November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[MrsJenSmith2007]

Hi everyone! Accidentally posted in the main thread earlier! OOPS! LOL I am new to hatching and expecting our first hatch on SUNDAY! Very excited! We have been raising chickens for about seven years. We have various kinds of chickens and we love them ALL! We actually have 2 coops, a bantam coop and a coop for my "bigger chickens."

This month we had our first hen go broody and hatch her first eggs. Sadly three hatched but only one survived. My 2 young daughters (4 and 6) have fondly named her Peeperella and she is currently living the good life in the house due to the early cold weather here in WV! We did make one mistake with this hatch (that we know of so far.) We set eggs on a few different days, so we are actually going to have a few hatch days in the coming days/weeks. Mistake we will not make again!

We are using a homemade stryofoam incubator. Our temps/humidity have been very good throughout this hatch and when I candled the eggs everything seemed good, at least to my amateur eye.

Also, I not only have 2 beautiful little girls and 28 (and growing) hens and roosters, but also a 7 year old Boxer and an 8 year old Boston Terrier along with the boss of the house, our African Grey Parrot Clark who at times could be confused with a chicken, dog, or person depending on the voice he chooses to use that day! Crazy but happy family!!
wanted to post here to introduce myself, because I have a feeling I will be needing advice or just want to share pics and the excitement of our first hatch!! Good luck with your new peepers!!!

 

[DeannaA]

Today I went to have my teeth cleaned and I took Max. He waited in the car but I told the hygienist about him. She wanted to see so I brought him in. It was llunch so all of the ladies that worked there came out to see him. Max showed off for them. I've never seen him strutt so much. They all want a turkey now.

When we got home, there was stuff turned over and knocked down all over my house. Someone had sneaked in and went through my things. ANd here is her mug shot.


Sara's time schedule for laying her egg would have been 3pm but I wasn't home yet. I got home at 4 and she held it. I opened the doggie door and she pushed everyone out of the way ran in and laid her egg in less than 10 minutes. Good old Sara. Cinnamon (the one that broke in) knocked over the pine shavings and cracked the egg from yesterday. I still have 8 that I put in the incubator.

Yesterday's hatch- Only one hatched so I bought a chick from the feed store to keep it company. I had one silkie egg that made it to lockdown. I helped it today and it was still alive but it was malpositioned. It's head was at the small end. I got the head out and it pushed itself out in my hand before I could put it back. It took a few breaths and stopped breathing. I helped it breath. It started again, 4 more breathes on its own then stopped. I am so frustrated. The eggs were not shipped. I even had a turner, fan and 3 hygrometers. But one night it went upto 106'. I've had silkies hatch with a bit of a high forehead but this one is huge. Is this a deformity?

 

[Heidisgran]

I'm thinking she may have accidentally prcked it open then seen or known there was nothing in there. Like I said there's no way she would have eaten an almost completely formed chick and not leave a trace if it with a 3 hour period. It may have just stopped forming early on. Besides silkies aren't known to eat their chicks.

I do hope so...I believe it would be highly unusual

 

[Heidisgran]

Hi everyone! Accidentally posted in the main thread earlier! OOPS! LOL I am new to hatching and expecting our first hatch on SUNDAY! Very excited! We have been raising chickens for about seven years. We have various kinds of chickens and we love them ALL! We actually have 2 coops, a bantam coop and a coop for my "bigger chickens."

This month we had our first hen go broody and hatch her first eggs. Sadly three hatched but only one survived. My 2 young daughters (4 and 6) have fondly named her Peeperella and she is currently living the good life in the house due to the early cold weather here in WV! We did make one mistake with this hatch (that we know of so far.) We set eggs on a few different days, so we are actually going to have a few hatch days in the coming days/weeks. Mistake we will not make again!

We are using a homemade stryofoam incubator. Our temps/humidity have been very good throughout this hatch and when I candled the eggs everything seemed good, at least to my amateur eye.

Also, I not only have 2 beautiful little girls and 28 (and growing) hens and roosters, but also a 7 year old Boxer and an 8 year old Boston Terrier along with the boss of the house, our African Grey Parrot Clark who at times could be confused with a chicken, dog, or person depending on the voice he chooses to use that day! Crazy but happy family!!
wanted to post here to introduce myself, because I have a feeling I will be needing advice or just want to share pics and the excitement of our first hatch!! Good luck with your new peepers!!!

welcome and happy hatching

 

[Heidisgran]

Today I went to have my teeth cleaned and I took Max. He waited in the car but I told the hygienist about him. She wanted to see so I brought him in. It was llunch so all of the ladies that worked there came out to see him. Max showed off for them. I've never seen him strutt so much. They all want a turkey now.

When we got home, there was stuff turned over and knocked down all over my house. Someone had sneaked in and went through my things. ANd here is her mug shot.


Sara's time schedule for laying her egg would have been 3pm but I wasn't home yet. I got home at 4 and she held it. I opened the doggie door and she pushed everyone out of the way ran in and laid her egg in less than 10 minutes. Good old Sara. Cinnamon (the one that broke in) knocked over the pine shavings and cracked the egg from yesterday. I still have 8 that I put in the incubator.

