She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[scflock]

the comb is just so big!

And wattles... My goodness. WV is going to have to put out a special toilet just for her

 

[Sally Sunshine]

K yall, I'm still at a cross roads, don't know what I should do, so I want to ask for a few more opininons. The DAC's (detached/loose air cells) should I let them rest in the incubator, fat end straight up, for a couple days or keep the turner going and hope for the best or let the DAC's rest and keep turning the good eggs by hand or... any other suggestions? It's day 5, 1 pm today starts day 6 which is in 4 hours. From the research I did online last night it seems these guys chances are grim and very slim to none so I'm thinking it may not be worth the struggle and the stress to the other eggs to move them all around. I'm thinking leave them in the turner and hope for the best but wanted to hear a few more opinions.

"let the DAC's rest and keep turning the good eggs by hand"
but after Day 7-10 I candle upright and most times the air cell is set if it wasnt a roller. To be honest after so much hatching, I dont waste time on the rollers, I chuck them before set because I DO want to give the good ones the best incubation I can. Plus those will drive you insane, most times live up to 12 days and then die anyways.

Welcome to the thread!

I've heard a lot about you, and hope you will post some. I'm always skirting that mod line

, but this thread turns on a dime when a serious question is posted.
If laughter will help bring the Sunshine back, this is the place to be

Welcome Sally Sunshine!

Love your screen name!

Welcome Sally!!

So here's my updates:

1) I was supposed to tell everyone that if we tag Sally she will drop in to say hi. (I gave her the inside scoop about the thread so she's prepared)! But my morning was so busy she beat me to it!

2) I woke up and the little quail was still alive and peeping! But his feet were curled. Now I know that he's just a quail. $2 for a dozen eggs. But any experience I gain can be directly applied to chickens that I hatch! So all experience is valuable to me. So I made him little tape booties and he's doing great! It was a real challenge to make them since he's so tiny!!

Off to set the rest of the eggs!!!

so this is what you have been up to! I am not sure I will be able to keep up with this thread at all! you are way too fast for me!

Ok, everyone, next ?, lol. How long can eggs be out of the bator before harm I'd done. It's about 75 to 76° in my house, the bathroom may be closer to 80 which is where I'll be candling. I was advised to candle and write down which eggs have loose or completely detached cells and any other damage I might see so I'm wondering how much of a time crunch I'm on?

enough time to get done what needs done with them without panicking and dropping any!

Welcome Sally Sunshine. Hoping this thread gives you lots of cheek splitting grins and chuckles!!!

 

[WVduckchick]

the comb is just so big!

Isn't it though?!! And what about those wattles!!

See, anyone who feels bad about their silkies, just has to ask for pics of mine. I'm just doing my part to make all yall feel better!

 

[lazy gardener]

Okay, y'all,
Since my broody hen decided to no longer set eggs on the very day I decided to put 6 new ones under her, I had to fire up the Hova-bator after a lot of years. Tomorrow's the 7th day; I haven't even had the lid off since I put the eggs into the turner rack, pointy end down, of course. Temp's been a constant 99+/- from the get-go (according to 2 thermometers in 2 different locations), the water channels were partially filled (prior to seeing Amy's post regarding dry incubation), and both vents are open. No clue what the humidity is yet; still waiting on a hygrometer.

I'll candle tomorrow. Assuming no obvious abnormalities, my plan is to maintain the status quo (essentially hands-off) til the 18th day, when I'll add water, possibly in the form of a sponge, if need be. Other than that, I'll let the auto turner & Ma Nature handle it.

I dug the brooder out of the barn this morning. I'll be busy this afternoon getting rid of 20 years worth of dust accumulation on it & getting it situated in the back room, alongside the incubator, til time to fire it up. My only question at this point is what should the brooder temp be?

If I were you, I'd put that brooder lamp back in moth balls and go buy a Sunbeam XPress extra large heating pad and do a HP brooder cave. You'll have chicks that are much happier! You'll be happier too.

@meganhudley
The research shows that turning is only helpful from day 5 to 10
As for how long you can leave the eggs out of the bator - until day 8 you can leave them out for up to 2 weeks as long as they are brought back up to temp for 2 hours a day.
I would let them rest for about 4 hours a day over the next 3 days, in a carton on a bench, remembering that that would set your hatch date back a day. I would also take the turner out at day 12.

Did you really mean out of the incubator for up to 2 weeks? More info please.

 

[scflock]

Isn't it though?!!  And what about those wattles!! 

See, anyone who feels bad about their silkies, just has to ask for pics of mine.  I'm just doing my part to make all yall feel better! 

Yours look very similar to mine, but that would be a rooster all day long at my house. If that one is laying eggs, I have 17 "hens" I will send you

 

[meganhundley]

Thank all of you again for the advice. I really appreciate it. At this point I'm just going to keep going the way I have been and take the turner out at day 12 and cross my fingers that atleast 1 will make it. I'm going on a treasure hunt this weekend to find my Nankin's nest and I'll hatch some of those once I know what's going on with these Welsummer eggs. Welcome to the thread Sally Sunshine thanks for the advice

 

[kwhites634]

I demand more pics!!

I have a few if you want!!!....
....You beat me to it!!!

That sounds great! How much water is in there? I'm curious to see how the air cells look tomorrow. Maybe run dry for week 2. Brooder temp is 95 first week. Let me know If you want the link to make a heating pad cave instead of using a light. I'm using it for the first time and have heard really good things about it having a better affect on the chicks.

Brooder's got a built-in light already. Not sure of current water level, if any. Ambient temp in the basement this time of year is probably 80ish or less. With the metal lids in place, the stock bulb in the brooder should be able to handle things. If not, there's always the heat lamp.

 

[scflock]

I am not sure I will be able to keep up with this thread at all! you are way too fast for me!

There's no need to try and keep up with all of it. Just pop in whenever you want and check back a couple of pages. A lot of it is just filler, and if you see a lot of

and

then just skip it and post whatever is on your mind

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Did you really mean out of the incubator for up to 2 weeks? More info please.

LOL!

There is the process of Pre-Incubation some hatchiers started usuing.... It consists of setting eggs in the incubator, direct from their arrival before storing in a cool room,. Pre-incubation at a temperature of 99.9-100.1°F for a period of 6 hours. Tests that have been conducted at hatcheries and show positive results. HOWEVER... The stage of embryo development at the time of oviposition, pre-incubation temperature and the length of time since the egg was laid all seem to be factors that can greatly affect the success of this method.

SO for the typical backyard enthusiast trying to incubate, its not very feasible when everything about the egg is completely unknown.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

There's no need to try and keep up with all of it. Just pop in whenever you want and check back a couple of pages. A lot of it is just filler, and if you see a lot of


and



then just skip it and post whatever is on your mind

he he he.... not sure y'all want to know whats on my mind!