November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[Varglet]

So, I'm working on getting my incubator ready, hoping to have it done by the 10th (preferably before), but I'm a little confused at the moment. I have two thermometers in it, and they both have read the same temp the past day and a half; consistently around 100-101. But when I put my hand inside it, it just doesn't feel like 100 degrees to me. I'm at a loss of what to even think with that one...

I don't have a hygrometer yet, because I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere so they don't sell any around here, and I don't have a debit/credit card so I can't order online (SOMEONE melted the one I had before, so I need a new one). But I'm going out of town on Wednesday, so I'll pick up one then (and probably one or two more thermometers...).

So far I only have three eggs from my only laying pullet. For some strange reason she felt like sitting on the fake rock egg I have in one of the nest boxes the day before yesterday, though not for very long, so she didn't lay that day... Do Delawares go broody? She just doesn't seem the type...

 

[maske]

I had a silky born that cannot stand up. Don't know what to do seems like its in pain or really miserable its not sprayed let's probably I have one like that and I take the plagues and she's doing walking around eating and drinking this baby won't eat drink get up it just goes round in circles so sad. When I put her in a coffee cup she stopped crying for the night

 

[maske]

this is the one I taped its legs and it's doing really good

 

[dvoice]

Ok people, its been a while since I have checked on this thread.... I have a silkie sitting on 2 eggs, eggs three got stepped on when my bully Americauna insisted on laying her eggs in Momma Hen's box

Today is day 15, 6 days left. I candled last night and there are nice veins and lots of movement in one, not quite as much in the other. I have a few questions though...

What is "lock down"??? When does this start and should I leave her alone during that time?

Also, she is still trying to sit on the wrong eggs. She will go out to potty and eat, and come back to sit on the wrong eggs. When I am home, I check on her every 4 hours or so, but when I work night shift and sleep all day, I cannot do that. Will she begin to sit consistently and not leave in the last few days??

Since she frequently does this, will the eggs take longer to hatch?

Also, when is a good time to move momma and babies to a lower box? They are "second story" and I am hesitant to move her before the eggs hatch. I doubt day old chicks could climb out so maybe the day they are hatched?? Thanks

These last six days are going to kill me!

As for broody's. I incubate but my dad has been doing it the old fashioned way since I remember. He actually moves the broody into a box with a wire mesh top in a darker are of the barn and takes the broody out once a day for about 25 mins. he does this all the way through lockdown. when any chicks have hatched he moves them to a brooder and leaves hen sitting on the rest. he doesn't leave the hen with the chicks and he usually gets between 80-100% hatch on anywhere from 8-12 eggs.

 

[chickydee64]

this is the one I taped its legs and it's doing really good

HI, I find that getting them vitamins is really helpful.
I use the infant poly- vi-sol WITHOUT iron.
Three drops a day..I hold the chick and drop the vitamins onto the side of the beak........Good Luck

 

[lizgarf]

No I hatch shipped eggs all the time, that doesn't seem to stop them from hatching
make sure to have a good amount of humidity for hatching

Thanks - are you saying that shipped eggs' cells are usually saddle-shaped, and it's usually ok?
I have broodies, no incubator, so they'll have to take care of humidity - of course, it's the driest time of year, here.
Any thoughts on the lack of veins in the one? I used to be able to see veins in a lighter area, but now, the area is either all dark (with some fuzzy bits) or all light. All I'm going with are pictures of candled eggs online, so it's hard to know what's possible in a larger sample.

 

[maske]

[COLOR=008080]HI, I find that getting them vitamins is really helpful.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008080]I use the infant poly- vi-sol WITHOUT iron.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008080]Three drops a day..I hold the chick and drop the vitamins onto the side of the beak........Good Luck[/COLOR]

thank you I will try that

 

[sweetappleacres]

One of my roo's is harassing my broody when she goes on break. He insists on mounting her and she's doesn't want it. Is that normal behavior? He is young, and she's a first time broody.

 

[Bens-Hens]

We have hit the halfway mark in our hatch, 47 went in, removed 13 clears on Day 7. Weighed the remainders in and weights are on track for the correct loss.

Can't wait to meet a few fuzz butts!

 

[foxystag]

OMG. OMG. OMG.

I been candling one particular egg in my Styrofoam incubator- not touching the ones in the Brinsea or even the other eggs yet, but OMG. The one I checked up on has VEINS. It did end up having a saddle-shaped air cell but I am going to keep up on this one and hope it can hatch. Now that I know my eggs have some CHANCE, I will candle this one again in 4-5 days.