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

[NTBugtraq]

That is simple as most only track weight until the last candling at lockdown. Few weigh the chick and shell at time of hatch after they've spent another 3 days or so in the incubator, yet if you do candle, the drawdown of the air cell is evident. 15-16% are the most commonly published figures for at time of hatch. If yours are 20% light, then there is obviously an issue.

The mother hen normally acts as tour guide for the young. As we are interrupting the process, it's really not asking too much to point them in the right direction. Compared to robins, dogs, cats, rabbits and humans, chicks aren't too bad off. They are quite low maintenance. At least we don't need to teach them to fly.

Ok, gotta ask for a clarification. Are you saying you think its ok to take shell and presumed hatchling from that shell, and weight them while still wet (and potentially there are zips and pips going on)?? I could get the shell and hatchling out in like 5 seconds, and my styro bator wouldn't drop 1% humidity, so I can see how it shouldn't adversely affect anything. But presumably you would only do that with chicks that have some obvious issue?? And so you find under or over-weight, what do you do then? Put them back in the same bator...in like an hour it will be impossible to figure out which chick came from what shell...

 

[WalnutHill]

It's a diagnostic tool, and with the success rate you've had, a sampling would not be a bad idea. Yes, I would open, snatch, weigh and return. Don't take the biggest or smallest egg. With everything, go for the average.

 

[NTBugtraq]

LOL... This question came up in my house! As long as the egg is not fertile no, it doesn't bother me. Good protein!

Am I wrong to say; "Mad Cow Disease"...had nothing to do about fertility, and everything to do with cannibalism.

 

[RubyNala97]

I have a question for someone on another thread. Shipped eggs, day 11, I believe, air cell fixed in the pointy end. All have live moving chicks in them. Pic has been posted. What the heck?? I'm at a loss. Anyone have any advice??

I take back the day 11 part, I'm not sure what day it is. And if anyone wants me to link the post, just tell me how to do it.

 

[WalnutHill]

I take back the day 11 part, I'm not sure what day it is. And if anyone wants me to link the post, just tell me how to do it.

I couldn't find it. Right click the link in the browser header and copy then paste in, or right click on the post number if on your PC and copy URL and paste it.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Mine is while you wait, but no wi-fi and rarely cell service. My appointments are generally at 8 but some at 6:30 and occasionally at 9. I am out of there and on the road home by noon or 1, load them into tubs of ice, then come home to package.

Yes, skinning is a fast way to do it but there is a better way. Like fileting a fish, it's not necessary to eviscerate...just cut the thighs loose from the hips, the wings from the breast, and the breast meat from the breast bones. Quick and easy and a lot less mess. Unless you want giblets or backbone, just toss the rest.

We have a hanging law here, the processor must hang the meat for some (7?) hours. They don't trust us to do that...;-] In so many ways America is way better than Canada when it comes to market meats...but let's not start that topic...;-]

As for deboning a chicken, no problem, but you forgot the bit about de-feathering...lolz

 

[WalnutHill]

Not forgotten. I skin at the same time while dismantling.

 

[scflock]

Do you mind if I ask how much you sell the silkie pullets for?
LOVE the picture!! I hope she's a good mama and hatches some beautiful babies!
Thanks for posting pics! I hope the others hatch!! They are the same size as my silkie babies!
Don't be sorry! Keep the pics coming!! They are so beautiful. When are you shopping for that incubator?
You can also mash up some warm hard boiled egg yoke and sprinkle it on the floor. They usually start picking at it.

I sell POL pullets for $20-25 as fast as I post them

 

[sideWing]

I would put the 40 anew in the Brinsea, then you can compare the results directly to what happens in the hovabator

+1

Ruby, feeding chickens to chickens doesn't bother you? It bothers me.

Doesn't bother me at all. I throw chicken rib cages and all them to clean the protein off the bones.

Am I wrong to say; "Mad Cow Disease"...had nothing to do about fertility, and everything to do with cannibalism.

Cows NEVER eat meat and especially not bone which is where the mad cow disease came from. Chickens and other birds do eat and process meat in the wild. It was very very common practice if you read old chicken raising books.

 

[FridayYet]

"Sidewing, that bit about 10' per bird, and your 5' per bird...where are these numbers coming from and what are they referring to?

I cannot free range because of the many predators in my bush. So I built my run down the side of my house. I started with 26' x 8', plus a 6' x 8' nesting room. My chickens are not let out or put in ever, the entire run/coop is secure enough that they can decide where they want to be. I believe it can house 100 layers and 3 roos, but so far I have had it up to 1 roo and 23 layers with no apparent problems"

Many people say you should have 10 square feet per bird in a run and 2-4 square feet per bird in a coop to prevent problems, such as feather picking, disease, etc. I think the more space they have, the better they do.

So if you have 208 square feet in the run, it's probably working great for your 24 chickens. With 100+ in that same space, it will be really, really crowded.