Test Incubation: Due to hatch 12/19 (including eggtopsies **graphic pictures**)

[Redhead Rae]

Ok, I think we have our final count. 6 chicks. 5 from incubator 1, 1 from incubator 2. I don't think I'm going to inspect the eggs. I'm exhausted and I don't want to look at dead babies. I'm going to give the eggs until tomorrow morning (day 26) to hatch and then I'm chucking them.

We have 3 cockerels,

2 pullets,

and 1 Chicken Surprise. CS is doing much better, no getting stuck on its back in the last day or more. One leg does seem to be slightly turned in, but it doesn't seem to bother CS much. CS just has a funny little hopping gait when it tries to run.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think you got some cute babies there!

 

[Redhead Rae]

I think you got some cute babies there!

Yup, I got me some Christmas babies. My siblings will be visiting, so I have some cuteness to show off.

 

[aart]

Does CS have a tail bone?
Maybe the rest of it is just so fluffy it appears not to have a tail.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Does CS have a tail bone?
Maybe the rest of it is just so fluffy it appears not to have a tail.

Yes it does. It's butt fuzz is matted down, even after washing for pasty butt. I didn't want to rub too hard, just enough to get rid of the poo.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I have to say, I love my heater plate. If a chick has pasty butt I can put them under the plate after washing and they get nice and fluffy and don't get chilled. I found out our chick hair dryer died after giving 3 of the chicks a bath yesterday. The only thing I could do was dry them off as best I could and put them under the plate. They fluffed up very nicely and didn't chill at all. They just went deeper under the plate if they were cold.

 

[aart]

I have to say, I love my heater plate.

I love the plates too!
I DIY'd one that worked great after a few iterations, I tweak it for every hatch.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I love the plates too!
I DIY'd one that worked great after a few iterations, I tweak it for every hatch.

I have the premier 1 large heater plate (50 chick plate) that you can see in my brooder photos. I'm thinking about buying a small one (20 chick model) for indoor brooding and using the larger one for outdoor brooding. I've thought about going DIY or MHP, but I like the convenience of a pre-made one.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I have the premier 1 large heater plate (50 chick plate) that you can see in my brooder photos. I'm thinking about buying a small one (20 chick model) for indoor brooding and using the larger one for outdoor brooding. I've thought about going DIY or MHP, but I like the convenience of a pre-made one.

I really like the premier 1 plates over the other ones because 1) they are better constructed. 2) they are cheaper. 3) they have poop covers that keep them from roosting on the plate and fowling it up.

 

[aart]

I've thought about going DIY or MHP, but I like the convenience of a pre-made one.

I couldn't justify the cost...plus I like to 'make' stuff'.
Biggest problem I've had is to be able to lift it to check birds
(only thing I don't like about a plate-easy visibility)
without having to reassemble it, SMH.
Got that down, still need to improve adjustable leg attachment.