Texas

[hungnguyen]

Quote:
Good luck Harl. Mom is in New Braunfels. If you still have your Harley, then it is 20 min ride.

 

[SlipsWife]

Yes, I do use an egg turner. A hen turns eggs in the nest but I don't have the time to be going in and hand turning eggs multiple times a day for weeks at a time.

I take them out of the turner two or three days before they are due to hatch - depends on if I put eggs into the incubator several days in a row.

On rare occasions I have put eggs in every day for about 4 days - trying to get enough eggs to hatch at roughly the same time. In those cases, I stopped the turner on all of them when the first day's eggs were due to be stopped, but the eggs that still needed a few more days of turning got "turned" by hand. I would prop up one side of the egg carton they were in and switch sides that were propped up, a few times a day.

This year I tried a trick from more experienced breeders and put all eggs into cartons and left them there for hatching. I cut apart the cartons into "cells" of 4-6 eggs each, and cut the bottoms out of each individual egg section. Holes in the bottom of each egg compartment allow air to still circulate. When I took the eggs out of the turner, I put them all into the cut up egg cartons - large side up just like in the turner - and that was how they hatched. I found that my chicks actually came out of their shells faster than just laying the eggs in the incubator. I think it's because they have something to kick against because the carton holds the egg still, whereas just laying in the incubator loose, they end up rolling their eggs all over the place trying to get out because they can't get leverage.

Thank you for sharing that. Twelve of my eggs are shipped and a few have saddle shaped air cells. I've seen what you're talking about on the cartons and that's how I was planning to let the misshapen air cell chicks hatch. I was going too lay the other eggs down but after hearing about your success, I might just hatch the entire batch this way. I also set 2 eggs 2 days later and I wasn't sure on how/if to turn them but if I do it the way you were talking about it will be perfect and easy!

 

[cardonafam]

Hello my husband and I ate from Magnolia we are new to Backyard chickens

 

[TexasLisa]

Hello my husband and I ate from Magnolia we are new to Backyard chickens

Welcome from Rosenberg! What kind do you have? We love pictures around here. Be careful....there are enablers on here!!

Lisa

 

[RachaelS]

orumpoultry, if you should decide to get any Dexters next year, give me a call....I will probably will have some available by then.....Thanks...Dexterlady

Welcome to the Texas thread! I LOVE Dexters! Really want 2-3 of them but not in a position right now. We talk about all sorts of things on this thread, not just chickens so feel free to post pictures

This year I tried a trick from more experienced breeders and put all eggs into cartons and left them there for hatching. I cut apart the cartons into "cells" of 4-6 eggs each, and cut the bottoms out of each individual egg section. Holes in the bottom of each egg compartment allow air to still circulate. When I took the eggs out of the turner, I put them all into the cut up egg cartons - large side up just like in the turner - and that was how they hatched. I found that my chicks actually came out of their shells faster than just laying the eggs in the incubator. I think it's because they have something to kick against because the carton holds the egg still, whereas just laying in the incubator loose, they end up rolling their eggs all over the place trying to get out because they can't get leverage.

This is how I do it also, it works GREAT!!!! Also keeps the hatched chicks from playing egg football with the hatching eggs. Plus a hen would keep them fairly stable while hatching not just rolling all over the place.

Hello my husband and I ate from Magnolia we are new to Backyard chickens

Welcome

 

[orumpoultry]

I will definitely let you know, but it wont be this year. Our lease on the land for the cows isnt until next year and I know six acres wont support cows. We've already got two horses.... and chickens.. and dogs... Haha.

 

[cardonafam]

What type of birds do y'all have?.We have old English so cute and small and game birds we love them.

 

[RachaelS]

What type of birds do y'all have?.We have old English so cute and small and game birds we love them.

I have Cubalaya's

 

[harley1975]

Welcome from Rosenberg!  What kind do you have?  We love pictures around here.  Be careful....there are enablers on here!!

Lisa

Really I would not know who that would be!

 

[shewatson]

Hello my husband and I ate from Magnolia we are new to Backyard chickens

Hello from East Texas