NY chicken lover!!!!

[marquisella]

Quote: I have worse luck hatching using a hen. I know we are all concerned about humidity, cleanliness, etc. but when I look at a hens bottom, and the nest she has the eggs in, and lots of times, with poop on the shells, I don't know why we are so obsessed with hatching because in nature, the surroundings & the hens are DIRTY!

 

[rancher hicks]

I really don't know. My office stays between the temps of 65-75. The temp never rose above 102 or below 99. The humidity went up that one day I was going to follow "the rule" of making it higher the last three days but then I removed the extra water after some mentioned the risk of drowning with too much humidity. So it went back down to 55% that same day. The only thing I can think of is they heard the Silkie making its way to the way to the finish line first and were afraid they were going to have it their "leader". Sorry but I have to joke otherwise I just get upset over it. ;-)

Here's chick #1, the Silkie


OMG, I cannot wait for this second BR mix chick to dry, it's coloring looks sooo pretty! It's like a silver bluish color with yellow underside.

You've no reason to be upset so don't be. I mean other than that you hatched another silky.

Many things can affect a hatch. The quality of the egg, the health of the mother, shell porousness.

Now for humidity I would try the 35 % - day 16, 55 % to day 19 and then 65 % to finish. The article I have says the room should be low traffic with a temp of between 70 -80. Try to keep it steady. Our office has a door and I've attached a note that says to keep it closed. My Gen 1588 makes a whining sounds so it's hard not to notice the incubator is running.

I prefer to candle on day 10 or later and only that one time. Keep your humidity on the low end of those percentages. A fluctuation over night is not bad so don't worry. Remember it's easier to increase it than decrease it.

I like to give everyone some vitamins a few days or week before collecting eggs. You can check the shells by candling before hand. Don't be temped to open the incubator once you've candled on day 10. Trust your judgement.

If you collect eggs over a number of days store them in a cool humid place such as the basement. You can get a hygrometer for there too if you are unsure of the 55% they recommend. Even a small college sized fridge will do. You can hang a temp gauge inside it.

I'm sure your record will increase. I have no trouble when I candle and toss a third of what I set. Such is life. That's why I load the incu beyond the 35 spaces I have. By the time I candle I might have a full incubator, but usually not.

I don't use more than one thermometer cuz it would just drive me bonkers. I trust the digital I have. If you do, take the average of the two and go with that. This recommended by D. Schrider of the ALBC.

I wish you well.

 

[Lynzi777]

You've no reason to be upset so don't be. I mean other than that you hatched another silky.

Many things can affect a hatch. The quality of the egg, the health of the mother, shell porousness.

Now for humidity I would try the 35 % - day 16, 55 % to day 19 and then 65 % to finish. The article I have says the room should be low traffic with a temp of between 70 -80. Try to keep it steady. Our office has a door and I've attached a note that says to keep it closed. My Gen 1588 makes a whining sounds so it's hard not to notice the incubator is running.

I prefer to candle on day 10 or later and only that one time. Keep your humidity on the low end of those percentages. A fluctuation over night is not bad so don't worry. Remember it's easier to increase it than decrease it.

I like to give everyone some vitamins a few days or week before collecting eggs. You can check the shells by candling before hand. Don't be temped to open the incubator once you've candled on day 10. Trust your judgement.

If you collect eggs over a number of days store them in a cool humid place such as the basement. You can get a hygrometer for there too if you are unsure of the 55% they recommend. Even a small college sized fridge will do. You can hang a temp gauge inside it.

I'm sure your record will increase. I have no trouble when I candle and toss a third of what I set. Such is life. That's why I load the incu beyond the 35 spaces I have. By the time I candle I might have a full incubator, but usually not.

I don't use more than one thermometer cuz it would just drive me bonkers. I trust the digital I have. If you do, take the average of the two and go with that. This recommended by D. Schrider of the ALBC.

I wish you well.

I am definitely going to try this with my next hatch. Thanks!

