I finally broke down and bought eggs from eBay from a 4h'r, best turn around time, wrapped and packaged the best, labeled the best. Darkest brown French Copper Maran eggs, large! Bought the new Harris Farm incubator to put them in. Hoping for a beautiful flock!True, but they were completely clear when I received them. It could also have been the week and a half it took him to mail them to me after payment, too.
Anything we ever hatched after 24 days, had to be mercy culled or DOA the same day it had to be assisted. Natural Selection. There is a reason they are too weak. Neurological, physical challenges. We sell almost everything we hatch. I can't raise special needs poultry. We are hatching four times a month right now. It is peak season and selling out faster than we can hatch them. I have a replacement heating element coming any day now for the 5th oven.
This is usually true! There can be exceptions. I had one that was missing the egg tooth or it fell off?Anything we ever hatched after 24 days, had to be mercy culled or DOA the same day it had to be assisted. Natural Selection. There is a reason they are too weak. Neurological, physical challenges. We sell almost everything we hatch. I can't raise special needs poultry. We are hatching four times a month right now. It is peak season and selling out faster than we can hatch them. I have a replacement heating element coming any day now for the 5th oven.
The ovens needs to be sterilized and back in service on day 24 to pay for the hundreds & hundreds of dollars we spent on hay and feed during that long winter season. Spring time pays our winter bills with chick sales.When summer comes, and the chick fever goes away and everyone is hiding in the air condition, we will have more time between hatches. Then the swine pay the bills during BBQ season. Winter time our goat herds drain our profits. Mass chick production keeps the viscous cycle feasible.
Small Farmers never profit. Only eat well and break even in peak seasons.View attachment 1321662
I had a late one today that has no use of it's legs. Wet noodles. I'm pumping vitamin E, electrolytes and nutri dench cupped in the palm of my hand. It is slurping it. If it doesn't improve in a couple of days..
That's not quality of life. Yes it was assisted. All the fluid was absorbed, but it didn't have enough strength to finish the unzip. I hate culling chicks.
It is worth giving them a shot!I had a late one today that has no use of it's legs. Wet noodles. I'm pumping vitamin E, electrolytes and nutri dench cupped in the palm of my hand. It is slurping it. If it doesn't improve in a couple of days..
But there is no such thing as a perfect world. When you play God by artificially bringing life into this world, there are consequences sometimes.
I believe the reason was is because the egg was from a young hen. One of her first eggs. We are impatient to start selling Blue Austies because they are not common in our geographical location. We only started raising that particular breed late last year. 6.5 mons maybe?
Poor little dude. There is another batch due in 4 days or so. I hope those blues don't repeat this birth defect.
