Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Wishing4Wings]

 

[BullChick]

ACK! Two pips! I went down to check the humidity because even with all the wells full, I am having a hard time keeping it up and TWO pips. Some of the eggs are not visible so there may be more. Holy

batman!

(thanks for putting up with me)

Toss a wet sponge or washcloth in. Don't let it get too high, but if you need to do it to get sleep... Congrats on the pips! Setting up the brooder yet?

 

[BullChick]

As far as the straw is concerned, I want to use it in the turkey pen. I don't plan on having a floor (except maybe in the nests). The mud will be bad, and pine chips would just sink into the mud, and cause the kind of mess I have in my chicken run. The plan is to use straw where needed, and rake it out weekly.
Cheeka, are you saying I can use deep litter with straw? Someone said use deep litter, but I thought she was thinking of pine chips on a floor. I didn't think straw was absorbent enough to do deep litter. Well, if I can, I might in the winter. We will see.

 

[mortie]

I have been drizzling some water into the bottom of the bator through a straw and that's been holding it about 65-70% which is right about where I think I want it. I wish I had a sponge to put in. All mine seem to come with some kind of chemical added to them. Probably a mildew preventative? A washcloth would work. You know what else would help? A wet chick lol.

My eldest is into it even though he pretends not to be. He is reading down there so he can hear them chirp and he is charting their chirping on a white board and he just informed me that the two babies are talking to each other.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Very cool, Mortie.

 

[lindz8504]

Hey guys. Will try to get pictures tomorrow. This momma is tired! Good night everyone!

 

[chickenlindz]

It's a race! Whose will be out first? Showbarn or Mortie!

 

[mortie]

Nothing new over here. Still just two pips that I can see. They aren't even holes yet. One hasn't changed at all and the second pip is a little bigger but like I said not a hole yet. I got up every 2 hrs to monitor humidity and it held all night pretty well. And no, I have not set up the brooder lol.

 

[cheeka]

it's generally about 12 hours from pip to zip, sometimes longer. hang in there!

MC, straw is very nice for muddy spots. it definitely absorbs water well and it is a big part of my winter deep litter. it lasts well too and you may decide to rake it out every 2 weeks rather than weekly. my gang picks at the chaff (seedy ends) and occasionally nibbles on the slender pieces. I have had zero problems with impacted crops, an issue I learned about when I decided to use it for the warmth factor. got a puddle or a muddy spot? spread a nice amount of straw on top and experiment.

feeling a bit better this morning, which is good because I can't ever get a Saturday off.

 

[chickenlindz]

Haha!  I only had to think about it and you posted before I got my request in!   Look at that cute smile! 

Great minds!!!!