The Omega Rocks: The Last & Ultimate Barred Plymouth Rock Flock

[speckledhen]

I forgot that I picked up a bag of soldier fly larvae and it was a huge hit, as usual, especially for Bodie and Athena. They can get decent protein without stuffing their crops and this treat really brightens them up. Bodie is holding his own and he'll be able to get outside tomorrow because it will be in the low 70's and sunny. He perks up when he gets out and interacts with his former flock. I guess this really belonged on the Atlas thread, didn't it? It will take some time before I get used to having this one.
Day 18 is March 23 so less than a week away. I love when you lay them on their sides and you see eggs rock from Day 18 until hatch day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good to hear Bodie is still going, and seems to be improving. Those eggs will hatch in no time. It's amazing how quickly a chick develops.

 

[speckledhen]

This weekend, Sunday, is Day 18 already. I'll do the second candling to make sure no quitters go into the last three days, turner trays coming out, dividers going in and we're in a holding pattern until that first pip. I have not done this in such a long time! Brooder is set up and ready. Will update after all that is done to let you know how many made it into lockdown.
I've never really used the term "lockdown" but when I began calling the last three days Intense Bator Watch (IBW) someone said it sounded like an intestinal ailment.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Seems like the time has flown by to me!

 

[speckledhen]

It did fly by faster than I remember any other hatches in the past. I'm actually amazed. Maybe I was just too busy to obsess. Today is Day 18 and as soon as the sun is up, I'll candle and lay them on their sides. I look forward to this part, seeing a few rock a bit.

 

[speckledhen]

Day 18 Candling Report! Are we really here already? Wow. As you recall, four of the fifteen eggs Jamie sent were just infertile. Maybe he's better keep an eye on that rooster in that particular pen. BUT, here is what we have going into lockdown......ALL eleven that were good on Day 10 are full of bouncing chicks! The dividers are in, eggs are ready to pop out those gorgeous BRs. Six in one corner, three and two, respectively, in two other sections.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That is fantastic! I am rooting for them all!

The dividers look like a great fit! That should keep things orderly.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, these dividers are perfect! I was actually pleasantly surprised when egg after egg showed an active chick. Health of the parent stock as well as the proper packing for shipping are key in successful hatches from shipped eggs. That packing goes a long way. I cringe when I see how some buyers receive their eggs. These were shipped from just a few hours away so that also may help, but if they aren't packed well, all bets are off.

 

[speckledhen]

The humidity has been holding steady at 64% since not long after we went into lockdown period. During the incubation, I did not fill the water bottle half full as the instructions said because I wanted the humidity to be below 45%, not 50-55% they recommended, so by morning, it had sometimes dipped into the 25-28% range. We have been ultra dry here with red flag fire warnings every day, which is why it would not keep a decent humidity without any water. I had intended to try more of a dry incubation, but I'm not sure this really qualifies as such. Mostly, the humidity was 30-40% during the first 18 days.

I didn't put in a full bottle today, either, which is what the manual says is needed to keep the humidity at 65-75% for four days, not at first. What I didn't quite understand in the instructions was that I couldn't just fill the bottle, turn it upside down and put it in place. I was supposed to actually pour a full bottle of water into the hole where the bottle is situated then sit the bottle back in the holder, not just fill the bottle and sit it in there. I figured that out when the humidity didn't really rise like it should. So I went back to re-read that page that I must have just skimmed. I do like that I don't have to open the incubator to add water. I get it now, first time using this incubator, but it's done a marvelous job!
The instructions are not bad, pretty good actually, but definitely written by someone whose first language is not English.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]