November 2016 Hatch-a-long!!

[theceltichorse]

I you are going into the incubator anyways, and have no pips, grab a couple eggs and candle them to see if you have any internal pips.

The broken pavers work great for me, too. Keeps the water and food a bit higher to keep the shavings out (somewhat). I have the same brooder plate, too!

I am not sure what to look for for internal pips. What do I look for?

I am waiting for my daughter to get back to my house- will ask her to help me grab them. She can hold the lid up a bit while I reach in. Might be easier than doing it by myself. I have to grab the oldest chick anyways to check its bottom. Looks like poop is stuck on and I want to get that off ASAP if it is.

If I end up with just 2 they will have a Taj Mahal of coops as I am having one built that is 6x8! Guess I won't have to worry about them being crowded at all. Haha

The brooder plate gives me so much more peace of mind in regards to fire risk and burn risk to my grandkids and one daycare child. So glad I invested in it. Doesn't feel very warm under there as compared to a heat lamp- but so many positive reviews!

 

[FridayYet]

I am not sure what to look for for internal pips. What do I look for?

I am waiting for my daughter to get back to my house- will ask her to help me grab them. She can hold the lid up a bit while I reach in. Might be easier than doing it by myself. I have to grab the oldest chick anyways to check its bottom. Looks like poop is stuck on and I want to get that off ASAP if it is.

If I end up with just 2 they will have a Taj Mahal of coops as I am having one built that is 6x8! Guess I won't have to worry about them being crowded at all. Haha

The brooder plate gives me so much more peace of mind in regards to fire risk and burn risk to my grandkids and one daycare child. So glad I invested in it. Doesn't feel very warm under there as compared to a heat lamp- but so many positive reviews!

You can often see a dark triangle shape moving around in the air cell where the beak has broken through. Sometimes you can hear peeping, too!

 

[Faraday40]

I you are going into the incubator anyways, and have no pips, grab a couple eggs and candle them to see if you have any internal pips.

The broken pavers work great for me, too. Keeps the water and food a bit higher to keep the shavings out (somewhat). I have the same brooder plate, too!

You guys are so lucky!

 

[NysiaAnera]

Just a couple update pictures of my 2 week olds.

First one on the roost bars is little Willy! I didn't think she would be able see well enough to actually get up onto them. These roosts were not actually built for this small brood box so they look huge! Lol But they still work just fine.

The chicks love the hay! They all use it to warm their feet periodically. This picture has 5 week olds, and 2 week olds together. Of course, when I get closer to get a better picture, they start running away.

 

[Faraday40]

You can often see a dark triangle shape moving around in the air cell where the beak has broken through. Sometimes you can hear peeping, too!

x2
The flashlight often wakes them up, so they move & peep.

Your broody plate doesn't have to be hot. It just needs to be as warm as a hen. They press up to it for warmth as needed.

 

[theceltichorse]

You can often see a dark triangle shape moving around in the air cell where the beak has broken through. Sometimes you can hear peeping, too!

Ok- I may attempt it. I don't have a dark area though right now. My incubator is in my kitchen in a corner. I may just wait it out and hope for the best.

I don't know... Ugh!

I do know that I want to to this again- then I will have the issue of integrating new babies with existing ones! Glutton for punishment, I am! LOL

 

[Faraday40]

Just a couple update pictures of my 2 week olds.


That's a great little brooder!! I'd live to have one in my coop like that!

 

[theceltichorse]

x2
The flashlight often wakes them up, so they move & peep.

Your broody plate doesn't have to be hot. It just needs to be as warm as a hen. They press up to it for warmth as needed.

Thank you! I am a nervous new chicken mom! Not like I don't have enough other things to worry about! LOL

 

[theceltichorse]

If I do candle the existing eggs, how much do I need to worry about "shrink wrapping" the babies inside? I am so paranoid about that!

 

[FridayYet]

If I do candle the existing eggs, how much do I need to worry about "shrink wrapping" the babies inside? I am so paranoid about that!

If there are no pips, you don't need to worry about shrink wrapping. (If your humidity has been OK all along.). Once air can get in the egg through a pip, you need the air to be moist.