My Hatching Journey: the Adventures of a Complete Newbie

[BantyChooks]

How big are the sultans?

never mind, don't tell me, I don't need another breed! Lol!

There are bantams and LF...Mine are 2.2 lbs, so not standard for either type....


PS- You need sultans. They're so entertaining!!

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh! They are close!

Um.... I predict a December duck hatch for you

Edit - nah, January.

.......

Where am I going to put teenage, messy ducks when it hits negative numbers??

 

[WVduckchick]

.......

Where am I going to put teenage, messy ducks when it hits negative numbers??

That's why I am holding off on the call ducks
But I tell ya, I am seriously considering setting some Serama eggs. They are so little, they can stay inside longer. Right?

 

[BantyChooks]

That's why I am holding off on the call ducks
But I tell ya, I am seriously considering setting some Serama eggs. They are so little, they can stay inside longer. Right?

Yeah..... Right!!

 

[BunnynChicks]

Okay.... Random flock pictures... Waiting to hatch mor eggs is turning out harder than anticipated....

Emma, 8 1/2 yr old EE hen



Zoey, sultan pullet


Hazel, sultan pullet


Zoey again


Front chook is Topaz, June 15 hatch cockerel. EE x silkie.
Back chook is Sunshine, EE x sultan pullet from the EHAL. STILL not laying, the little booger.


To the left is Topaz's behind, and in the centre is Jazzy. EE x sultan pullet from the June 15 hatch.



The ducks. Not laying yet.

Duck duck duck DUCKSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

More pics please.

Oh and your chickens are adorbs too.

 

[BantyChooks]

Have I ever posted the 'bator upgrades here?

 

[WVduckchick]

Have I ever posted the 'bator upgrades here?

I don't remember seeing upgrades.

 

[WVduckchick]

I have new duck pics!!

 

[BantyChooks]

I have new duck pics!!

EEEEEE!! So cute!!

Will post upgrades in a minute...

 

[BantyChooks]

Upgrade #1. I've been thinking about past hatches in my spare time and thinking on how to improve hatch rates. I have noticed that despite air cells looking fine at lockdown, hatched chicks are rather "wet" and often have discolourations on the inside where the outside was touching the bator floor. I am thinking this is due to water that drips from the sides (I put wet papertowel on the side) and gets the papertowel of the floor sopping wet. It also gets really mucky and it stinks to high heavens.

Sooo.... I made a hardware cloth grate that raises the floor a bit. Water can fall thru and get the underlying papertowel wet, but icky chicky gunk can't, so it won't stink. It will also keep the eggshells from getting wet.

You can't see in the photo, but it has about 1 inch high sides. Since the photo was taken, I've taken it out and covered the poky bits with duck tape for ease of removal.

Upgrade #2.... HWC over fan. This became necessary due to upgrade #1.