March Hatch-A-Long

[Ranchwithaview]

I wear potholders when reaching under a broody hen. Works every time

I'll try potholders next time. Good idea!

 

[HeritageHenNut]

The last two are drying off in the 'bator

 

[Ranchwithaview]

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The last two are drying off in the 'bator

Congratulations! What type are they?

 

[Stick Chicken]

I don't remember if I posted in this thread before. I tried hatching turkey eggs this month. Here is my update Of the turkey eggs it was not a big success... I have 1 who appears to be healthy and doing well pretty blue color. Another yellow turkey who is weak (legs) and has a clicking noise. There was another that hatched that was weak and did not make it and one died after pipping before zipping and so I'm kind of bummed.

Sorry about the poor luck with turkeys, but from what everyone is saying, it seems that they are at a disadvantage already. Hopefully your remaining ones will grow up healthy.

So after candling on monday, it seels that 36 of the 48 are developping. 12 weren’t fertile, no blood rings, just no development. All of these 12 are deom the same breeder so i guess his rooster is just not up for it yet. A petty, would have liked more to be developing. I hope the rest of them hang in there untill the end.

Thursday day 10 candling...

At least only twelve are infertile. You just have to be thankful for what is developing and hope they hatch out healthy and strong.

 

[Stick Chicken]

Well, my hatch is now complete. First 100% hatch ever.

For all the more experienced hatchers that preach the value of patience, you guys are absolutely right. Its about 3 hours from day 23, and the last chick just hatched. I resisted the urge to open my incubator and 'help', and just left the others in there to do their thing and fluff out. Everyone looks great, bright and lively. No sticky chicks or any trouble zipping once they got going.

I promise lots of pictures once they are all in the brooder.

So for everyone wanting to open that incubator to 'just pull out the dry chicks' or 'help'....just give it a little more time. It'll be ok. Promise.

Congratulations on your amazing hatch. I normally have a 100% hatch rate, but this year, I've already had two die in the shell. You are right about the patience part though. Often times people will throw out eggs before they have had time to hatch, or they help the chick out of the egg before it is ready. It is important to give everything time(though time can't guarantee a perfect hatch, it gives the chicks a chance to hatch)

 

[wabbit1964]

I’m sorry I know how difficult it is to hatch turkeys. Losses are, sadly, common They tend to be so exhausted by hatching they just...fade away.
I always add organic apple cider vinegar to the water for all my birds, but for the turkeys I also put in some honey and garlic to give them an extra boost. It’s not a guarantee, but it did bring down my mortality rate when I started doing it.
Something to try, if you’re so inclined
*stole the idea from a YouTube farm vid that I can’t remember the name of at the moment*
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Thank you SA farms I will try that. One of the turkeys is doing well and I bought 4 bantam chicks so it isn't lonely. The one doing the worst I have isolated. There is a clicking noise that I suspect somehow it has a respiratory issue. Everything I see (older posts) says use Tylan for that but it requires a prescript nowadays. Currently researching how best to help the struggling one.

 

[plum14]

Day 21 here nothings happening yet

But I do have plenty to keep me occupied as I have a poorly serama hen i suspect she is egg bound but everything suggested on here hasn't worked yet. . Think I will have to take her to the vet

 

[juliasflock]

So lockdown was yesterday afternoon. Last night I noticed one of my OE eggs had a what appeared to be a cracked area near where a PIP should be. But it looks like it didn’t break through the shell. I’m wondering if I missed the crack when I set the egg, it’s so dark I can’t see through it at all when trying to candle, or it was an attempted pip through a thick egg? I’ve never had a pip that early. Just don’t want a rotten egg!

 

[AngieMaesChix]

Update on my Barred Rocks..First tho why as a first time Hatcher must I be in love with chickens that lay brown eggs?? Those darn things are sooo hard to see in!!! Set ten eggs threw egg 10 out on day seven it had no development and was clear didn’t appear even fertile when broke open...now I’m on day 12. I candled yesterday and seen in two eggs definitely developing and veins..couple very hard see in but they are filling up and air sacks look ok...there are two eggs I’m almost positive are dead and another two I’m iffy on..the other five seem ok some are pretty dark but the egg is filling so hopefully they are right on track!! The two I know are good!! It being my first time eggs being shipped etc I’ll be happy with a few chicks I just don’t want to end up with just one tho as I’d have find chicks somewhere for company and I’m not really looking to get hatchery chicks..I do owe a friend 4 Rhode Island reds and he’s giving me his four lavander orphs that will just be laying hens so I could always get those for company I suppose...I will be starting another batch once these are finished tho I don’t believe I can make the Easter hatch along mine are due the 29th..I’m leaving all eggs in until day 14 and will recandle I figure by then I’ll know for sure those four eggs are dead and can be thrown out..no smell as of yet I been sniffing daily bf laughs at me I’m always putting eggs up to my nose but I do NOT want to have to clean up a busted smelly mess and my stomach is pretty sensitive to rotten smells..I can handle some gruesome stuff blood guts etc but ugg smells will have me running for the bathroom!!
Congrats on everyone’s hatches!! And sorry about your turkeys @wabbit1964 ive heard they are much harder to hatch I plan on giving it a go once I have some more experience under my belt..
Maybe I’ll try and video or take pics next candling. Problem is just I been candling May have to recruit the bf to take video for me lol

 

[HeritageHenNut]

Congratulations! What type are they?

Blue Copper Marans & some OEs