Michigan Hatchers! What'cha got cookin?

[Candy442]

Candy442,
Any EE chicks hatch today?

neither of them even have a pip..broody is still sitting on them while the Iowa is keeping her entertained. DH and I think these may be a couple days younger than the Iowa too, so hopefully something by today/tomorrow. Still, it doesn't look promising We have 30 in the incubator cooking for a hatch this Wednesday. I have an order for chicks to send out. This will be my first shipment if all goes well, sort of nervous about that too.

 

[RTFchickens]

I'm just curious, what type of incubators do you guys use?

 

[mindylee]

I have a lil giant still air...
But
Use my hens most times. More reliable.

 

[Candy442]

I'm just curious, what type of incubators do you guys use?

We have the Farm Innovations pro 4200

 

[gladahmae]

Hovabator genesis or Broodies. Broodies keep chicks out of my basement.

 

[Candy442]

Hovabator genesis or Broodies. Broodies keep chicks out of my basement.

X2, I am so happy to have one Broody in my flock of 11 one year olds!

 

[mindylee]

1!
I've had as many as 27 at the same time here!
LOL

 

[Candy442]

1!
I've had as many as 27 at the same time here!
LOL

I KNOW, right?

I was worried none of them would be broody. My Delaware was out running around, came face to face with one of her babies that was in the grow out pen(hatched in the first incubator try for us). She made a weird growl and squawked...went into the nest box in the adult coop and never left until another hen wanted to lay in her box. We moved her to the small coop for privacy and only gave her four eggs. She managed to crack one, the other three were fine when we candled but the two green eggs are not even pipped yet!

Our little Icee the Delaware is a good mommy to that little boisterous Iowa chick so far and that's what we were hoping to witness. We are happy to have at least one LOL

 

[Candy442]

The EE eggs did not hatch, they both had quit. Broody got off the nest and is teaching her single chick how to scratch and find food. So far so good. We are going to lock down the incubator tonight after final candling. I hope we stay at 29 or 30 and have a good hatch out of those. I need 25 minimum and feel that extras can go out to the broody with the single chick to raise. We are calling the new chick "June bug" because she is tiny and fast. DH and I sure notice a difference in the chicks between incubator/then container brooder compared to a hen momma raising the chicks already! I hope we get more than one broody each year, but if Icee keeps up her great momma skills, she has earned her spot in the flock no matter what til the day she has to part earthly ways.

 

[Candy442]

Started May 28th with 37 eggs.

It's the top of day 20, two pips out of 28 eggs that looked "good" going into lock down. Two early birds and of course they are Iowa Blues