Silkie Holiday Hatch-a-long

[flocknfoal]

Jorey and TwinArrowsFarm, congrats on the chicks that made it!!

Last spring I bought some eggs from SQ lines ($$) Out of 18 eggs only 11 looked potentially viable at lockdown, 4 hatched, and 3 survived - and they all turned out to be boys. All of the silkies I have now come were all purchased locally after being hatched by more experienced people. So I feel your pain!

I did successfully hatch some other heavy breed chickens last year, but my hatch rate was still so-so. I have ~16 silkie eggs in the incubator now . 11 of eggs I bought from a local person and the others are from my own chickens. I haven't candled them yet... I'm nervous to find out how many (or how few) are viable.

So, if you don't mind sharing - maybe we can compare notes and learn from each other?

I have a HovaBator Genesis 1588. During my attempt last spring the temp was about 100 +/- 0.5. This time I turned it down a bit to about 99.5. Previously the humidity was between 25% - 45% during the first 18 days (mostly right about 30%). I raised it to 65% - 70% on day 18. Someone suggest that I turned up the humidity too high and too soon, that silkies drown easily and it's better to leave the humidity low until first pip, then turn it up only to about 60%.

What kind of incubator are you using? What was the temp and humidity during incubation? What day did you increase and to what? etc...

Thanks!

 

[TwinArrowsFarm]

@flocknfoal
Thank you. It's a bummer but I'm happy with the chicks I got. 1 has curled toes which I'm hoping will correct on their own. One is still in it's shell which I am slowly assisting.
I have a home made incubator. I run it between 99-100. It fluctuates frequently. Dropping to 97 and spiking to 102 at times. Obviously not ideal.
My humidity stayed around 30% then I turned it up to about 70%. I believe it was too low during incubation because my air cells were taking up nearly half the egg but the time they hatched.
Eggtopsy showed major shrink wrapping. Poor babies were 100% ready. The yolk sacks were completely absorbed.
This hatch I did in cartons and propped the ends up for turning. I only did this because 95% of the eggs had rolling air cells (they were shipped). For lock down I laid them on their side. Some people swear by this method and some swear by keeping them in the cartons.
I also only turned 3 times a day instead of the 5 times a day I did with my last hatch.
My first hatch was duck eggs and they were laid and rolled on their sides and I had a great hatch considering it was my first hatch AND my home made incubator is not the best.
I really feel like my humidity played a huge factor in my less than spectacular outcome.
what do you think?

 

[flocknfoal]

@flocknfoal
Thank you. It's a bummer but I'm happy with the chicks I got. 1 has curled toes which I'm hoping will correct on their own. One is still in it's shell which I am slowly assisting.
I have a home made incubator. I run it between 99-100. It fluctuates frequently. Dropping to 97 and spiking to 102 at times. Obviously not ideal.
My humidity stayed around 30% then I turned it up to about 70%. I believe it was too low during incubation because my air cells were taking up nearly half the egg but the time they hatched.
Eggtopsy showed major shrink wrapping. Poor babies were 100% ready. The yolk sacks were completely absorbed.
This hatch I did in cartons and propped the ends up for turning. I only did this because 95% of the eggs had rolling air cells (they were shipped). For lock down I laid them on their side. Some people swear by this method and some swear by keeping them in the cartons.
I also only turned 3 times a day instead of the 5 times a day I did with my last hatch.
My first hatch was duck eggs and they were laid and rolled on their sides and I had a great hatch considering it was my first hatch AND my home made incubator is not the best.
I really feel like my humidity played a huge factor in my less than spectacular outcome.
what do you think?

I think, all things considered, you are doing great! I also think Silkies are harder to hatch that other eggs, maybe b/c they are smaller / thinner shells? I don't know.

I just candled mine. Out of 14 eggs (none shipped) seven are absolutely duds, two are maybes, and only 5 that appear to be viable. And I have a fairly expensive incubator, a turner, and local eggs. My next batch will be all from my own hens, so we'll see if that's any better.

From what I know, which is obviously not enough, 30% sounds too low and 70% too high. I'm thinking that 40% to 45% would be about right until first pip, then maybe 55%-60%? I wish I knew... I'd really like to be able to buy some quality eggs and have confidence I'll have a reasonable hatch rate!

 

[jorey]

Hi guys. Twin, mine were very shrink wrapped. I had to help them all. I opened about half way wrapped in moist towel and let them pop out on their own. I think sjaring notes is great. I used farmers innovator with fan and turner. Dry hatched. Humidity stayed between 20 and 40 %. I did have a drop to about 16% while I was at work. At that point I added a little water to bring back up to aroumd 40. At lockdown I upped humidity to 60 to 70%. When I locked the first one had already pipped. After helping that one once it had been about 12 tp 18 hrs I candeled the rest and all were pipped internally. I made outside pip so they xould have air and noticed the membrane wrapping chick was white it was so dry so I enlarged hole wet membrane with qtip and wrapped back up with moist papertowel. Every single one was like this. Next time I ll definately keep humidity higher durung 1 thru 18. Temp was stable at 100 the time. With 2 diff thermometers.

 

[jorey]

Twin I see we got our eggs from same place. Went back to update for her and seen you right below me

 

[KV Silkies]

Congrats to all on your chicks!!! Wooohoo! Mine single egg is still holding it's own, the only other that may possibly be with chick is one I think has a blood ring in it... so doubting it's viability... still have it in there, along with many others, but pretty darn sure they're all duds. I think my aircell is too large right now also, I bumped my humidity up to 50 since my 10 day candle. I was at 45 the rest of the time, and need to get my weight loss to slow down a tad... I am still hopeful, yet planning my next batch of eggs already.... where did you guys order your eggs from? my first batch came from a place in the state of oregon. for my next i'm looking at two places in FL or else a plce in TN...... (all on ebay).

Can't wait to see chick pics!

 

[jorey]

I got mine from here from georgia. I'm glad your little one is holding on. Fingers crossed. What day are you on now?

 

[jorey]

Ok just figured out pics. Sorry they aren't better.

eight/400[/IMG]

 

[TwinArrowsFarm]

Seems to me like they should do better with higher humidity. Next time I am going to weigh the eggs and adjust humidity that way.
Yes I saw that too that we got our eggs from the same lady.
I mot my 4th and last chick out and he/ she is doing great. I'm actually worried about the 3rd one that hatched. His feathers are all stuck together, his booty area is sticking out a little bit, and his toes are curled in. I'm going to try to rinse him with warm water and dry him to fix the feathers and try making a foot brace.

 

[KV Silkies]

I got mine from here from georgia. I'm glad your little one is holding on. Fingers crossed. What day are you on n

HI, I'm on day 13 today, doing my 14 day weight and candle tomorrow. I sure hope my little runt makes it. is one of the smaller eggs from my shipment and like I said the air sac is pretty big. not much I can do but try. have been reading on having only one chick in a hatch so I know what to do with him/her. your pics are soooo cute!!! I am sooo excited for you!!! only a week and a day and hopefully I will join you! otherwise getting my next batch of eggs next week. think i'm going with one of the florida ones.... ready or not...