Okies in the BYC The Original

[nnbreeder]

Sticky and soft bodied chicks are from too much humidity. Too little and they stick to the shell and can't get out.

Dee you should try hatching. there is nothing like watching them pop out of the shell.

 

[faerielady]

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Can I wash them and use a hairdryer to get the sticky stuff off them? They look a little caked up.

 

[faerielady]

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I did dry incubation... didn't use any water at all until day 18. Maybe I should run a dehumidifier in the room with the 'bator?

 

[nnbreeder]

You might try a warm wet washcloth to get off the gunk then I just put them back in the incubator till they dry.

Here is a thread here that tells how to check the accuracy of a hydrometer.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=264872

 

[nnbreeder]

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No too much causes chicks themseves to be sticky and have gunk on them instead of coming out clean and ready to fluff out. Plus they will have a puffy look and have a distended belly which is called a soft-bodied chick.

Too little humidity and as soon as they pip the membrane in the shell dries to them and then they can't turn and cut the shell to get out.

 

[nnbreeder]

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I did dry incubation... didn't use any water at all until day 18. Maybe I should run a dehumidifier in the room with the 'bator?

A friend of mine does run both humidifier and dehumidifier in his incubation room. It is easier to keep a large space regulated then it is a small one like an incubator.

I have some of those hydrometers that I use here in the house and it stays fairly constant at around 45%. We have a trailer house so it exchanges air quite often. But in one of the newer houses that are much tighter the humidity could build up in them.

 

[faerielady]

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I definitely don't have a tight house

This one was built in the early 1950s. I don't think "tight fit" existed in the early 50s, at least not around Tinker!

 

[nnbreeder]

Well I have got to run off to work, as bad as I hate to. Mondys there are usually hectic as things that were broken over the weekend are brought in to be fixed.

Houses didn't really start to get tight until the late 80s and even then it was mostly high end houses.

 

[TJ's Na-Na]

Big Okie, or anyone else in NE Oklahoma..........A friend of Bill's
told him yesterday that there was a bunch of really nice
birds went through the Chupps Auction at Inola Saturday.
He says there were several Standard Cochins in white, black,
buff, blue and splash.

Any chance that any of you were up there? Would anyone
have a clue who ended up with the cochins - namely the
splash? We're in need of a really nice, really big, splash
roo.

Dandy - soooo glad you posted. Was worried about the
trip you were looking at, especially having just made the
trip up there. Tell the girls "Hi" for us.

Have a good one !

 

[Dandelion007]

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That's a loaded question!

There are so many different thoughts on how to handle hatching eggs.

Personally, I keep my at room temperature (@ my house that's 70-85 degrees) on the kitchen countertop in an egg turner. If they are really dirting, I wash them and spray with Tek-trol.

Some swear by putting them in the refrigerator first but most say no. Some will not wash an egg (if it's dirty enough to need washing they don't set it).

Hope this helps & good luck.