The Old Folks Home

[tnspursfan09]

I still have two eggs in the incubator that haven't pipped or moved...should I just leave them alone? It's day 22.

 

[ronott1]

I still have two eggs in the incubator that haven't pipped or moved...should I just leave them alone? It's day 22.

It is time to check them for life.

Pick up the egg and tap it. Listen for a peep from it. There is a float test but you have to make sure there is not crack or pip in the eggs. I do not float test.

Candling will often show what is going on. If they look dead, I carefully open them from the top. I did find one alive like that once and was able to save it.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

OH I'm sure I could be hatching. I've had chicks in the house for several winters. I would just like a winter without them in the house ! lol What size barn do you use-- I remember the goat shed but not the chicken coops. DO you give them a heat lamp to use??

I have a group that has been out since the late summer and they still pack into a corner and don't use the second roost if the first roost is full.

I must be doing something wrong.

I have an 8x20 chicken coop. They do not ever get a heat lamp, unless they're chicks without mommas and indoors and less than 10 days old. They get a roost in their brooder from day one, so they learn to roost early, I guess. I still have some that don't like to roost on the roost, they roost on the poop board, and I have no idea what that's about... but they don't sleep in corners. I once had my entire flock of turkey-ettes pack into a litterbox nesting box at night to sleep. Thankfully they only tried it once. But it was hilarious. And I still have some that, despite everything, insist on trying to sleep in a tree. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

I'm not sure you're "doing something wrong" - they're just bird brains. And I get beat by them, occasionally. You can, too. No shame.

 

[ozexpat]

I have an 8x20 chicken coop. They do not ever get a heat lamp, unless they're chicks without mommas and indoors and less than 10 days old. They get a roost in their brooder from day one, so they learn to roost early, I guess. I still have some that don't like to roost on the roost, they roost on the poop board, and I have no idea what that's about... but they don't sleep in corners. I once had my entire flock of turkey-ettes pack into a litterbox nesting box at night to sleep. Thankfully they only tried it once. But it was hilarious. And I still have some that, despite everything, insist on trying to sleep in a tree. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

I'm not sure you're "doing something wrong" - they're just bird brains. And I get beat by them, occasionally. You can, too. No shame.

it amazes me howmany people burn fossil fuels to produce electricity to provide heat to animals whose byproducts we use to keep warm. Feathers are very effective insulators.

 

[tnspursfan09]

It is time to check them for life.

Pick up the egg and tap it. Listen for a peep from it. There is a float test but you have to make sure there is not crack or pip in the eggs. I do not float test.

Candling will often show what is going on. If they look dead, I carefully open them from the top. I did find one alive like that once and was able to save it.

Ok...candled both (they are very dark brown eggs). One was really light with some dark just on one side...in float test it sank. Assuming it didn't fully develop. Other one was completely dark, couldn't see anything. In float test the fat end was out of the water, and I swear I felt it move as I was drying it off but that could've been my imagination.

 

[ronott1]

Ok...candled both (they are very dark brown eggs). One was really light with some dark just on one side...in float test it sank. Assuming it didn't fully develop. Other one was completely dark, couldn't see anything. In float test the fat end was out of the water, and I swear I felt it move as I was drying it off but that could've been my imagination.

Poke a pin hole carefully into the big end and put it back into the incubator. The hole will give the chick some air and my get it to start zipping.

There is hope but if there is a chick in the egg during the float test, it will wiggle noticeable in the water. Look for a You Tube video.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Poke a pin hole carefully into the big end and put it back into the incubator. The hole will give the chick some air and my get it to start zipping.

There is hope but if there is a chick in the egg during the float test, it will wiggle noticeable in the water. Look for a You Tube video.

It didn't move at all in the water. I poked a pinhole but the shell was so hard!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: oh I would sit there too!

Quote:

 

[ozexpat]

A few photos cross posted from my page

Motza taking her daily bath in the stream. Water buffalos love their water





Chukar are doing well. They will start laying in feb/march



mid july hatch





mid june hatch

 

[Cynthia12]

He only has to do the deed every couple of weeks to keep the eggs fertile. He is likely getting to all of them.

Congratulations!

Oh, this is good to know, a question I would be asking in the future. I am going to be working on the Seramas...have fallen for them. Going to try to keep a small squeak toy sounding rooster. My neighbors didn't mind the one I had, but I have hatched some real cuties, and I want to pick and choose and try breeding. Two weeks ey? So the hen can stay fertile for two weeks. Wow. It's going to be a while, I just hatched these little ones about 2 weeks ago. Here are a few photos.
A couple of frizzles


A few of the others


I recently had a rooster Serama, with a small crow, could have gotten away with him, but he wouldn't stop crowing. One of those non stop crowing guys.