No bator

[newbiecaroline]

Hi Pat, I have a thermostat laying amongst the eggs to watch easily.

 

[newbiecaroline]

Hi Ksacres
They had two chicks in the coop over a week ago (close to 2 weeks maybe now) and all of a sudden they were gone, no idea why. so thought if other hens or rooster is killing the little guys then we should bring the eggs indoors. Two of our 6 hens were sitting on a big batch, no idea who's the momma. When we discovered the chicks gone there was 3 hens sitting on the same batch! So we took the eggs, got the best lamp we had for the job cut cardboard for over the bulb and candled them all, three were clear, so dicarded them. The rest were all dark inside, so set them up with a heat pad on low under the box, eggs on towel, and a lamp with 5 arms that can be placed any which way i want over them, a glass of warm water a damp warm cloth and a thermometer in the middle of the eggs. set temp at 99 and have brooded over them since. must say, pretty boring staring at eggs all day and all night.
wish i could tell if they are ok, I gently moved each one a few mins ago to see if any response and nothing, maybe i have boring lazy chicks? Would/could they respond?
lol
i need a stethescope!
Everything I have set up and know what to do I have learned on this site!
one egg kept me up all the first night when i saw yellow on it thinking it was a beak, just a stinky egg found out i had to throw it out grrrrr
I now have the temp set @ 101
I'm thinking to spray the eggs with warmish water? maybe every couple hours i did it couple times but it evaporates quickly under the lights, should i keep doing that?
Caroline Broody

 

[newbiecaroline]

Hi Jkcove, I thought of plastic too, the problem would be the heat from the lamps.......should I spray the eggs with warm water periodically?

 

[ksacres]

Can you go to your feed store and get a styrofoam bator? I think you may have better luck with that than with the setup you have. You can try to hold one up to your ear and see if you can hear it. I know that sounds funny, but you can actually hear them tapping on the inside of the shell, you can also feel them move in your hands as they reposition inside the shells. The best hatches I've ever had have come from broody hens. If they are still sitting, you can try to put a few back under them and then just take the chicks when they hatch.

 

[newbiecaroline]

You know I thought this am that would have been a better idea! now I'm wondering if I shouldn't bring momma in and set them up in the laundry room? its extremely cold here. I'm also wondering if this might be better for once they all get reintroduced to the coop? momma watch them and they be bigger than the two they killed. only problem then would be our cat.......sheesh.nothings easy huh

 

[ksacres]

Welcome to chickens

If you want to try relocated one or two momma hens, then do it at night when they are sleeping. Get everything set up, move the hens in the dark, then put a few (not all) the eggs under them. Check them in the morning and if they are settled in tight, you can give them the rest of the eggs. Some hens will accept being moved, and some will refuse to keep setting.

My silkies are the best/worst broodies. The will stop laying eggs and go sit on their nests, but they often give up before I even decide to give them eggs. And they refuse to be moved. I guess you could say they are fickle.

 

[newbiecaroline]

Ok, I decided on the 'au natural' incubator.
I cleaned the huge dog kennel got it all set up in the laundry room with towels feed and water.
Sons (took 2 of them lol) went and fetched momma from the coop. Gave one a clean cloth to bring in any eggs she was sitting on, there was one. Then in she went to the kennel...but...I was a bit slow getting the new egg in there it only made it to the inside edge of the box I had the 11 eggs in. So thats where she sat....on that one egg........so.....my son put on a glove and braved reaching past her to place the egg in the middle of the 11.....well she got out.....all hell broke loose.....took a bit to catch her again....now shes back in, and a blanket over the kennel so she can 'settle down'...hopefully she broods all the eggs. Also hopefully, the eggs stayed warm and all will work out......right now we would be happy if just one chick survives us newbies.
That whole box and lights etc was too scarey for me...I actually had time now to take a shower because mommas on the job......thank you broody momma......they sure get upset huh?
Now all the doors are kept closed and the cat lingers right outside them....but we can deal with him! will keep you all posted...

 

[newbiecaroline]

Hi Ksacres.....I didn't read your post till after we moved her in...oh well it's done deal now.
I set the kennel up on the counter so I can manuever better for feed and water etc, better than on my hands and knees.
oh man I hope this works it's been a lot of work worry etc!

 

[ksacres]

good luck! Sometimes they will stay no matter what, and sometimes they won't. Come on chickies!

 

[newbiecaroline]

I am so depressed.
I went to take a peek under the blacket and all I saw was the eggs....lift the blanket more and there she is sitting on the top corner of the box!
So panic again.....son helps me get the eggs again which are now cooled down.....
back under the lights and I really really don't know how they will fare through this now....
do i gradually get them warm or fast as i can?