Hi,
I just registered, but have lurked here for weeks, and have read as much as I could.
I can't tell you how many times I have read the hatch anticipation and I am cheering on my side of the monitor-and nodding my head to how slow time goes when you are waiting.
I have several eggs in my LG incubator now- but it has given me such a headache with fluctuating temperatures between 99.7 and 102.4 that any chicks that hatch will be my little heroes. I have four Serama eggs left, started with seven...dropped one while candling it- somewhere between," YES! This one is good" and putting it back in the incubator. I was so sad, I almost registered to post at that moment. One was a dud, and two died somewhere in the first week. I have one that I am pretty sure is not good, but after dropping one, I am giving it a chance. I am on Day 11 with them now.
I ordered a shipment from a hatchery and that was a nightmare. I opened a box of yolk and shells- and with little faith, put the surviving eight in the incubator. The three banties are fertile and look good, but the others I am not convinced they will do anything. Three Black Giants and mystery others. They are on Day 5, I think.
From reading on here, I have learned that I need a second incubator to separate the hatchers from the incubatings- so I have one of those on the way also. Plus, my replacement eggs from the hatchery will be here next week.
I am hatching them all out for my Brother-in-law. Something got into his coop and killed all his chickens. I live in a suburb and we are not allowed to have chickens. I hatched some out two or three years ago- for the sake of my three kids to experience it- and someone called and reported me. I had to give my three hens to my brother-in-law.
That said, I have a chicken in my daughters bedroom right now. Someone brought it in to my work (I am a veterinary technician at a very busy animal hospital). They had found her running down the street. I figure she was an Easter chick that someone got tired of. Her name is Carmen. She is very spoiled and very much, "not a chicken". She sits on my ten year old daughter and watches teevee, and acts just like a dog. She is a feathered dog. I had a near tragedy with her- my dachshund grabbed her out of my hand, and skinned her back, pretty much completely. I didn't expect her to live through the night- but she did, she is growing, and we have been treating her back wound, and it is looking good. Notice I say, 'she'. I do not really know, but after all we have done for her, and as attached as my daughter is to her, she has to stay a girl. So far all she does is peep and cheep. Not very big either. Flesh colored comb.
I read every thread I could in the Coop section, until I couldnt take it anymore. Then, I went to the store and bought the lumber and the supplies and started my own coop,.. I mean, tool shed. Today, much to his own frustration, my husband finished it today. It is 6X3X6'. I am very excited. Plenty of room in there for the banties and/or Seramas...or the Black Giants. I have room for 3 or 4..."tools". My house is "L" shaped, and we are placing it inside the "L" so that it will be concealed. The chicken yard will be the area I dedicated to a pond, approx.20'X40' yard area- fenced off, but no pond. I closed it up, too hard to maintain.
*staring intently at the eggs*. I am ready- I just need the chickens now. Thank you for taking the time to read all this, and thank you all for the wonderful threads of advice that I have been researching through, and filing away-just in case.
I just registered, but have lurked here for weeks, and have read as much as I could.
I can't tell you how many times I have read the hatch anticipation and I am cheering on my side of the monitor-and nodding my head to how slow time goes when you are waiting.
I have several eggs in my LG incubator now- but it has given me such a headache with fluctuating temperatures between 99.7 and 102.4 that any chicks that hatch will be my little heroes. I have four Serama eggs left, started with seven...dropped one while candling it- somewhere between," YES! This one is good" and putting it back in the incubator. I was so sad, I almost registered to post at that moment. One was a dud, and two died somewhere in the first week. I have one that I am pretty sure is not good, but after dropping one, I am giving it a chance. I am on Day 11 with them now.
I ordered a shipment from a hatchery and that was a nightmare. I opened a box of yolk and shells- and with little faith, put the surviving eight in the incubator. The three banties are fertile and look good, but the others I am not convinced they will do anything. Three Black Giants and mystery others. They are on Day 5, I think.
From reading on here, I have learned that I need a second incubator to separate the hatchers from the incubatings- so I have one of those on the way also. Plus, my replacement eggs from the hatchery will be here next week.
I am hatching them all out for my Brother-in-law. Something got into his coop and killed all his chickens. I live in a suburb and we are not allowed to have chickens. I hatched some out two or three years ago- for the sake of my three kids to experience it- and someone called and reported me. I had to give my three hens to my brother-in-law.
That said, I have a chicken in my daughters bedroom right now. Someone brought it in to my work (I am a veterinary technician at a very busy animal hospital). They had found her running down the street. I figure she was an Easter chick that someone got tired of. Her name is Carmen. She is very spoiled and very much, "not a chicken". She sits on my ten year old daughter and watches teevee, and acts just like a dog. She is a feathered dog. I had a near tragedy with her- my dachshund grabbed her out of my hand, and skinned her back, pretty much completely. I didn't expect her to live through the night- but she did, she is growing, and we have been treating her back wound, and it is looking good. Notice I say, 'she'. I do not really know, but after all we have done for her, and as attached as my daughter is to her, she has to stay a girl. So far all she does is peep and cheep. Not very big either. Flesh colored comb.
I read every thread I could in the Coop section, until I couldnt take it anymore. Then, I went to the store and bought the lumber and the supplies and started my own coop,.. I mean, tool shed. Today, much to his own frustration, my husband finished it today. It is 6X3X6'. I am very excited. Plenty of room in there for the banties and/or Seramas...or the Black Giants. I have room for 3 or 4..."tools". My house is "L" shaped, and we are placing it inside the "L" so that it will be concealed. The chicken yard will be the area I dedicated to a pond, approx.20'X40' yard area- fenced off, but no pond. I closed it up, too hard to maintain.
*staring intently at the eggs*. I am ready- I just need the chickens now. Thank you for taking the time to read all this, and thank you all for the wonderful threads of advice that I have been researching through, and filing away-just in case.
