The Old Folks Home

[insanity]

Well my 4 original hens just went to their new home. A friend took them off my hands because they wouldn't get used to the new chicks.He promised to bring them back if it doesn't work out.It is kinda sad to see them go even if they were rips at times.

1 question have anyone here had eggs go 27+ days.I did an eggtopsy on day 25 and found 1 alive, the air cell was opened so I just set it back in the bator. He has started to absorb the egg yolk and appears to be doing well. I just haven't seen it take this long so was curious.

 

[Wisher1000]

I suppose it could be because your temps ran consistently low......

 

[ronott1]

Well my 4 original hens just went to their new home. A friend took them off my hands because they wouldn't get used to the new chicks.He promised to bring them back if it doesn't work out.It is kinda sad to see them go even if they were rips at times.

1 question have anyone here had eggs go 27+ days.I did an eggtopsy on day 25 and found 1 alive, the air cell was opened so I just set it back in the bator. He has started to absorb the egg yolk and appears to be doing well. I just haven't seen it take this long so was curious.

I have had Ducks go that long...They are supposed to though.

Like Wisher posted, verify the temps. I use a Brinsea Spot check.

 

[Arielle]

Arielle, I don't know about the kinds in your area, but the azaleas that are grown here are somewhat toxic. After several bouts with upset stomachs, my goats have learned not to touch them, even if someone slips up and there are azalea bits in a load of edible trimmings dumped over the fence.

Yeah, thats what I thought . . I've been watching to see if they get sick . . . .

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
I'm the one that actually suggested the rat to them-- a friend used one for a school project: how to train a rat while she was working on a degree to become a zoo manager. Figured the boys could teach it to climb tiny ladders and other cool stuff. ANd yes, the tail gets me!! Mostly I hate the biting-- used to get bit by the lab rats. ANd NO red eyes!! 6 years is remarkable. I just finally rid the house of the last mouse ( wild) and here I am talking about getting a rat!! lol

 

[Wisher1000]

I am surprised that the lab rats bit, but I guess it depends on how/why they were handled.

I bought Angel for my son when he was eight. I wanted to tame it before I gave it to him so that he didn't get bitten. I took the rat to work and kept it in an aquarium in my office. I would put my hand in there several times a day, starting on the opposite side of the tank and inching forward until I saw some stress and them would back off. By the end of the first day, she would go to a corner and hide her face when I pushed the contact. the second day, when she hid her face is barely brushed her fur with a finger. She slowly untucked her head and slowly and very gently PUSHED my finger away with her nose and tucked her head again. I thought, "Wow, that was loud and clear. She is not quite ready." She could have struck out at me and nailed my finger, but she was just scared. It didn't take long for her to realize that I was her friend and she loved everyone in the family, but I was always her favorite. The only time she ever bit was when I had something yummy smelling, like weiner juice, on my fingers and she wanted to taste it. Even then it was a squeeze with her teeth and not a puncture.

She would sit on my shoulder and put her little hands on my cheek and lick my face like a dog. I had hamsters as a kid and they would bite, and sleep all day, and not want to be touched. Not Angel, she stayed in my son's upstairs bedroom. Sometimes, when she got out, or was left out of her tank, I would find her curled up on the pillow next to my son's face, or she would come down the stairs looking for me. She never hid from us and always wanted to be where we were. The only thing that I didn't like about her was that if she was left unattended on the bed, she would bite tiny holes in the sheet. I still have sheet sets with random, tiny holes in several places.

She got downright decrepit at 5. She began to lose use of her back legs and her bowels but still loved being carried and petted. One day my then 14 year old came outside to me and he had tears in his eyes. He was holding her in both hands and she was fading. I asked if he wanted me to put her down and he said no, he just wanted to walk with her (she always enjoyed being outside, but preferred to be held because 'the great outdoors' scared her a little). That child walked around and around the house, squalling and kissing and talking to that rat til she died. It was so sad to watch, but I couldn't help but think what a glorious life it had been for one rat.

 

[insanity]

I suppose it could be because your temps ran consistently low......

99- 100 steady, all the rest hatched fine. its just this one who is running long.

 

[ronott1]

99- 100 steady, all the rest hatched fine. its just this one who is running long.

Are you sure it is a chicken?

Maybe a Guinea or Turkey egg got mixed into the hatch--Or maybe someone snuck one in on you?

Do you have any pranksters in the house?

 

[dsqard]

Quote: Did you have a staggered hatch going on? Maybe one was mis-marked? That is the only reason I can think of.

 

[insanity]

No its marked mille fluer like the others, and my next hatch isn't for 8 more days. I need to think of a real good name for this one though.If she makes it she'll be "special".