Putting eggs in the bator on July 25, does anyone wanna hatch along???

[cluckitall]

I go to lock down in 3 days getting excited to see how the hatching turns out. The changes I have made seem to have improved the bator from the last hatch. I bought my eggs from Taylor Hobby Farm and they were clean and seem to be of great quailty. We added a 30' x 40' fenced in area for our chickens. Moving them went really well. I am going to plant this weekend wheat, rye and clover. I am going to plant lots of greens from plants. The new lot is under 50 year old oak trees so lots of shade and dust I put Rhonda on the tractor and she box scraped the lot. So I really need to get plants in the ground.

Ranny, that sounds lovely!!! I bet your chickies are gonna love it! I wish I weren't renting and could build as big a pen as I want, darn it. Of course, then I'd probably get more chickens, so maybe it's better this way!

WOO-HOO on lockdown! I've still got five days to go.

 

[cluckitall]

I like learning new stuff too, I drive my kids and hubby crazy with all my chicken talk.

Yeah, but the real question is, are you talking TO your chickens yet???

 

[cluckitall]

I was thinking maybe black sex link. What do you think about that as an option. I believe Black sex links get those barring also. I don't know what color eggs they lay though or what kind of combs they have. I could look it up though, if we find out what color eggs and comb this little girl has.

Maybe! I don't know. I do know, or at least I read it somewhere that seemed reputable, that all breeds can have spangling, if the right gene combination is there. I should go back and look at the comb -- I was looking at coloration and not paying attention to comb type. Bad me!

 

[cluckitall]

I would get another thermometer to for verification but, if two are saying the same thing maybe they are right. I had three hygrometer myself and they all said different things. People say to adjust them but, I don't know how to do that if I don't know which one is right. So I just took what all three said and I split the difference. When are you suppose to go into lockdown? Are you gonna candle them?

Goodluck,

Dandydoodle, calibrating them is easy. Just google "calibrate hygrometer" or (even easier) just click here!

 

[cluckitall]

AWWWWHHHHHH!!! my broody hen ate one of her eggs she was sittin on!!!! AND SHE HAD TO EAT A SILKIE EGG!!!! ERGGGGG!!!

AND WHY DID SHE HAVE TOO EAT IT NOW!!! I ONLY HAD 10 DAYS LEFT ERGGGG!!! can anyone explain why she did this???

'Cause she was hungry?

Seriously, I don't know, and that's a total bummer

I'm going to put the best spin on it I possibly can and suggest that maybe she knew something was wrong with the egg. They do seem to, apparently. But still....

THAT SUCKS!!!!

 

[cluckitall]

I'm on day 12 of my 1st try in my home made DIY styro incubator. 1st try ever anything! Going to attempt some candling tonight. Tips would be appreciated.

Zchicks, that's great! Mine's a homemade jobbie too -- and I'm on my first hatch ever as well! I'm kinda late for candling tips probably but there's a whole TON of information on here about how to candle. Hopefully you found it!!!

How did it go?

 

[cluckitall]

Okay, I am no expert but, I am gonna try to help. Personally I wouldn't use a digital I just don't think it is the right kind of thermometer for what you are doing.

I have to admit I like having the digital -- it's got a probe so I can put it inside my homemade water wiggler -- but I think it makes all KINDS of sense to have a backup mercury thermometer, to compare to and to have as a control.

The rest of your advice sounded pretty solid to me, Dandydoodle! Of course, I'm totally not an expert either

 

[cluckitall]

Going to move my broody to my new broody pen tonight. Only 6 days left!

Whee! You have an official broody pen?? That's too cool! Show us pics!

 

[dandydoodle]

No I am not intrested in a silkie and faverolle group those are mine LoL The faverolle has already hatched once at someones elses house.

K just thought I would offer. I have some beautiful birds that I hatched from breeder and I saw you have the same kind of birds I have. I am eventually wanting to get to a point that I only have large Fowl and the faverolles and silkies are just such tiny bantams. I am not sure I have fully decided I am ready to get rid of the faverolles yet anyway, they are just so sweet and have such beautiful coloring.

 

[cluckitall]

I have read a broody will get rid of eggs that aren't any good. Just kind of an instinct thing. I think they don't want to keep bad eggs around the good ones. I think usually just kick them out of the nest but, if I had to guess it was her way of getting rid of a bad egg.

Sorry,

Oh good! We thought the same thing. Which means at least if I'm wrong, I'm wrong it good company!