IF you don't open the dud eggs, you will not be able to fix what you are doing wrong. If you kept the humidity at 55% all the time, they most likely drowned when they pipped. I am guessing that the Orp eggs were big, and didn't dry down enough. If you candle them now, see how large the air cell is. It should be 1/3 of the egg. If it is less, then not enough water evaporated from the egg. The chick that hatched was a Silkie, small egg, so it dried down enough. My Silkies always hatch better than other breeds, at least for me.

They were kept at 55% the whole time, so it sounds like that was my problem. I remember the air cell looking small when I candled towards the end and wondered why it was so small, so that explains that. And Yes the silkie egg DID look about 1/3 of the egg air cell. Sounds like you are right on point with my problem. I'll have to try Rancher's methods with the humidity next time and start low and slowly rise. Just so weird that every article I pulled recommended somewhere between 60-80% humidity the last three days. I wonder why.


Should I be concerned at all with my silkie's legs? Every time it gets up to walk it's legs/feet do a "split". I would think that maybe it was just slipping on the paper towels while walking or getting up but the BR chick that just hatched today is already walking fine, it's not slipping or falling at all and it's feet are always underneath it where as the silkie falls and it's legs do a split. Is it lacking muscle in it's legs to keep it upright??

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Can you meet us on the 24 th ?

I'll be there from 6am till 10:45ish. I have to leave by 11 to get home for my sons party. If we could meet before 11 that would work for mer. I work in the Grange Ox Roast Building that is next to the poultry barn. There are tables on the side. It is usually quiet there. I could meet you there, but I really need to leave by 11.

 

[miquwid]

Here is chick # 2, the BR x Splash Orp mix

Very cute I'm interested to see how he/she turns out. I hope the silkie does okay.

 

[marquisella]

Yes. Put a bandaid on its legs. Wrap one end around the bottom of the leg right above the foot, with the bandaid pad in the middle as a guide to how far apart to attach the second end of the bandaid around the other leg. If it still is having trouble, also put it in a cup with something that is non slip in the bottom. Take it out every few hours to eat & drink. It should take a day or 2 to be walking ok.. The bandaid & cup keep the legs in the correct position so it can get them working. This works about 1/2 the time. Sometimes, it doesn't and there isn't much else you can do.

 

[ke5hde]

Wow, lot's to catch up on. I'll have to sit down tomorrow when I'm off and go through the posts.

Lynzi don't let it bother you. If hatching were easy, everyone would be doing it. Every time I run the incubator is another learning experience. It does sound like they may have drown in the shell. It's ok, things happen, you learn and move on. Luckily they were your own eggs and not expensive shipped ones.
As for the silkie chick, could it be spraddle leg? If so I did a quick google search and found this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41693/spraddle-leg-splay-leg-treatment-instructions Maybe it will help.

 

[ChickPrincess]

BOCES has classes at night & weekends...Check your local school.

I did. Thanks for the suggestion, though. No nursing stuff at night.

 

[Lynzi777]

Wow, lot's to catch up on. I'll have to sit down tomorrow when I'm off and go through the posts. Lynzi don't let it bother you. If hatching were easy, everyone would be doing it. Every time I run the incubator is another learning experience. It does sound like they may have drown in the shell. It's ok, things happen, you learn and move on. Luckily they were your own eggs and not expensive shipped ones. As for the silkie chick, could it be spraddle leg? If so I did a quick google search and found this https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41693/spraddle-leg-splay-leg-treatment-instructions Maybe it will help.

Chris that's exactly it! Thanks! I just ran to the store for band aids, cuz you know of course we were out! :-/ just wrapped this little chickies legs up. Hope this works!

 

[JayinCohoes]

Hi All,

Does anyone know of an organic fungicide for vegetable plants and fruit trees that is also animal friendly? With all of the rain we've gotten this year I have every kind of fungi growing but my chickens and ducks free range all around my garden and fruit trees so I don't want to put anything that could be harmful to them. I've found out that organic doesn't mean safe for animals or even the environment. I'd appreciate any ideas on the subject even though it's too late for this year. At least we can be prepared when it happens again.

Thanks,
Jay