Setting up the bator and setting shipped eggs this week....anyone else wanna join?

[chickenlickin8]

So jealous! My first batch yielded 0

and I sat there after watching them all wiggle. So excited for you!! Pics!!

I'll take some new pics. Sorry you didn't hatch any your first batch. If the eggs were wobbling but didn't hatch then it makes me wonder if the humidity was high enough for them to rotate and break through. Humidity should be 60% + on hatch day. Good luck with your next hatch!

 

[chickenlickin8]

So my only little slw chick that hatched yesterday morning is standing with it's eyes half closed. It seems weak and i can't get it to drink on its own. I'm getting some electrolyte water in it with a dropper. I have seen it peck at some chick starter. Last night it was running around fine with it's eyes fully open. Any suggestions guys....

barnyard - How's your peep doing?

 

[chickenlickin8]

Guess what I did yesterday, Yep, I ordered some hatching eggs! Soooo I will soon be starting all over again. One question. Should I continue this thread or start a new one hum??

What do you do with all the chicks? Keep them? Just curious what everyone does with all their chicks. I plan to keep 8-12 layers (once I can sex them) and sell the rest. I don't keep roos because we only have a 1/2 acre lot with a good size backyard in a neighborhood. Although, I do hear a roo down the street. I like keeping a few girls and the fresh eggs they lay. One day I would like to have some real property so I can have a massive coop of chooks! A roo and all! Hubby rolling eyes...LOL!

Do you try to sex your chicks? I try to do the wing feather sexing and it still seems hard. I've been right a few times but wrong a bunch.

 

[chickenlickin8]

Pics...Night night time for chicks...night light and heating pad underneath the tub...cozy and warm!

They are sooooo darn cute when they sleep......

 

[mlmills79]

I've had two more pip, other eggs still wobbling around. Tomorrow is actually day 21,so hopefully we'll have more action then!

 

[delisha]

We got hit really bad with the snow storm..lost power.I wrapped the incubator really well.over 13 inches of snow..I am pretty sure the eggs are toast..I candled tonight and I do have some slight activity..I have one silkie that is still alive..but 8 are gone...:depressing..I should have left them in the incubator. I was afraid of them smothering.

 

[christybmom9802]

We got hit really bad with the snow storm..lost power.I wrapped the incubator really well.over 13 inches of snow..I am pretty sure the eggs are toast..I candled tonight and I do have some slight activity..I have one silkie that is still alive..but 8 are gone...:depressing..I should have left them in the incubator. I was afraid of them smothering.

awww I'm sorry. I can't imagine how you feel...

 

[barnyardmommy]

SOOOOO happy, the little chick is drinking on it's own. I scared it when I yelled as it took a drink of water all by itself. I don't remember being this worried over my human kids when the were little....

 

[barnyardmommy]

Delisha, I'm so sorry about your babies....we don't know them, but they become so very important to us, each one so special....

 

[Chook Chick]

Hello All,

I have read this thread from start to finish and it's better than ANY book I've ever read! I was right there with you all in the excitement and anticipation! From ordering eggs to broody hens and having eggs delivered to first pips.....makes me want to buy or make an incubator and participate too.....I, however, can only have just a few hens and no roosters where I live, so I was thinking on buying pullets from my local feed store.

In the process of getting my coop and pen together, my hens will be under supervised free range.

I am kind of confused about incubators though....still air vs circulated air, humidity levels, pipping.....it is like giving birth all over again!! And then there's the expense of purchasing everything you need for a homemade incubator vs purchasing one. The whole humidity thing has me nervous. I live in Colorado where it's usually dry as a bone. We just got more snow (further hindering coop building).....

So should I or shouldn't I? I work out of my home so leaving incubating eggs is not a problem. I kind of like that incubator Gloria Jean is using.....input please.....anyone?

Pat, the "chook chick" from Colorado Springs, Colorado