Michigan Hatchers! What'cha got cookin?

Chicks from Wyandotte broody:
400
 
We have three eggs developing under my broody who is a first timer. She is doing a great job sitting on the nest so far. All three show veining at 10 days. Now hope they hatch and we can see how she does as a mommy. This is exciting for us :).

Also, have 37 eggs in the incubator started on March 28th aiming for a hatch on June 17th. Will look at those this weekend to see how they are coming along. If they are showing development, no more peeking until day 18 :).

I am reading all of these broody stories, I sure hope our one girl is a nice momma because I would like to give her some of the extra chicks from the 'bator when they hatch, or should we not give her some that may be a few days younger?
 
he.gif
I think i gave my mean broody too many eggs/chicks. OR the other hens that are INSISTING on laying eggs in her nest are just being godzillas. Found another cracked (stepped on) egg. AND she got off the nest and went out to get some food and water, leaving behind all of her chicks AND remaining 3 eggs, ONE of which was pipped! The other 2 eggs one was the cracked one, and the other seemed fine, but both were cold. Both had dead chicks, one of which was internally piped. THEN, when she went back in the coop, she sat down OUTSIDE the nest box while her chicks peeped their heads off 6in away. Don't know if she's trying to get them out of the nest/coop or just doing a bad job of being a mommy now or what. Either way, she has 7 chicks (hoping to put the pipped one which is now in the incubator under her tonight) soon to be 8 that I do NOT want to raise in my basement.

Still nothing going on in the silkie coop. I guess if nothing out there hatches I could give some of mean broody's chicks to them if she's decided to be done.
 
Update:
I left the hatching eggs alone, and they are both dead in shell now. No movement or sound.
Now I'm trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it...
So, Saturday was day 20, and I worked a 12 hour shift. We had peeps Friday night, and 5 chicks in incubator before I left for work. I did not open incubator, I left the chicks, and pippers alone (I put 19 eggs in to hatch) by the time I got home, I had 12 fuzzy butts! I used a flashlight, and checked on chicks, eggs, and temp/humidity. Temp was a happy 99, humidity was way low at 35. I checked out why, and in the brisnea water trap thing was a bunch of crushed shells, and chick fuzz. I'm guessing the water could not evaporate with all that gunk on the top of it. I can't figure out how to prevent it from happening again.
Any ideas would be appreciated :) thanks!

Also, cute chicks in picture above!
 
I got home from work, and the one chick that pipped Saturday was shrink wrapped, and dead. The breach baby with one foot out was still making sound, but not moving much. I decided that without help, it will die like the other. I helped it hatch even though its not advised. Very weak, but was alive at assisted hatch... Here is "Lucky"
400

It's warming up in the incubator.
 
Awww! Hope lucky pulls through! It's always a tough decision to intervene or not.


Put my last "houdotte" under one of my silkies as the other had an egg hatch tonight. Now, unless any more of the 7 eggs they still have end up hatching, each of those hens will have 1 chick to take care of and hopefully get back to business as usual.

I blocked off the nest boxes of my 2 other Broodies and put some moist food in there for them. Other hens are getting curious an I'm still holding out hope for another chick or 2 out of the remaining eggs.
 
Update:
I left the hatching eggs alone, and they are both dead in shell now. No movement or sound.
Now I'm trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it...
So, Saturday was day 20, and I worked a 12 hour shift. We had peeps Friday night, and 5 chicks in incubator before I left for work. I did not open incubator, I left the chicks, and pippers alone (I put 19 eggs in to hatch) by the time I got home, I had 12 fuzzy butts! I used a flashlight, and checked on chicks, eggs, and temp/humidity. Temp was a happy 99, humidity was way low at 35. I checked out why, and in the brisnea water trap thing was a bunch of crushed shells, and chick fuzz. I'm guessing the water could not evaporate with all that gunk on the top of it. I can't figure out how to prevent it from happening again.
Any ideas would be appreciated :) thanks!

Also, cute chicks in picture above!

Hi RTF! Try putting using paper towel and then adding your eggs on top of the paper towel. It prevents all that gunk from going into the water trap thing on the bottom. AND you can use a baby food jar with a sponge in it (sponge sticking out) to add humidity or some people use a wet sock or washcloth. I have started not using the bottom water trap thingy and only using baby food jars and/or wet washcloths. Seems to be working well for me.
 
Aaaaaaaah! I will never give that broody eggs or chicks again. Last year I let her sit for over a month and then tried to give her chicks. She immediately tried to kill them, so I kicked her off the nest and brought the chicks inside. Well she tried to kill the 1st chick that hatched under her today so it's off the nest and no eggs for her ever again.

I gave her remaining eggs to my Ameraucana that only had 4 to start with and put the chick under the broody that had 1 chick hatch this morning/last night. Hopefully it makes it. She had a 2nd chick under her when I was moving the pecked on chick. Sooo cute! Look like they might both be blue!


That would be horrible. At least you have options for the remaining eggs and that little chick. You better put that broody on the black list!! :idunno
 
My banty cochin, Luna has leghorn banty eggs due to hatch on the 22nd. This is her and my first broody, so we are both learning. I gave her 3 eggs, she crushed one, and 1 has a crack. But the one with a crack and the one that has no breakage are going well! Today is day for the hatch. So excited, as my last hatch only gave me 1 chick out of 12 eggs.
 
H
My banty cochin, Luna has leghorn banty eggs due to hatch on the 22nd. This is her and my first broody, so we are both learning. I gave her 3 eggs, she crushed one, and 1 has a crack. But the one with a crack and the one that has no breakage are going well! Today is day for the hatch. So excited, as my last hatch only gave me 1 chick out of 12 eggs.
[/quote
How are the eggs/chicks?
Any updates?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom