The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Hello Sally..

I do not know if I have ever greeted you before

 

[aoxa]

LM

That is a great idea for raised houses! If you ever get ducks, they love those too.

Del,

Do your Muscovies roost? I've heard they do, but mine does not. She's a little bow legged.

man do they have claws.. I have a permanent scar on my wrist from trying to pick Macy up.

 

[Mumsy]

They were in a turner..Catdance said to lay them down, the people in the silkie thread said to keep them in the turner till piped. I have never had a chick pip the wrong end. I have never assisted a hatching chick. Crap. They said to keep humidity low..so did catdance. She said she does not raise it till pip. She also said they drowned..ugh

This is very interesting and alarming at once. The first time I had an egg pip at the bottom was from the disastrous Silkie hatch. That chick didn't make it. One of those valuted skull chicks I posted a picture of. I know my high humidity did a number on that hatch, but it must be double bad with Silkies.

I'm glad you called her and she was forth coming with information. I'm beginning to think these modern Silkie strains are not as hardy and robust as they were twenty years ago. I will be getting my Cadance eggs in two weeks. I will keep your hatch experience in mind when I ask questions for my notebook notations.

Thank you del. For the information you so generously share. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It is through sharing and blunt honesty that we all become better at raising our flocks. If anyone can get those Silkie chicks to hatch, it's you.

 

[delisha]

Quote: when you pick them up you do need to hold toes. I can do it one handed, the arm around the bird and the same hand holding toes, the feet on top of each other. Takes a bit of experience, but they are comfortable with it too.
Yes, they roost.

 

[aoxa]

This is very interesting and alarming at once. The first time I had an egg pip at the bottom was from the disastrous Silkie hatch. That chick didn't make it. One of those valuted skull chicks I posted a picture of. I know my high humidity did a number on that hatch, but it must be double bad with Silkies.

I'm glad you called her and she was forth coming with information. I'm beginning to think these modern Silkie strains are not as hardy and robust as they were twenty years ago. I will be getting my Cadance eggs in two weeks. I will keep your hatch experience in mind when I ask questions for my notebook notations.

Thank you del. For the information you so generously share. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It is through sharing and blunt honesty that we all become better at raising our flocks. If anyone can get those Silkie chicks to hatch, it's you.

A lot of people use egg cartons during hatch. I have heard positive and negative issues with this. The only positive I've thought was that it minimizes the bowling of other eggs. But I think the bowling helps the other chicks get going. Maybe not.. I just haven't had it be an issue.

Broodies do not have their eggs stood up pointy end down during hatch. That is reason enough for me to have them laying on their sides.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Alarming is right..I am checking them to often now..I might be compromising the rest of my hatch. I wish I had two incubators.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I have always hatched flat after day 18. Otherwise they are up.

 

[aoxa]

when you pick them up you do need to hold toes. I can do it one handed, the arm around the bird and the same hand holding toes, the feet on top of each other. Takes a bit of experience, but they are comfortable with it too.
Yes, they roost.

Do your girls brood their own ducklings?

I'd love to get some fertile muscovy eggs for my girl to hatch. She was broody at least 4 times last year. I broke her every time because I had no duck eggs to give her.


I think Macy is beautiful. Her eyes are bright sky blue. She is the quietest animal I own. Hands down. Even quieter than my cat.

 

[Mumsy]

A lot of people use egg cartons during hatch. I have heard positive and negative issues with this. The only positive I've thought was that it minimizes the bowling of other eggs. But I think the bowling helps the other chicks get going. Maybe not.. I just haven't had it be an issue.

Broodies do not have their eggs stood up pointy end down during hatch. That is reason enough for me to have them laying on their sides.

Twenty years ago I had a turner. The first time I used it, I left it in the bator turned off at lock down. Chicks hatched. I didn't like seeing those poor chicks scrambling over that turner! Like a big obstacle course for them. They all made it.

The turner broke soon after that and I chucked it. I've hatched flat all 21 days and in the carton all twenty one days. I always got chicks.

This current hatch they remained in the carton for seventeen and I put them flat for lock down and hatch. Going to find out what happens. No matter which way I ever did it, chicks happened.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Hello Sally..

I do not know if I have ever greeted you before

Hi, thanks for the welcome.