***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

Shrink wrap is when during hatching, the inner membrane dries out and shrinks around the chick. It restricts there movement and makes natural hatching impossible. Most attribute it to too low of humidity at hatch. I think that is one cause, but not the only cause since I had shrink wrap of 5 broody hatched eggs when it was raining, no drying fan to blow on them and couldn't have gotten higher humidity then a rainy couple of days.

 

[ashtree]

I have great success adding no water during incubation and hatching. My best hatches are with zero water. I even hatched a duck (the only duck egg in the incubator) without upping the humidity. The chicks do a great job of upping it themselves and cleanup is awesome!

 

[kassward]

This is my first hatch and thats how I plan to do it. I haven't added a drop and the humidity stays between 40-50%. So far everything seems to be developing. I can't wait for hatch day

 

[Kassaundra]

This has not been a good year so far w/ broody raised chicks. So far 2 broodies each had 12 eggs to start, the first one had one chick to hatch, 5 to shrink wrap and the rest no-goes or broken eggs etc.... The second had 3 to hatch, 4 died just before internal pip, one shrink wrapped, helped it out was healthy running around for a few days then died suddenly, then this morning the chicks are over a week, I think close to 2 weeks, growing running around healthy then suddenly this afternoon, dead. So 2 broodies, 24 eggs, 3 chicks. The moms are awesome, dedicated, not negligent of the eggs or chicks.

 

[mjgigax]

My first Showgirl chick! Mutton chops and bowtie!
The cutest chick I have ever hatched. (Don't tell my Bantam Cochins)

 

[BetsyOK]

Kass, I'm having the same problems with both incubator and mama hatched chicks.

 

[MrsDickey]

I have great success adding no water during incubation and hatching. My best hatches are with zero water. I even hatched a duck (the only duck egg in the incubator) without upping the humidity. The chicks do a great job of upping it themselves and cleanup is awesome!

So you don't even add water during lockdown? I'm doing my first dry incubation and I've always read you have to raise the humidity..

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
i don't add water at lockdown, when they start hatching, they increase the humidity themselves

 

[gmpayne]

That is perfect. Thank you. Day 11 is exactly what we are seeing on several. When do I pull eggs that I don't see anything in?

 

[mjgigax]

A question for OKBetsy -
I know that half or my Showgirl hatches will be Silkies. Do some or all of those Silkies carry the Naked neck gene?

I just absolutely love both of the Showgirl hens that I got from you. They are so sweet and "personable" and are just beautiful. The both have enormous top knots.


This is the chick that I got from you last POOPS. Her "hair do" is actually bigger than in the picture. This was a bad hair day for her.