather a very small one that I can trust to go thru multiple hatches than a larger one that is not as reliable.
This seems obvious but, I said it anyway (bcs I'm a stress basket over the missing chick).
Can anyone recommend a few different options, why they like the one they do like, what are the "needs improvement" areas of said bator. If possible, their own history using the one they suggest, or knowing a friend/s that had/had that one and raves.
That's the crux of that question.

Now, I'm going back outside to do a walk thru and around the silkie house again.
If you all pray, please say a prayer; if you cross your fingers, please cross them...send a good thought our way.
I appreciate all of you more than words can say (which, as you can see, is lucky for everyone).

I'm no eggspert (haha), but here's my opinions.

1) I'd personally clean out the nesting area and use new eggs. You can rinse with plain warm water and it shouldn't mess them up.

2) I'm not sure. When my showgirl was deciding if she wanted to go broody, she'd sit for a day or two and then get up for a few days and then sit for a while. I just let her sit on whatever eggs she wanted because mine are fertile. When she really hunkered down, she was on a good 15 eggs. I'd say give it 4 or 5 days before giving her special eggs.

3) I just have the styrofoam one from tractor supply, so I can't give advice on small ones.

4) I highly doubt the microwave affects eggs. I store my eggs in the fridge until I'm ready to set. They've been good that way and developed.

 

[yeye5]

Post away - don't ever feel like you are posting too much!!!

I'm not sure about the microwave, but the cardboard can affect the moisture. I've heard it's better to store them for any length of time in styrofoam. But, a plant can be impacted to what kind of light it gets, did the plant not near that cupboard get more natural light or anything else that might have benefited it?

If you are concerned, I'd move them.

In that house, far away in years, the plants both got about the same amount of light, water etc. on kitchen counters. The one next to the microwave wilted within days. It was crazy and I stopped microwaving my food for obvious reasons. This microwave movie I have is another try. I don't love the technology, question if it's really that bad for us and get lazy enough to use it anyway. Plus to make matters worse it was a B'day gift last year from a friend who noticed I didn't have one.

 

[orrpeople]

@yeye5, It's good to solve the mystery - bummer the ending was a rough one. Sounds like you have made great new modifications - everyone should be nice and snug! If you get a chance to read some of the 'chickens in the cold' articles on this site, I think they may help you worry less.

 

[Birdydeb]

For me it was the shower last summer for my expectant daughter-in-law, my first grand child. Nobody said anything then but I was told later that I spent TOO much time talking about my chickens and ducks, most especially the ducks. And that while I thought it was quite cute to have my phone ringer be a duck quack everybody else was convinced I was now too far gone to be helped. oh well.

It is nice to be among other folks who get it. we all get too "far gone" together.

 

[yeye5]

Day 20....1 pipped this morning, zipped around lunch time and out 15 minutes later. Loud little thing...6 more pipping and about 6 or so rocking and rolling. 19 eggs in incubator from my own mixed flock of ISAS(hatchery) BR, and RIR hens covered by a BR rooster.

Great! Congratulations!!! It's happening! Woohoo!
I always forget the BR genetics. A female BR can pass the BR gene only to male offspring (I believe). A male BR can do...? what?? Is it a dominant trait? Can't be bcs it would then make every offspring of a BR a BR as well. Do you know? What types and colors are the offspring you get? That will help answer the question.
And...Have FUN!