November/December "Hatch-a-Long"

[Farmer Viola]

Seems my roo and hen have come down with fowl pox, and now another roo too. Does anyone know if I've got them quarantined if the rest of the flock is safe?

Oh dear I'm sorry!

It's important to quarantine asap as you know, I'm not sure if there is a medical treatment for pox other than vaccination?? and even then it's not a standard thing to vaccinate for(?)

Here is the natural treatment recommended in this book for fowl pox:
Quote: she has way more info on the fumigation technique and other cures in the book. I've never dealt with pox myself, but I hope this can help. I'm thinking treat one, treat everyone. If they were all exposed to the newly infected roo?

 

[SoManyHats]

you added a blob of wet paper towel?
are you positive you hydrometer is accurate?

at my house 60 % is fine....as long as it a good bit higher than they incubated

I added another wet sponge. They incubated at 35-40%.

 

[Varglet]

Since according to my sister, the eggs should have hatched a few days ago, I candled one of them for about two seconds, because the chick was in the process of trying to break into the air cell. Quickly, but gently returned it to the incubator and locked my door so my sister won't mess with them again...

 

[Farmer Viola]

So my humidity still won't come up. Should I put a humidifier in the room the incubator is in? Or will 60% be okay?

what type of incubator? are you opening the lid? what type of ventilation?
secondary hygrometer option?

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: I'm thinking your hydrometer is incorrect....it's got to be high enough with 2 sponges! I've had chicks hatch at 25%! you should be fine...

 

[sweetappleacres]

Oh dear I'm sorry!

It's important to quarantine asap as you know, I'm not sure if there is a medical treatment for pox other than vaccination?? and even then it's not a standard thing to vaccinate for(?)

Here is the natural treatment recommended in this book for fowl pox:
she has way more info on the fumigation technique and other cures in the book. I've never dealt with pox myself, but I hope this can help. I'm thinking treat one, treat everyone. If they were all exposed to the newly infected roo?

The roo I just noticed today they've had no contact with for days bc he's a bully. The other roo they were just sep from as of last night but no one is exhibiting symptoms and hopefully it stays that way. Everyone is on tetracycline.

 

[SoManyHats]

what type of incubator? are you opening the lid? what type of ventilation?
secondary hygrometer option?

Homemade styrofoam, incubator. There are small (3/16 drill bit) holes around the bottom on all sides. The top is split in the middle, and where it comes together the sides are separated about 1/8th inch. I am using two hydrometers, one says 57%, the other 60%. I only opened the lid to add a sponge and put the other hydrometer in there. That was 2 hours ago.

Edited to add that the humidity in the room is 45%

 

[Farmer Viola]

this guy says keep it at 55% during LD:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ere-everyone-should-read-this/10#post_1331714
Basically his strategy is 1-17, 42% to 48%. 18-21 = 55% but not over
could depend on you humidity for the last 17 d?

I think you're fine at that humidity, like heidisgran said you have multiple sources of humidity in the bator..

 

[SoManyHats]

Okay, now my humidity is up to 66% - I guess it just needed more time after I put the second sponge in. BUT, my temp is down to 97. Should I turn it up, or will it even out once the humidity has.

Oh, random thing - my light bulb has been blinking fast since the humidity got above 50. Not like it's cycling on and off fast - it's blinking fast while it's on. Anybody else experienced that?

 

[DeannaA]

It's freezing outside. When I got home late from work, I found Sara, my favorite (very smart) chicken snoozing in the laundry room. It's suposed to be in the 20's tonight. I'm letting her stay.