March 2017! Hatch with us!

[yeye5]

Tomorrow and Friday , I expect to see some more babies! My batch of Silverudd's Blues and Swedish Flower Hens, as well as my local batch of Cream Legbars are due to hatch!! And, I just got word that a batch of 55 Flowery Hen eggs will be coming my way at the end of the month!!! And then, the madness must stop.

WoWsers! That's a LOT of chickens!!!

 

[yeye5]

I'm sorry you are stressing! I don't have an answer for you, sorry! I would think waiting to see if it turns up as it warms up. What are your temps going to be today?

Presntly @ 47 going up to 54 @4 and 5 p.m. then down to 33 at 5-7 a.m., 32 8 am and once the sun comes up this foolishness will stop (I hope). That chick wouldn't have survived the night IF it was out of the nest at night which I don't know one way or the other. If it's alive now, it has a chance of peeping to get my attention or the attention of one of the pullets, who I hope would help it out until I locate it.

Another very basic yet scary question is:
Do I move the whole nest inside tonight so there's no chance of the one that's in there escaping (which I'm clueless about How)? Or do I say a prayer and trust that Mima (mama) will not let it get out?
I know we're not here to Tell each other what to do with our own birds in our own coops or homes, but someone Please tell me what to do.

 

[yeye5]

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).

 

[yeye5]

One more question and I promise I'll shut up promptly.
*I store my eggs in a cardboard 5x6 egg tray (like you'd buy eggs in bulk), in an upper cupboard, tilting the tray 3x per day so that the opposite side is up each night (being the longest time period when I am not tilting). One cupboard shelf below (dishes) and below that sits my microwave.
I had an observation a long while back that a p;lant I kept beside the microwave did not do well while the same plant Not near the microwave thrived.
Does anyone either Know, suspect or have a guess IF the microwave use effects the viability of the eggs?

Thanks.

 

[Jessimom]

One more question and I promise I'll shut up promptly.
*I store my eggs in a cardboard 5x6 egg tray (like you'd buy eggs in bulk), in an upper cupboard, tilting the tray 3x per day so that the opposite side is up each night (being the longest time period when I am not tilting). One cupboard shelf below (dishes) and below that sits my microwave.
I had an observation a long while back that a p;lant I kept beside the microwave did not do well while the same plant Not near the microwave thrived.
Does anyone either Know, suspect or have a guess IF the microwave use effects the viability of the eggs?

Thanks.

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.

 

[Birdydeb]

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.

 

[orrpeople]

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).

How's it going? Any sign of the little one? I agree with wvduckchick - check inside mama's feathers. I have a friend who kept taking chicks out of their mama's feathers, until I think, he counted 8 or 9 - and it was almost impossible to tell they were in there, she just looked 'winter puffed out." I prayed!
So, you may have gathered, I'm not much of a broody expert, but if they're like any chickens I know, they really hate change, so moving the nest might actually cause more harm than letting mama try to keep them warm outside (chickens are like little ovens - have you ever slid a hand up under their wing while they're sitting in a nesting box? Nice and toasty!)

 

[lilwildrabbit]

I

Did you look inside momma's feathers?  They snuggle in sometimes and are very hard to see!  I hope you find them!


I think they target our favorites first!   

had a hen actually carry three or four under wing around they would come out she would call them they would run under her wings and back in the coop they would go so I'd listen and I pray that's what's happening to you.

 

[lilwildrabbit]

Update emergency intervention from 11 ice cold eggs I have now 3 chicks and 2 pips I had to assist one that zipped this morning and had stoped for a few hours thought it was a goner but after I opened up the end a little bit it jumped into the light and scared me!! All was well membrane was all absorbed and it's running around now wobbly but around number 3 I checked the pip and didn't hear any signs of life so I opened the pip the little pieces of egg shell at the poke and set it back inside well in about 8 minutes it's zipped and out fast zip like the first one I'm not sure about the other two I'll wait I did open up the pip so it could breath I'll keep a close close eye on them but my hatch rescue has blessed me with for now 3 more than if I didn't do anything!

 

[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.

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.