Memorial Day hatch along

[KateGoad]

We lost power (read, someone unplugged the incubator) for a few hours on day 14, and ours came out just fine. We were earlier, which is probably worse for them.

We also lost power shortly after they were born, and I had to heat their brooder using jars of hot water switched out every fifteen minutes for six hours. That was a long day. Luckily we have a gas range, otherwise I would have been the brooder.

 

[BullChick]

Losing power is only an issue if it lasts for days. I actually have a car adapter for my incubator. Unfortunately, the car is out of commission right now.
I’m not actually feeling like today did it, I just suddenly have a feeling. Not logical, but neither is incubating because a child begged.
I’ve been calming people down during hatches for years. Even with a newborn, I would stay up all night to explain the next step during an assist. Is it any wonder the LO wasn’t even 2 when she performed her first assist? That was an awesome day. She wouldn’t eat eggs for a while though.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

My June 11th hatch was a complete and total fail. All of the eggs were "cooked" or overheated, and almost every one of the shipped eggs still had a detached air cell, even after letting them sit for like 5 days and rotating them at least 3 times a day.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

And I just ordered some cclb eggs to "replace" the ones that I just had to get rid of... so im excited about that, but I was really excited for that batch that got ruined, cause they were silkies, and I have been dyin and tryin to get some silkies... oh well, that's how it goes sometimes

 

[BullChick]

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

Sheesh, I had to save Little Red and one of the EEers tonight... Four of the chicks followed Momma up the ramp and into the coop, but two got left behind in the run. I could hear them crying from a hundred feet away! I ran out there and found them huddled under the ramp, hiding from the rest of the flockers who were still milling around, eating the chick starter and thinking about going to bed. Once I picked them up and put them on the doorframe, they ran right into the nest box. Better than the night before when I had to do that for all six!

Curious what your experience is with a mama who hatched her chicks 2 days ago and won't leave the nest to poop? She was terrible about self care while sitting on the eggs. I had to pick her up and take her off the nest everyday in order to get her to eat, drink, or poop. I thought for sure with babies hatched she would start getting a bit back to normal... But not yet. Thinking I should force her out again but I worry about the babies being cold...

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Curious what your experience is with a mama who hatched her chicks 2 days ago and won't leave the nest to poop? She was terrible about self care while sitting on the eggs. I had to pick her up and take her off the nest everyday in order to get her to eat, drink, or poop. I thought for sure with babies hatched she would start getting a bit back to normal... But not yet. Thinking I should force her out again but I worry about the babies being cold...

Are there more unpatched eggs under her? And does she have a quiet place away from the flockers to take the babies?

 

[BullChick]

Curious what your experience is with a mama who hatched her chicks 2 days ago and won't leave the nest to poop? She was terrible about self care while sitting on the eggs. I had to pick her up and take her off the nest everyday in order to get her to eat, drink, or poop. I thought for sure with babies hatched she would start getting a bit back to normal... But not yet. Thinking I should force her out again but I worry about the babies being cold...

Are you certain she isn’t leaving?
The babies will survive for a few minutes.

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

She does not have any more eggs under her, and I am certain she's not leaving. The space she is in is pretty small and the are no signs of her leaving. But the rest of the flock (2 adult hens and 4, 6week old pullets) have free range of the same yard. Maybe she doesn't feel safe to come out with them around you think?

 

[BullChick]

Give her another day.