Setting eggs today...20th May...anyone else?

[loopy12]

Newspaper is too slippery in the beginning certainly, but some people use it after the first few weeks. Cheap drawer liner stuff on top alleviates that though. I use that everywhere - in the incubator and the brooder and on roosting bars.

I never had problems with them eating woodchips until this last hatch - no idea why. Once one started they all copied. Was just a thought.
Maybe Disco's digestive system was still maturing and all will be smooth sailing now...

 

[CGinJCMO]

CG - that's probably an advantage to using a broody instead of an incubator - less likely to fiddle too much with the eggs, let nature take its course. My incubator is right here in my kitchen, so I find I want to check them all the time - they're right under my nose! Not candling that is, just checkin'

Using the broody can have it's downfalls too. Today I was out opening coops and I let the broody out. I noticed that she only had 8 eggs when there should be 9 (was supposed to be 10 but I dropped one). No idea where the ninth egg went...no egg, no shell. I moved the nest box to make sure it didn't get shoved out and behind the box, but found nothing.

CG

 

[Alaskan]

Odd....my guess is she accidentally broke it and then ate the evidence......unless you you have a snake.....

 

[ZielinskiFarm]

Zielinski farm: How very exciting for you. How many did you start out with? Are you a breeder? Best of luck!

I am super excited! Not a breeder, just love chickens and thought we would try hatching. We ordered the eggs on ebay, 12 Silkie eggs, my husband built a cooler incubator, and the first one hatched about 20 minutes ago!!! I am hooked!!!

Our first time, we had 0 of 15, this is our second try, I hope for some little buddies for the new baby soon!' Thanks everyone for sharing info as we go! We couldn't have done any of this without BYC!!!

 

[ashem0]

CG - sounds like there's something bizarre going on under there! Has it turned up? How long/often do you let out the broody?

Loopy12 - forgot to mention, Disco is fed starter chick crumble. I noticed her crop was full again last night, took away her feed and it was empty this morning. This afternoon it is full again, so I will take her food away again tonight. It looks as though her crop deviates to the right slightly when full giving the impression that it is on her shoulder.

Zielinski - best of luck for a good hatch this time round! Will checkout your thread.

 

[loopy12]

Aww, Zielinski Farm...I see two chicks and one thinking about zipping...exciting Glad the first one has a friend already.

 

[CGinJCMO]

CG - sounds like there's something bizarre going on under there! Has it turned up? How long/often do you let out the broody?

She has room to get up and eat/drink whenever she wants...
As for a snake, it is possible. Saw a fairly large one out in the field a couple of weeks ago and also found in one nest box, a crushed & flattened egg.



"ZielinskiFarm"
0ur first time, we had 0 of 15, this is our second try, I hope for some little buddies for the new baby soon!'  Thanks everyone for sharing info as we go! We couldn't have done any of this without BYC

[/quote]
Congrats ZielinskiFarm. Fingers crossed that more hatch for you.

CG

 

[ZielinskiFarm]

"ZielinskiFarm"
0ur first time, we had 0 of 15, this is our second try, I hope for some little buddies for the new baby soon!' Thanks everyone for sharing info as we go! We couldn't have done any of this without BYC

Congrats ZielinskiFarm. Fingers crossed that more hatch for you.

CG[/QUOTE]

CG - sounds like there's something bizarre going on under there! Has it turned up? How long/often do you let out the broody?

Loopy12 - forgot to mention, Disco is fed starter chick crumble. I noticed her crop was full again last night, took away her feed and it was empty this morning. This afternoon it is full again, so I will take her food away again tonight. It looks as though her crop deviates to the right slightly when full giving the impression that it is on her shoulder.

Zielinski - best of luck for a good hatch this time round! Will checkout your thread.

Aww, Zielinski Farm...I see two chicks and one thinking about zipping...exciting Glad the first one has a friend already.

Thanks all!!! They're really going now!! I'm such a proud mamma!!

 

[Amykins]

Okay. New problem.

I'm on day 16, and one of my duck eggs is completely dark, but the other is still half clear with some odd, small dark lumps in it all over the egg. What on earth is going on? Have I lost the egg? I still see movement in there, but just barely.

The dark spots indicates it's dead but I still saw movement. Ugh. I am totally freaking out, guys.

 

[Alaskan]

Ack! I have no idea what the dark spots would be. If you saw any movement I would just keep it in and see what happens.