May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Kikilu]

8 total hatched
One was definitely glued in trying to get out and had I have been home I could have helped so that was a sad one
The other one died earlier - not sure what day but I could smell it was off.

Out of the 8 I only had one blue and no splash lol. I really want a splash! Such is my luck with splash chicks and blue eggs! Next year doing an all blue hatch for sure.

The two bigger in the pic are my Cochin and orp from 12 days earlier.

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

I've gone all fancy with an assist station this time around. Last time one of mine glued and I was able to rescue it (so sorry for your loss, @Kikilu ) but the chick got really cold in the process and I felt rushed trying to hurry and figure out how to help it without it getting too cold.

So I just set this up, it's got two sources of heat: one from above, which is a reptile heat bulb stuck in a clamp on desk lamp with an adjustable neck, so I can adjust the proximity. The other heat source is a seedling heat mat, under the seedling tray with a towel and paper towel over it. It's probably a little overly fancy in that this heat mat has an adjustable thermostat; I've placed the probe sensor between the tray and towel.

This way if I need to set the chick down briefly or work on it for a minute or two I have a toasty warm, safe spot to do so.

Ideally there's no assist needed, but now I feel prepared!

 

[junior67]

8 total hatched
One was definitely glued in trying to get out and had I have been home I could have helped so that was a sad one
The other one died earlier - not sure what day but I could smell it was off.

Out of the 8 I only had one blue and no splash lol. I really want a splash! Such is my luck with splash chicks and blue eggs! Next year doing an all blue hatch for sure.

The two bigger in the pic are my Cochin and orp from 12 days earlier.

Splash are hard to get I have found. Since blue x blue is 50% blue, 25% splash, 25% black. I have 2 splash hens and a splash roo which is a 100% chance but they may not have much splash. But then I have a blue roo as well so who knows which one fathered the eggs so...... Lol. I finally just found someone that sold splash eggs not BBS which is how I got my splash babies.

I am surprised you got so many black though!


And sure you have heard my complaints on colored egg layers. Lol. Even with my all blue egg hatch I started with 16 and down to 11.... And they are only on day 9 I think....

 

[junior67]

I need to figure out what I am doing with these eggs in the incubator.

I should be setting 12 eggs for the lady I got these eggs from on Thurs and also getting 12 eggs from someone local on Thurs..... My incubator holds 22 which means stacking.

I have 8 in there now so do I stack and make it 30 till either I candle if I have clears or lockdown on these eggs which will be the 17th or 18th and give these to my broody at lockdown. Or I can give them back to her and just hope no more are broken and she doesn't go back to the wrong nest for the last 9 days they would have left.

I could ask the one I am buying eggs from if I can get them later but I already did it once. I had told her a while back it would be the 5th, then a few weeks ago I realized with camping that wouldn't work so changed it to the 11th. Which then puts hatch day a week before we are away again.... So then a neighbor, my pet sitter, will need to check on babies too.... But if I wait till we are back from that trip for hatch day then she needs to watch the incubator.... Not sure what is better..... Ugh!

 

[Canadian Wind]

I need to figure out what I am doing with these eggs in the incubator.

I should be setting 12 eggs for the lady I got these eggs from on Thurs and also getting 12 eggs from someone local on Thurs..... My incubator holds 22 which means stacking.

I have 8 in there now so do I stack and make it 30 till either I candle if I have clears or lockdown on these eggs which will be the 17th or 18th and give these to my broody at lockdown. Or I can give them back to her and just hope no more are broken and she doesn't go back to the wrong nest for the last 9 days they would have left.

I could ask the one I am buying eggs from if I can get them later but I already did it once. I had told her a while back it would be the 5th, then a few weeks ago I realized with camping that wouldn't work so changed it to the 11th. Which then puts hatch day a week before we are away again.... So then a neighbor, my pet sitter, will need to check on babies too.... But if I wait till we are back from that trip for hatch day then she needs to watch the incubator.... Not sure what is better..... Ugh!

Quite the conundrum.

Another incubator?

 

[junior67]

Quite the conundrum.

Another incubator?

We are in the process of expanding the run and building another coop. Think my husband would kill me if I get a 2nd incubator

 

[HeidiGetsChicks]

5 pips so far! So much cheeping! They're so happy!

 

[Kikilu]

5 pips so far! So much cheeping! They're so happy!

Yay so exciting!

 

[FeatherProfessor]

We are in the process of expanding the run and building another coop. Think my husband would kill me if I get a 2nd incubator

What if you WON an incubator? Just saying. My sassy roo contest is still going on.

 

[junior67]

What if you WON an incubator? Just saying. My sassy roo contest is still going on.

I entered my boy.