October-hatch-along 2019

[Don 27]

Don't give my teen ideas. She's already tucking the chick in and talking to it till it stops chirping and goes to sleep.

Aww

 

[Maiahr]

Can anyone tell me what day they take their eggs out of the turner and put them on their sides? I heard any time after day 14, is this true?
And how do you clean the incubator after the hatch is over? I have the farm innovator 4250

I have read the article that says after day 14 is OK to stop, so I think it is true. I have tried both stopping at day 17 and day 18 counting from 0.

These are in the Mustelid family, so they could be ferrets, weasels, martens, minks, ermine, etc. I've not encountered any of these in the wild or my yard yet, but I hear they are very tough to defeat. If these are your problem, see if you can identify or make a solid surface to park the chicken tractor on at night such as a concrete pad or a patio. You'll also want to use a small hole, heavier duty wire than chicken wire - maybe use what we call hardware cloth in the US. And make sure every single spot on your tractors is closely joined: absolutely NO GAPS. These predators can slip through very small holes, I've heard

YES, they DO! ARGH.. And we have many of them and some are not even afraid of humans. I have seen wild ferret sneak through a hole smaller than a chicken egg.

 

[Maiahr]

82% hatch rate. I have 1 egg going to Lockdown on Sunday.. Only 1 was fertile, I am glad it is another Heinz57.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Muscovy Wunda you asked about humidity, what kind of incubator are you using? The trick is to have a wide area of dampness to increase it rather than a deep vessel. A paper towel or wet rag would work.

 

[FortCluck]

Checked all 30 of my eggs and all have good movement.

Don't give my teen ideas. She's already tucking the chick in and talking to it till it stops chirping and goes to sleep.

That's awesome! Kids are amazing. Bet that chick knows it's loved though

 

[igorsMistress]

The other 2 have pipped.

 

[FortCluck]

View attachment 1942552

The other 2 have pipped.

 

[FortCluck]

View attachment 1942552

The other 2 have pipped.

I just got my brooder ready yesterday so I'm not running around like a crazy person the day they hatch. I still have to add in the wood shavings and waterer/feeder.

 

[Don 27]

I just got my brooder ready yesterday so I'm not running around like a crazy person the day they hatch. I still have to add in the wood shavings and waterer/feeder.

okay

 

[igorsMistress]

I just got my brooder ready yesterday so I'm not running around like a crazy person the day they hatch. I still have to add in the wood shavings and waterer/feeder.

Mine is ready, set it up yesterday morning.