May hatch-a-long

[chickenmama109]

NOT GOOD....Has anyone here done safety holes on their eggs???

Happy everything is going well with you. Don't forget to update us.

thanks no ive never done safety holes should i

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Yes, I've done safety holes. Did quite a few things things my first 4-5 hatches to "help". My opinion is it only make you feel better. I don't think there is real benefit other than that.

Now I've backed away from all interference until the chick externally pips on their own. That shows me they are strong enough to survive and starts a timer on when they'll be ready to hatch or require assistance.

 

[Mraya]

thanks no ive never done safety holes should i

No only in high rise hatches I think.

EDIT TO ADD: I am trying to find out more info on it.

 

[chickenmama109]

No only in high rise hatches I think.

EDIT TO ADD: I am trying to find out more info on it.

ive heard about it but i never reallt thought i would need it will it help with the hatch

 

[HeritageHenNut]

I don't blame you! I'm planning on turkeys probably not until next year. And of course, they'll be heritage
What heritage breeds do you have?
Have you heard about CHB? Most of the members are around Rocky Mountain House or further south. Nice to see that I'm not the only one further north.

Currently I have Salmon Faverolles & Swedish Ducks. I've heard of the CBH but there's not a lot of events up here in the Frozen North LOL. I just hatched out some nice Silver Laced Wyandottes and hoping they'll be a nice layer flock for me.

 

[sawilliams]

NOT GOOD....Has anyone here done safety holes on their eggs???

Happy everything is going well with you. Don't forget to update us.

I thought about doing a safety hole the other night with #8. And after examining it i wish I had done it then rather then wait till morning to check again. I think from reading over the assisted hatch info it's deffinatly a safe first step especially with potentially small air cells... I sorta did on the first egg. It had started to external pip but it had been a while so i wanted to check the pip turned out though shelldon cracked the shell it wasn't a full pip the outer membrane didn't break. So being my first egg worried about messing things up and really wanting to make sure everything was ok I poked through the membrane to see if I could see the chick. It did everything else on its own after that.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I thought about doing a safety hole the other night with #8. And after examining it i wish I had done it then rather then wait till morning to check again. I think from reading over the assisted hatch info it's deffinatly a safe first step especially with potentially small air cells... I sorta did on the first egg. It had started to external pip but it had been a while so i wanted to check the pip turned out though shelldon cracked the shell it wasn't a full pip the outer membrane didn't break. So being my first egg worried about messing things up and really wanting to make sure everything was ok I poked through the membrane to see if I could see the chick. It did everything else on its own after that.

There's definitely a comfort zone that comes with more hatching. First you error one way. Then you error the other. But you're always learning. It's just so hard that the learning comes with such a high price. I read on here somewhere that "hatching is not for the faint of heart". Boy is that ever true.

 

[Mraya]

Thanks all With my last 2 hatches the BR's died I fully formed I wonder if my humidity is way off. (yes I calibrated) I think I will give them a safety hole. What have I got to lose?

 

[chickenmama109]

i have three chicks that have gone in to the flock they are still kinda small and dont know how to roost yet and i have some plant box in the yard and the chickens love to sit on it and i will see two of my chicks sitting on it has well but my silkie will just sit on the ground next to it its like he dont want to roost is it because of his breed or does h just not like it

 

[sawilliams]

i have three chicks that have gone in to the flock they are still kinda small and dont know how to roost yet and i have some plant box in the yard and the chickens love to sit on it and i will see two of my chicks sitting on it has well but my silkie will just sit on the ground next to it its like he dont want to roost is it because of his breed or does h just not like it

My 11 feed store chicks (6 wks old) that just went out to the chicken run have a small coop with roosts and an open ladder to the coop. They use the ladder as roosts during the day but still huddle in a pile at night


Most of my fed store chicks did not learn to roost until nearly laying. Though most could and would get up on the roosts during the day I feel before maturity they are tolerated in the flock but not considered full members (ie not allowed to roost with the big girls). My chicks have a roosting bar in thier brooder but only use it occasionally usually to nap during the day once they get a few wks old. I think chicks also tend to roost less in general at night becuase they need to retain their heat more which is better accomplished by a flat floor or corner