May Hatch Thread--Fill up those bators n' broodies!

[Missyktsm]

That's awesome! 25 under momma?! Holy moly!

Ditto! How big is that hen?!

 

[melina90]

My husband thinks I've lost my mind

. I've got three thermometers set up and keep checking them. I'm torn between candling and making sure my temp and humidity don't change. I'm being good though and keeping the readings level is winning out... So far.

I candle mine almost every day. I find it's very useful as for learning to determine how far along an egg is. You learn alot from candling! Plus, they say it's good for the eggs to have a quick cool each day, as it simulates when the momma-hen goes off the nest to eat and drink. So if you really feel like it, candle away without bad conscience!

Just make sure you handle them carefully and don't keep them out too long. But you knew that already.

As for the lost-your-mind-part. I'm starting to think it's contagious. Almost all my friends and relatives seem to absolutely adore chickens all of the sudden. My grandma (and she's not really the soft-hearted for animals) called me today just to talk chickens for two hours! OH well, not the worst virus one could catch - I find the chicken-crazy-disease has been very rewarding for me and my family, in every aspect! No chicken-rehab for me

 

[melina90]

Ditto! How big is that hen?!

25?! Wow. I'll be eating my hat if all those eggs hatches! If broody-hens could compete that'd make yours a champion for sure.

 

[melina90]

My eggs under a broody are gonna hatch the 17

Ooh, on the norwegian national day! What a great day to have their birthday

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

That's awesome! 25 under momma?! Holy moly!

Your probably not going to believe it but she had 46 underneath her,but i took all but 25 out! She is a good size hen and she can fluff out really big, I dont know how but she had them all warm! I am pretty sure that she had to have like too piles and lay one one for a while and then another, because 46 eggs seem almost impossible to me. But I dont know a lot about broodies.

 

[crazyhen]

Misseyk,
I ck my eggs much too often too, But since the momma hen gets up and down and leaves the nest to eat, I see no problem as the others say as long as its gentle and fairly quick. I have a bator going too. Its due in 4 days. Yikes. Its slipping up on me. Tomorrow is lock down. I have Jaerhon eggs, Lavender and White Orps, and Dominigues. Right now in my chick pen in the dinning room, shhhhh..... I have Delaware, Slw, and GNH chicks of 4 days old. Yep its Spring.

I have officially gone chick crazy. But wait.

I have yet to set the Buff orps or the Swedish flower hens I wanted. Hummm. Don't tell any of my family. They already think I am crazy as a bed bug. No one likes chicks, but me and my brother. Thanks to the poultry club I know I am not entirely alone here.

Its so much fun.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

25?! Wow. I'll be eating my hat if all those eggs hatches! If broody-hens could compete that'd make yours a champion for sure.

This is her first hatch so we will see how she does.

Ditto! How big is that hen?!

She is my biggest hen

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I forgot too add, If I can I will get a picture of her laying on her eggs sometime this week. I really do hope she hatches them because she would be a great mommy. She is a very protective and bossy hen.

 

[jnjmanning]

So I think I have officially gone crazy. I talked myself into keeping 2 incubators heated up and ready. I have Polish frizzle due to hatch 5-9 and Polish Tolbunts due to hatch 5-16. So I moved all the frizzles into a separate bator....lol So now I have 2 temps and 2 humidity levels to keep an eye on! What was I thinking????? Also found out I have more Tolbunts on the way, due to arrive Tuesday!

 

[Partyfowl]

So I think I have officially gone crazy. I talked myself into keeping 2 incubators heated up and ready. I have Polish frizzle due to hatch 5-9 and Polish Tolbunts due to hatch 5-16. So I moved all the frizzles into a separate bator....lol So now I have 2 temps and 2 humidity levels to keep an eye on! What was I thinking????? Also found out I have more Tolbunts on the way, due to arrive Tuesday!

Pssst. It's part of the addiction. I currently have 3 up and running.