South Carolina

[WestKnollAmy]

My neighbor told me a funny story the other week about his uncle drowning a skunk in a trap. He unfortunately used his bare hands even though a tarp was over the trap. He submerged the trap down in a pool of water and for days his arms and hands reeked of nasty. He could not even eat because every time his hands got near his face he gagged. He made sure he used a rushing river and a rope to lower the trap from then on!

Poor skunks. They are cute....from a distance. I'm with Patsy, I prefer to shoot but Patsy, make sure you take the critter a long way off before you shoot it.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

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X2. Good luck!

 

[Joycats]

Just thought I'd share how patience can pay off. I had some eggs due to hatch this Past Monday. There were some that didn't hatch and I usually leave them 3 days before tossing them but I've been so busy I haven't removed them yet. I woke up to the sound of peeping in that Incubator this morning. I had a tiny little blue maran chick in there. This is my first blue maran chick to hatch from my own birds. I'm so excited! And thankful that I've neglected the incubator this week.

 

[monkeemakr]

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Thank you so much! I really needed this post. I have almost 30 eggs in the 'bator that were due to hatch yesterday (Thursday). Well, Wednesday night while I was at church the power went out. I thought, maybe a few hours, they will be ok. Got the incubator covered when I got home and by the time I got back from Walmart with hand warmers the power was back on (thanks for that hint from someone on here - I think maybe Amy?). But no signs of life, no pips, no nothing. I know I may still have lost them all, (they all looked good when we went into lockdown), but this at least gives me hope!!! That on top of losing two girls this week that apparently ate some poisonous mushrooms that came up under their roost Wednesday while I was at work. One was dead when I got home, the other was unable to walk and died during the night.

You could see where they had eaten the caps off them. We had just cleaned out the coops Saturday, decided that we were afraid of the deep litter method, and now I wish we had left it alone because those mushrooms probably wouldn't have made it through the litter. BCM and Light Sussexes and Silkies, beautiful eggs and my heart breaks everytime I look in through the top window and don't see anything happening. I won't give up yet. Thanks Joycats.

 

[dixiebeast]

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging words...morning of day 19 which will actually be later today as I set them about 3pm on sunday the 2nd...no action yet but yall will be some of the first to know...I bet Susanne will hear me hollar at her farm!!!

 

[Joycats]

Quote:
Thank you so much! I really needed this post. I have almost 30 eggs in the 'bator that were due to hatch yesterday (Thursday). Well, Wednesday night while I was at church the power went out. I thought, maybe a few hours, they will be ok. Got the incubator covered when I got home and by the time I got back from Walmart with hand warmers the power was back on (thanks for that hint from someone on here - I think maybe Amy?). But no signs of life, no pips, no nothing. I know I may still have lost them all, (they all looked good when we went into lockdown), but this at least gives me hope!!! That on top of losing two girls this week that apparently ate some poisonous mushrooms that came up under their roost Wednesday while I was at work. One was dead when I got home, the other was unable to walk and died during the night.

You could see where they had eaten the caps off them. We had just cleaned out the coops Saturday, decided that we were afraid of the deep litter method, and now I wish we had left it alone because those mushrooms probably wouldn't have made it through the litter. BCM and Light Sussexes and Silkies, beautiful eggs and my heart breaks everytime I look in through the top window and don't see anything happening. I won't give up yet. Thanks Joycats.

Be patient. If the power was off, it would delay hatching for a bit. But you should still have some hatch. Fingers crossed, let us know how it goes.

 

[monkeemakr]

Quote:
Thank you so much! I really needed this post. I have almost 30 eggs in the 'bator that were due to hatch yesterday (Thursday). Well, Wednesday night while I was at church the power went out. I thought, maybe a few hours, they will be ok. Got the incubator covered when I got home and by the time I got back from Walmart with hand warmers the power was back on (thanks for that hint from someone on here - I think maybe Amy?). But no signs of life, no pips, no nothing. I know I may still have lost them all, (they all looked good when we went into lockdown), but this at least gives me hope!!! That on top of losing two girls this week that apparently ate some poisonous mushrooms that came up under their roost Wednesday while I was at work. One was dead when I got home, the other was unable to walk and died during the night.

You could see where they had eaten the caps off them. We had just cleaned out the coops Saturday, decided that we were afraid of the deep litter method, and now I wish we had left it alone because those mushrooms probably wouldn't have made it through the litter. BCM and Light Sussexes and Silkies, beautiful eggs and my heart breaks everytime I look in through the top window and don't see anything happening. I won't give up yet. Thanks Joycats.

Be patient. If the power was off, it would delay hatching for a bit. But you should still have some hatch. Fingers crossed, let us know how it goes.

I will, thanks so much! I stalk the boards more than I participate, but I am learning so much from you guys.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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The darker eggs often take days longer than light eggs. I have had Marans hatch out on day 27 and 29 but no other breeds. I have written in on this thread a few times about that but until you do it yourself it usually is not something you remember.
And if your temp is lower than 100.5 you are more likely to have a few more days added to hatching times. I seldom test an egg for life until day 22 and have often tapped on one and it tap back so I just let it finish cooking.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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LOL I can assure you, chicks can't tell time! They don't care what time or day you set them or on what day. They go by temp and humidity.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Quote:
The darker eggs often take days longer than light eggs. I have had Marans hatch out on day 27 and 29 but no other breeds. I have written in on this thread a few times about that but until you do it yourself it usually is not something you remember.
And if your temp is lower than 100.5 you are more likely to have a few more days added to hatching times. I seldom test an egg for life until day 22 and have often tapped on one and it tap back so I just let it finish cooking.

Humm, most of my marans eggs did take 23 days to hatch. I was wondering why since most eggs are right on time.