March 2017! Hatch with us!

[dannyelle123]

Well I candled my eggs tonight. I took out 6 of the araucana eggs as they were infertile. Two more are iffy. The other13 are going strong! I love seeing those little hearts beating away with the blood vessels developing. The two jersey giants I threw in the mix are developing. And I can't tell with the BCM eggs. They're too dark. I had a few definitely developing but can't tell with some so I left them all in the bator. Today is day 4.

I remember reading about hatching Araucanas- I think a 50% hatch is normal... Something to do with the genetics.

Edit: I just found the info I was talking about. The tufted gene is apparently lethal and if a chick inherits 2 of the tufted chromosomes it dies in the shell, which happens 25% of the time when breeding tufted to tufted...

 

[Lamancha]

Well most of you know I had a terrible loss in January lost all my Roos so I'm asking if anyone can identify the breed of my new Roos all three are brothers so I'll just post one pic

could be a splash Swedish Flower Hen or mix.

 

[yeye5]

I didn't plan on hatching anything, as I'm splitting an order of chicks due to come in the end of May. But my OEGB pullet had different ideas! So, I sat her with 2 LF eggs and 3 bantam eggs yesterday evening. This will be her first hatching. I don't candle or anything, just leave it to the mama hen, so hopefully I'll have chick pics the end of this month!

Sweet! I'm a hen hatcher myself...or my hen is the hatcher, I am the grandmom and beneficiary of the cuteness.
Good luck to your pullet. It sounds like an ideal # of eggs for her first go round.

 

[mich9510]

I remember reading about hatching Araucanas- I think a 50% hatch is normal... Something to do with the genetics.

Edit: I just found the info I was talking about. The tufted gene is apparently lethal and if a chick inherits 2 of the tufted chromosomes it dies in the shell, which happens 25% of the time when breeding tufted to tufted...

I was going to post that info but you beat me to it...lol. The lady I get my araucana eggs from does not breed tufted to tufted for that very reason. Araucana eggs are notoriously bad shippers so she actually threw in a bunch of extras. I paid for 15 and she sent me 22 so I have no problem with 6 non- developing eggs. I just love araucanas. I have one and she is the friendliest bird in my flock. When i go outside she runs over to me and jumps on my shoulder or sometimes my head ha ha!

 

[yeye5]

I think the prevailing consensus with treats (mealworms, scrambled egg, etc) is to wait until they're 4 weeks old. Good access to chick starter is probably best for now. Maybe try crushing it up a bit to make it easier to eat?
I'm really looking forward to seeing your pics!!

Thanks. I get so over enthused all the time...
They've had high quality (purina complete) medicated chick starter from the start (not trying to be funny but it did come out sounding that way). I also mixed and added an electrolyte into the water. The one I bought at a feed store only has instructions for mixing the entire packet and that would be enough to keep everyone on this threads chickens hydrated for the month. So I guesstimated the best I could. I suspect now that the nest box has mini exits, they'll get moving about a bit at a time, develope better appetites and most important, Mima will focus entirely on being their mom rather than her 2-hat job of sitting on eggs while having chicks.
I took every last egg out of both nests--they were cold and not tended to. I feel Great about it. I saved them so that a bit later today I can open them and see what they were doing, their approx gestation times etc.
This was one very mixed up hatch!
I set up the 2nd box for laying eggs and hopefully the pullets will "get it". I even bought regular store eggs today (for baking something) and I might use one of those to help them get the clue.

 

[Mylied]

What do you think of these air cells? It's day 13 and they are turkey eggs. Two are really wobbly, that's why there's extra lines. All have poults developing. I've been doing a dry hatch. Think I should add some water?

 

[yeye5]

I went to get a few pics of the little peeps. Why were they sitting inside the water dish? and why was Mima mama sitting on them over the water? While I took pics they now look like new hatches again! I thought maybe she was drawn to the lowest point in the nest? so I raised the food and water up on a brick and pushed a clump of grass/dirt down to make a little dip in the nesting material. I use very basic nesting material. Grass.
When they dry off and fluff up I'll try again with the pics. Thank goodness it's a warm day (80 degrees) and the won't catch a chill.

Is it just me???or does this ridiculous stuff happen to other people too?

 

[Mylied]

Well most of you know I had a terrible loss in January lost all my Roos so I'm asking if anyone can identify the breed of my new Roos all three are brothers so I'll just post one pic

I only had hens of this breed, but he's colored and looks just like my Amberlinks were.

 

[lilwildrabbit]

I only had hens of this breed, but he's colored and looks just like my Amberlinks were.

One thing he is pretty! Here is his brother

And his other brother

 

[WVduckchick]

Thanks. I get so over enthused all the time...
They've had high quality (purina complete) medicated chick starter from the start (not trying to be funny but it did come out sounding that way). I also mixed and added an electrolyte into the water. The one I bought at a feed store only has instructions for mixing the entire packet and that would be enough to keep everyone on this threads chickens hydrated for the month. So I guesstimated the best I could. I suspect now that the nest box has mini exits, they'll get moving about a bit at a time, develope better appetites and most important, Mima will focus entirely on being their mom rather than her 2-hat job of sitting on eggs while having chicks.
I took every last egg out of both nests--they were cold and not tended to. I feel Great about it. I saved them so that a bit later today I can open them and see what they were doing, their approx gestation times etc.
This was one very mixed up hatch!
I set up the 2nd box for laying eggs and hopefully the pullets will "get it". I even bought regular store eggs today (for baking something) and I might use one of those to help them get the clue.

I'm kind of weird about stuff, so I weighed a packet and measured it out. 1/8 Teaspoon per 8 ounces of water. I use those quart waterers for the little ones, about 3/4 full, so I toss in 3 scoops with my 1/8 tsp measuring spoon. Or thereabouts.

EDIT - the "Orange" sav-a-chick powder (Electrolytes/vitamins) is 1/8 Teaspoon per 10 ounces of water. The "white" sav-a-chick powder (Probiotic) is 1/8 Teaspoon per 8 ounces of water.