Yesterday's hatch- Only one hatched so I bought a chick from the feed store to keep it company. I had one silkie egg that made it to lockdown. I helped it today and it was still alive but it was malpositioned. It's head was at the small end. I got the head out and it pushed itself out in my hand before I could put it back. It took a few breaths and stopped breathing. I helped it breath. It started again, 4 more breathes on its own then stopped. I am so frustrated. The eggs were not shipped. I even had a turner, fan and 3 hygrometers. But one night it went upto 106'. I've had silkies hatch with a bit of a high forehead but this one is huge. Is this a deformity?

poor little angel

 

[chickydee64]

If she's out of work, then she has the time to do it properly. Most of the people I have delt with have always offered more eggs if I just paid shipping. I did have a guy I bought Guinea eggs from. That were packed badly. I asked why he packed that way and did he know there were better ways. He said it was good enough. I only had 8 out of 27 make it to lock down and they were all malpositioned. I couldn't save a single one. I get mad when people act like it's not a big deal. It is very hard for me to see all of those chicks die.

x's 2 ..........and heartbreaking to put 21 days into sweating it out..............
Buyer beware for sure..................

 

[familypendragon]

Today I went to have my teeth cleaned and I took Max. He waited in the car but I told the hygienist about him. She wanted to see so I brought him in. It was llunch so all of the ladies that worked there came out to see him. Max showed off for them. I've never seen him strutt so much. They all want a turkey now. When we got home, there was stuff turned over and knocked down all over my house. Someone had sneaked in and went through my things. ANd here is her mug shot. Sara's time schedule for laying her egg would have been 3pm but I wasn't home yet. I got home at 4 and she held it. I opened the doggie door and she pushed everyone out of the way ran in and laid her egg in less than 10 minutes. Good old Sara. Cinnamon (the one that broke in) knocked over the pine shavings and cracked the egg from yesterday. I still have 8 that I put in the incubator. Yesterday's hatch- Only one hatched so I bought a chick from the feed store to keep it company. I had one silkie egg that made it to lockdown. I helped it today and it was still alive but it was malpositioned. It's head was at the small end. I got the head out and it pushed itself out in my hand before I could put it back. It took a few breaths and stopped breathing. I helped it breath. It started again, 4 more breathes on its own then stopped. I am so frustrated. The eggs were not shipped. I even had a turner, fan and 3 hygrometers. But one night it went upto 106'. I've had silkies hatch with a bit of a high forehead but this one is huge. Is this a deformity?

Poor little silkie Is that what they mean when I see people say "vaulted skull" on silkies?

 

[foxystag]

Today I went to have my teeth cleaned and I took Max. He waited in the car but I told the hygienist about him. She wanted to see so I brought him in. It was llunch so all of the ladies that worked there came out to see him. Max showed off for them. I've never seen him strutt so much. They all want a turkey now.

When we got home, there was stuff turned over and knocked down all over my house. Someone had sneaked in and went through my things. ANd here is her mug shot.


Sara's time schedule for laying her egg would have been 3pm but I wasn't home yet. I got home at 4 and she held it. I opened the doggie door and she pushed everyone out of the way ran in and laid her egg in less than 10 minutes. Good old Sara. Cinnamon (the one that broke in) knocked over the pine shavings and cracked the egg from yesterday. I still have 8 that I put in the incubator.

Yesterday's hatch- Only one hatched so I bought a chick from the feed store to keep it company. I had one silkie egg that made it to lockdown. I helped it today and it was still alive but it was malpositioned. It's head was at the small end. I got the head out and it pushed itself out in my hand before I could put it back. It took a few breaths and stopped breathing. I helped it breath. It started again, 4 more breathes on its own then stopped. I am so frustrated. The eggs were not shipped. I even had a turner, fan and 3 hygrometers. But one night it went upto 106'. I've had silkies hatch with a bit of a high forehead but this one is huge. Is this a deformity?

(( Poor lil darling..

 

[foxystag]

I absolutely love how this chick is really having its way with the shell when I cheer on for it! AH COME ON BBY. COME ON-

 

[chickydee64]

HELP!!!!!! My hen ate her pipping egg/chick! (aleegedly, presumably) Earlier when I went out there I saw the hole, where I assume the chick had pipped. I just went out again and saw blood all on her face and nothing in the egg. I wouldn't think she could consume a whole chick and not leave even a tiny fiber of it left. I'm thinking the egg wasn't fully developed and was still early in phase for her to have consumed it only leaving the hollow shell and some slime. Any suggestions on if this may be the case or am I dealing with a cannibal chicken? I don't want her to eat her babies that are hatching!!!! I'm scared for them!

Is this her first clutch.? I had a young hen do this and ate everything except one chick that was hidden under her wing. I took it from her.
She acted frantic about the hatching eggs..........She sat a clutch later in the summer. I planned to take the chicks but she raised them and was a wonderful mom.
First time dogs will do his occasionally............
I am sorry this happened to you