The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[delisha]

Hatching time is so exciting..go chicks go!

I have a few lines that take 23 and 24 days to hatch..some lines it is normal. 21 days is an average not a absolute. That is why even in nature, the mother hen stays on the nest at least three days for all the eggs to hatch. She only leaves the nest after three days to feed the ones who have hatched. Even when she sets and starts to incubate them all at the same time, they do not all hatch the same day. If your chicks are healthy and no swollen tummy's, you are perfect.

 

[thedragonlady]

I always cut the bottom out of the egg cups and hatch in egg cartons too, unless I am having to keep a certain group separate to identify. I wish I had some of those basket things Irene has for that. I think I could put a egg carton halved in those

Julie,

Wal-Mart has very deep suet baskets that work very well. Plenty of room for large eggs ! I've been using those.

 

[deek]

If Nellie reads this she will say, "Only you Dee"

I purchased the suet feeders that DragonLady recommended. I love them, except...I did have an issue as you can see above. This little guy hatched hours before his clutch mates and literally kept trying to get out. I had two baskets in the hatcher since they each contained two different breeding pairs so I made the mistake of keeping him in there too long. (Are everyone's chicks always this active? Boy, they hatch and start causing "trouble" (LOL) right away.) I have since then corrected the problem by lining the basket with the lingerie bag material. I also put "shelf liner" for a flooring since the basket didn't look comfortable.

If you add the lingere material make sure it still allows room for the top to close tightly because I had one chick chick actually popped the lid enough to escape. He wasn't even really dry yet, but he could see and hear the one in the basket next to him and was doing everything possible to get to him. I know, only me, geez.

 

[BamaChicken]

Are they in the bird feeding department of Walmart?. I will look when I go in since I am going to set some that need to be separated.

 

[deek]

Are they in the bird feeding department of Walmart?. I will look when I go in since I am going to set some that need to be separated.

Look for the ones that are really deep. The ones near the bird feed, at my WalMart, were too shallow and the carton didn't fit. The deep ones, like the one in the picture above, were in the garden center next to the hoses and pots- not sure why there.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Ok... I have tried the cartons both ways... it is my experience.. there is no need to remove anything from the cartons but the top... cutting the cartons make my hands hurt real bad... Soo I tried it with just removing the lid and set the eggs up in them up right. The chicks had no problems coming out ')

Yes Bama... the green wire cages I use to separate the chicks are large deep suet feeders from Walmart. Now.. they work fine for the large fowl... but honestly.. I think those little bantams could slip right out... Ok.. the first time I used the suet cages... I grabbed a washcloth real quick to cushion the bottom . It was over sized soo was able to ruffle the cloth to make sure the laid eggs didn't roll around and created a make shift bumper pad for the walls.. this was to keep the other chicks from pecking the caged ones. it worked great. I do plan to switch to nonskid shelf liner the next time I use them.

By the way.... this morning... 10 English Chocolate Bantam chicks hatched... even though.. all the ones that weren't smashed had busted air cells. this just goes to show.... It ain't over.... Till the Fat lady sings... lol Happy Happy Happy!

 

[BamaChicken]

Ok... I have tried the cartons both ways... it is my experience.. there is no need to remove anything from the cartons but the top... cutting the cartons make my hands hurt real bad... Soo I tried it with just removing the lid and set the eggs up in them up right. The chicks had no problems coming out ')

Yes Bama... the green wire cages I use to separate the chicks are large deep suet feeders from Walmart. Now.. they work fine for the large fowl... but honestly.. I think those little bantams could slip right out... Ok.. the first time I used the suet cages... I grabbed a washcloth real quick to cushion the bottom . It was over sized soo was able to ruffle the cloth to make sure the laid eggs didn't roll around and created a make shift bumper pad for the walls.. this was to keep the other chicks from pecking the caged ones. it worked great. I do plan to switch to nonskid shelf liner the next time I use them.

By the way.... this morning... 10 English Chocolate Bantam chicks hatched... even though.. all the ones that weren't smashed had busted air cells. this just goes to show.... It ain't over.... Till the Fat lady sings... lol Happy Happy Happy!

Well congratulations are definitely in order.

 

[Reyvaughn]

When you see them pip early on ... then take a long time to finish... There is a chance your humidity was too high... they were drowning and had to open up.. .but if you were to have helped them... I would be willing to bet they would have bloody butts..

I put water in one channel when I first set them and do not add anymore until I lock down. It seems to work the best for me in this Hova-bator.

I helped it today. It was dried to the shell where it pipped and couldn't go any further. There was more blood than I normally see when I help, but it was cheeping like mad and that's usually when I go to help. This guy was actually right on schedule for hatching. So are the eggs I set of my own. Hopefully I didn't help it to soon....

 

[deek]

Ok... I have tried the cartons both ways... it is my experience.. there is no need to remove anything from the cartons but the top... cutting the cartons make my hands hurt real bad... Soo I tried it with just removing the lid and set the eggs up in them up right. The chicks had no problems coming out ')

Yes Bama... the green wire cages I use to separate the chicks are large deep suet feeders from Walmart. Now.. they work fine for the large fowl... but honestly.. I think those little bantams could slip right out... Ok.. the first time I used the suet cages... I grabbed a washcloth real quick to cushion the bottom . It was over sized soo was able to ruffle the cloth to make sure the laid eggs didn't roll around and created a make shift bumper pad for the walls.. this was to keep the other chicks from pecking the caged ones. it worked great. I do plan to switch to nonskid shelf liner the next time I use them.

By the way.... this morning... 10 English Chocolate Bantam chicks hatched... even though.. all the ones that weren't smashed had busted air cells. this just goes to show.... It ain't over.... Till the Fat lady sings... lol Happy Happy Happy!

Congratulations on the ten chocolate kisses.

 

[ElitePoultry]

Ok... I have tried the cartons both ways... it is my experience.. there is no need to remove anything from the cartons but the top... cutting the cartons make my hands hurt real bad... Soo I tried it with just removing the lid and set the eggs up in them up right.  The chicks had no problems coming out ')   

Yes Bama... the green wire cages I use to separate the chicks are large deep suet feeders from Walmart.   Now.. they work fine for the large fowl... but honestly.. I think those little bantams could slip right out...  Ok.. the first time I used the suet cages... I grabbed a washcloth real quick to cushion the bottom .  It was over sized soo was able to ruffle the cloth to make sure the laid eggs didn't roll around and created a make shift bumper pad for the walls.. this was to keep the other chicks from pecking the caged ones.   it worked great.  I do plan to switch to nonskid shelf liner the next time I use them.

By the way.... this morning... 10 English Chocolate Bantam chicks hatched... even though.. all the ones that weren't smashed had busted air cells.  this just goes to show.... It ain't over.... Till the Fat lady sings... lol   Happy Happy Happy!

Congratulations Irene!!! Chocolate chicks are always fun to take pictures of. They are very photogenic. ESPECIALLY in the sun!
And thank you for that incubator tip. I am going to apply that method this hatch. Ive got a couple of different BBS lines incubating and i want to keep them seperate to band them.