New Incubation Questions

[Sydney65]

Oh that’s great that they are eating! I’ve had good luck fixing spraddle leg in keets with a hobble so hopefully little 6’s legs will be good in no time.

That’s funny that you are calling them by their numbers… I once had a group of iguanas that were all numbered, names written on their sides with nail polish. It didn’t take long for those numbers to stick as names. Even when they got big, their number names persisted. Which also reminds me of the freed borg “7 of 9” of Star Trek fame…

Did you watch Stranger Things w/your dtr? The little girl's name was 11. I had the eggs numbered so I could log their progress. They have names, I just haven't decided which is which yet. Plus - paranoia. Himself is saying everything you guys are being nice enough not to say. But- I mean, after you've let them sleep on you all night, a name doesn't really up the ante.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Did you watch Stranger Things w/your dtr? The little girl's name was 11. I had the eggs numbered so I could log their progress. They have names, I just haven't decided which is which yet. Plus - paranoia. Himself is saying everything you guys are being nice enough not to say. But- I mean, after you've let them sleep on you all night, a name doesn't really up the ante.

Oh yes! We had family watch alongs for Stranger Things, watching all of the episodes in a marathon! Those were some really great times. Now our daughter is states away in college, all the way in Florida and I worry about her constantly. Our son is 16, driving on his own, new girlfriend and I barely see him too! Stranger Things brings back sweet memories indeed.

Little keets are fragile, but you’re doing everything you can for these guys! If they have any chance of making it, I’m sure you will pull them through.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Well, I missed all the action because I wasn't getting notifications. I'm sorry only 2 hatched but they sure are adorable!

 

[Sydney65]

Well, I missed all the action because I wasn't getting notifications. I'm sorry only 2 hatched but they sure are adorable!

Aw, thanks, @CluckNDoodle .

 

[Sydney65]

#15 died a few days ago. It shouldn't be a surprise, her egg was one I had doubts on, she was weakest of those hatched, she was so pale at first her legs were white. She rallied some & developed color in her legs, but it still doesn't seem like they ate as well as past keets.
I figured it was only a matter of time until #6 went, too, if from nothing more than depression & confusion. He's been eating a bit of egg every morning & settled down a bit this a.m. is chirping and trilling for the first time. I guess we'll see how he fairs this winter.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

#15 died a few days ago. It shouldn't be a surprise, her egg was one I had doubts on, she was weakest of those hatched, she was so pale at first her legs were white. She rallied some & developed color in her legs, but it still doesn't seem like they ate as well as past keets.
I figured it was only a matter of time until #6 went, too, if from nothing more than depression & confusion. He's been eating a bit of egg every morning & settled down a bit this a.m. is chirping and trilling for the first time. I guess we'll see how he fairs this winter.

Oh no!!! You cannot catch a break!!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

#15 died a few days ago. It shouldn't be a surprise, her egg was one I had doubts on, she was weakest of those hatched, she was so pale at first her legs were white. She rallied some & developed color in her legs, but it still doesn't seem like they ate as well as past keets.
I figured it was only a matter of time until #6 went, too, if from nothing more than depression & confusion. He's been eating a bit of egg every morning & settled down a bit this a.m. is chirping and trilling for the first time. I guess we'll see how he fairs this winter.

I'm thinking there has to be something wrong with her flock genetically or maybe with what she's feeding them causing deficiencies.

Every year since I started hatching I have been hatching Blue/Black/Splash Marans eggs from a local friend of mine. I know they're well cared for and I had always had wonderful hatches, then suddenly I was having issues with the hatches. Most of the chicks looked fine but some of them looked sickly and we're DWARFED, like completely dwarfed and even with assistance I wasn't able to keep them alive long enough to even make it out of the incubator. I never did solve that mystery entirely but I think I tried 3 other hatches with the same results. It was weird to say the least and very heartbreaking but it was only from that flock so I assume one of the new hens she added to her flock had some genetic issues.

Anyway, all I'm saying is don't give up but maybe try eggs from somewhere else!

 

[R2elk]

I'm thinking there has to be something wrong with her flock genetically or maybe with what she's feeding them causing deficiencies.

Every year since I started hatching I have been hatching Blue/Black/Splash Marans eggs from a local friend of mine. I know they're well cared for and I had always had wonderful hatches, then suddenly I was having issues with the hatches. Most of the chicks looked fine but some of them looked sickly and we're DWARFED, like completely dwarfed and even with assistance I wasn't able to keep them alive long enough to even make it out of the incubator. I never did solve that mystery entirely but I think I tried 3 other hatches with the same results. It was weird to say the least and very heartbreaking but it was only from that flock so I assume one of the new hens she added to her flock had some genetic issues.

Anyway, all I'm saying is don't give up but maybe try eggs from somewhere else!

Genetics and parental nutrition play a really big part in successful hatching eggs.

 

[Sydney65]

I'm thinking there has to be something wrong with her flock genetically or maybe with what she's feeding them causing deficiencies.

Every year since I started hatching I have been hatching Blue/Black/Splash Marans eggs from a local friend of mine. I know they're well cared for and I had always had wonderful hatches, then suddenly I was having issues with the hatches. Most of the chicks looked fine but some of them looked sickly and we're DWARFED, like completely dwarfed and even with assistance I wasn't able to keep them alive long enough to even make it out of the incubator. I never did solve that mystery entirely but I think I tried 3 other hatches with the same results. It was weird to say the least and very heartbreaking but it was only from that flock so I assume one of the new hens she added to her flock had some genetic issues.

Anyway, all I'm saying is don't give up but maybe try eggs from somewhere else!

I've been wondering - and kind of hoping- that's it. I don't know what happens with the quality/viability toward the end of season, either. He told me one had stopped laying.
I was concerned by the smaller eggs that lost more weight faster,ended up losing more than 13% and I *think* shrink-wrapped. I say *think* bc I know there are 2 membranes, and if I understood correctly, the inner one is supposed to be papery white and form fitting. But only one had managed to get it's beak through before giving up. Several DIS died right before lockdown, but as you said, they were small. Even candling them I could see they weren't filling up the egg.
By all means, I'm a rookie and make mistakes, but this has been - rough. Whatever I decide to do, will definitely be via recommended sources.

 

[Sydney65]

I've been wondering - and kind of hoping- that's it. I don't know what happens with the quality/viability toward the end of season, either. He told me one had stopped laying.
I was concerned by the smaller eggs that lost more weight faster,ended up losing more than 13% and I *think* shrink-wrapped. I say *think* bc I know there are 2 membranes, and if I understood correctly, the inner one is supposed to be papery white and form fitting. But only one had managed to get it's beak through before giving up. Several DIS died right before lockdown, but as you said, they were small. Even candling them I could see they weren't filling up the egg.
By all means, I'm a rookie and make mistakes, but this has been - rough. Whatever I decide to do, will definitely be via recommended source

So can one of you clarify, IS that "shrink wrapping" or the normal form fitting etc suppose to be that way? I didn't think that papery white was supposed to be diff to get out of, and *shrink wrap" was the outer membrane and brown.