The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[ronott1]

Stupid question considering I have been hatching for 4 years but does it affect the eggs to be touching one another?

I think it was @ChickenCanoe that posted link to an article that suggested that it helped them hatch.

I will not hurt to let them tough. They touch under a broody.

 

[chickensnbees]

I just shared my bator pic on the Cinco de mayo thread. But thought I would share here also. I have 76 eggs crammed in to my bator half for this Easter hatch and the other half set for the Cinco de mayo hatch. This is the first time I have crammed my bator like this lol. Im a little nervous.

Turning must be a nightmare!

 

[chicken pickin]

Turning must be a nightmare!

Probably lol.

Ill find out, I only set them a few hours ago.

 

[jinks12333]

Since we were on the topic of honey bees the other day... here is one of my ladies from last summer. they survived the winter and are now zooming around my yard making my chickens look like crazy ninja jumping chickens. haha

Funny thing about this picture is I took it with my phone. Thanks all!! It is by far one of my favorite pictures!!

 

[amyfitz100]

So I collected two eggs at lunch and went out to get the other three around four o'clock. Well, there might be three. But my Black Java hen, who has been laying a few weeks might be broody? She has flattened herself out in the favorite side of the nest box and kind of barked at us (who knew a hen could do that???) and fluffed up some feathers when we reached towards the nest. Usually the hens just get up. She was sitting there when I picked up eggs earlier and I just figured she was getting ready to lay, but now I don't think so. Do I try to get the eggs or leave her alone? Will she steal eggs from the other side of the nest when they're laid? She's larger than my EE's anyway, but now she looks enormous!

Well, I just went out to look at her again and I guess she won't get up long enough to steal eggs -- there was one sitting in the opposite end of the nest box. It was warm, so couldn't have been there long. So I guess she's sitting on three golf balls and two eggs, lol. How many do they try to collect?

 

[DesertChickens1]

I candled my eggs yesterday and five of them look lol they're doing good but one of the leghorns eggs doesn't look like it has veins in it. It might just be because the egg is thick and it was my first time candleing eggs lol

 

[chickenlisa]

You have probably already cut the cords by now. Won't hurt a thing, just cut a bit away from their tummy. It sounds like poor mama cat has worms. Not unusual at all, in fact, usually happens with cats and dogs while expecting. This will pass onto the kittens, that's why it's important to get them wormed when it's time for their shots. You can google shots and worming and see that you can actually worm them sooner if you want, and, the mama cat can be wormed now. Sounds like she would really appreciate it! Would love to see photos!

the kittens our foster mama cat just had 6 days ago had umbilical cords about 2" long when we found them. She had done everything so I guess that was a fine length...I'd get her wormed now, and feed her wet kitten food, as much as she'll eat to help her produce enough milk and to maybe put some weight back on. Our mama cat is eating up to 4 small cans/day + some dry food and water too...The kittens (also 5) are all getting pudgy tummies and gaining strength...crawling around and trying to get up on their wee little legs...Good Luck. Pics please and keep us posted too.

 

[chickenlisa]

Kitten update...
Night had 8 kittens. The mackerel tabby died. She has 3 solid blacks, one black tortie, an orange that looks spotted tabby (the runt) and two tabbies (one classic and one mackerel) that may or may not be calico. They look like they have orange spots, but I really can't tell.

She had them back to back. She didn't take the time to help break sacs or clear noses. I am sure the one that died was the one I helped and was trying to clear his nose. He was in his sac the longest and I had to break it open because he wasn't able to. She did finally take care of the placentas. It took her until after 2pm. She kept resting. She's tired, hungry and dehydrated. She left them once already and I was concerned about whether or not she was going to go back to them. It took her a bit, but she did and gave me an evil look like I was trying to steal them.

ETA: The mackerel tabby that died was blue.

oh I"m so sorry to hear about the baby that didn't make it! How sad! 8 babies is a lot!!! See my other post about the kitten food for her...it should help much and be gentler on her tummy too...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Got home from work today and my poor little weak chick who struggled to hatch late last night had died with his eyes open in the incubator. He seemed to have an infection in the naval area that had opened, he was in a pool of the liquid.

I still have the four beautiful chicks that hatched, so I'm grateful for that. My husband took care of that ghastly sight while I took our four year old outside to play. I had kind of an epiphany with this experience.
Incubating is hard!
Life and death literally come with the task.
And math.

I'm so sorry.

So I collected two eggs at lunch and went out to get the other three around four o'clock. Well, there might be three. But my Black Java hen, who has been laying a few weeks might be broody? She has flattened herself out in the favorite side of the nest box and kind of barked at us (who knew a hen could do that???) and fluffed up some feathers when we reached towards the nest. Usually the hens just get up. She was sitting there when I picked up eggs earlier and I just figured she was getting ready to lay, but now I don't think so. Do I try to get the eggs or leave her alone? Will she steal eggs from the other side of the nest when they're laid? She's larger than my EE's anyway, but now she looks enormous!

Some hens just don't like being bothered on the nest and will puff up and screech at you. It doesn't mean they are broody. To confirm a broody, she will quit laying and be on the nest at night, instead of roosting.

 

[Kiomey]

Still doesn't look like any growth in my eggs :/ Haven't checked the 3 under the broody yet. *sighs* maybe I'll have to buy a few from the mill after all *wink*