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

[Quailsong]

Can I use the deep litter method in a brooder with ducklings?

I'm a BIG fan of DL but even I'd say no. DL works best when the soil can stay lightly moist (not soggy) & turned/scratched frequently. Ducklings won't scratch like chickens & certainly won't keep the DL dry enough - though you could rig some type of pebble/mesh divider so that the water falls down before it reaches the DL. I'd still say it's a huge hassle.

If you do DL with adult ducks I'd make sure there were scratch-type birds in the mix (ie, chickens) & that there was a floor divider (like an overflow catcher) between where they swim & the DL.

 

[JennaLynn122]

YAY

so what did you hach out?

They were all RIR X GLW. They are so cute. They look kinda like RIR babies with black speckles and eye liner!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: My very first hatch I had a very sore butt. We have hardwood, and I sat there watching them hatch with my nose to the incubator.

Update. 3 line chicks. 2 passed in the middle of zipping. 1 definite bad egg a and 2 being candled for movement in a bit. Chick #1 now named Beauty by the DH and has also been personnaly claimed as his pet chicken.... her eye looks to be grown shut. Shes not getting picked on. More doing the picking than anything. But otherwise a healthy little girl.
All 3 are now in the brooder.

This is the stuck shut eye. We will see if its just gunk or permanent in the near future I'm sure....

Take a Q tip and get an end of it wet and wipe it on the eye. It's most likely stuck shut.

Some else posted they have bunnies! Mine had hers this week to. Satin/Lilac mutts.

Awwwww, they are itty bitty!

sitting at my desk at work Wondering what broody drama may be next on the agenda. I get to leave in 2 hours and hope to find

Broody one in the broody box in the broody pen

Broody two holding her own in the coop and keeping

Broody 3 off of her eggs and on her own golf balls in her own nest.


What would you guys do with Broody 3

a) give her eggs
b) give her chicks
c) give her a stern talking to about property rights and kidnapping
d) give her the opportunity to explain herself
e) all of the above

I'd give her eggs. Otherwise you'll have 3 momma's fighting over the babies.

Lock Down Today!!!!! When I get home from work, I will get everything all set and ready, candle for those air cells and fill up the water trays. Probably have to add the wet washcloth like last time to keep the humidity up.... Then it's the hard part... NOT TOUCHING THEM AND CHECKING EVERY 10 MINUTES FOR PIPS!!!!

I wish I could just hatch eggs all the time! Just hatch and hatch and enjoy the fluffiness and know they are going to good homes to supply someone with eggs for a few years! We have 40 chickens now and next year when we hatch out 20 more, our first 20 are likely time to go. We raise them for eggs and meat so we know this is what they are for. Just wish I could continue to supply others with chickens!

The 17 or so that are in the bator now, ready to hatch on SATURDAY will go up the road to a farmer who has 5 Americaunas that are almost 2 years old now. So, he's ready to start a new flock. One of our sons Day Care Providers wants 25 chicks, so that will keep me going for a few more weeks!

Any suggestions on how to promote the idea of me hatching eggs for those with no Rooster, no incubator or otherwise not wanting Shipped eggs?

Craigslist?

Fluffy turkey!

Awwwwwww. And those polka dot pants look familiar.

Why do I insist on going to look at the chick bins when I go to Southern States to buy feed???

Although, I'm glad I did this time. No chicks, but keets...with one, lone baby all by itself laying on its side, barely under the heat lamp, isolated in one of those cardboard chick boxes.

"What's wrong with that baby?" I ask.

"Dunno, it was like that when the shipment got here this morning. It either got too cold overnight, or it got trampled." says employee.

"Aww, poor thing. I hope it makes it." I say.

"Doubt it. One of the guys in the back will probably break its neck to put it out of its misery." says employee.

Yeah... I. Don't. Think. So.

Meet Gilly:

Nice save. I hope the little keet makes it.

Final tally for HAL: 3/11 hatched successfully!

I will post pics later!

Congrats! I have 2 pips.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Yay chooks on your pips!

 

[JennaLynn122]

Take a Q tip and get an end of it wet and wipe it on the eye. It's most likely stuck shut.

I did that and it still didnt budge. It doest really look "stuck". The pic just makes it look like she is sleeping but its almost like there is no opening at all. She has the eye lid lines but it looks like a bit of skin between them.

Congrats on your 2 pips! cant wait to see the babies.

 

[tommysgirl]

That's really up to you. Either one would work. I would probably give her eggs, so I could have another mama with chicks in a few weeks. I like seeing them running around.

Great minds ...

I'd give her eggs. Otherwise you'll have 3 momma's fighting over the babies.

Thank you! That's what I wanted to do in the first place. Even had them all saved up before she went broody just hoping someone would

 

[Critter Crue]

My BCM went broody a couple days ago, so we gifted her with 12 eggs to finish hatching out of the 3.5 dozen that are in the house. She is a happy girl doing a great job so far. Excited to have the experience of seeing a momma in action!

 

[tommysgirl]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!! And Totally Agree!
My husband does think I'm flipping out, wondering what in the heck can I be looking at sitting there staring into the incubator while they are rocking and rolling and pipping and hatching.... Why oh why is she still sitting there??? It's 2:30 in the morning, go to bed! Noooooo.... one may hatch while I'm sleeping.... Wait, hear that??? I heard a peep... just a few more mintues, I'll be there shortly..... Oh, what time is it now??? Oh well, let's go make breakfast!

Thanks! Haha I like your description! hatching is one of the coolest things

but I was no good with the bator when I did it last spring. Broodies are the preferred method these days but I still want a Brinsea.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Little "19"...still wet, 1st one out, day 19. Speckled Sussex...nice, docile, beautiful breed!

So cute! My speckled Sussex are on day 19. I wish they would hatch!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

My BCM went broody a couple days ago, so we gifted her with 12 eggs to finish hatching out of the 3.5 dozen that are in the house. She is a happy girl doing a great job so far. Excited to have the experience of seeing a momma in action!

Nothing sweeter than a momma hen with babies.