the Will They Hatch? thread

[laughingdog]

the chirping of other chicks and sounds of hen, encourage chicks to fight to hatch. supposedly. i have no proof, as i had put my cripple chook "clucky" by the egg, when the one piped and had started rolling around and chirping, but could just have been a flook, but they did seem to be talking to each other, and my hen did start to try to roll the egg under her, and tap lighter than she usually pecks, seeming to either help it chip its way out, or just curious (leading me to wonder if its not bad to help chicks hatch, as parents in wild supposedly do, as well as pet chickens).

 

[ThePamperedChick]

This is my first hatching experience (what a learning curve with shipped eggs!!!) and out of the whole group, only one successful chick hatched. She's determined to help the others 'knocking' for them to come out and play (don't know if they are alive, now day 23). She's even been pulling off the pipped shell of one to hurry it up. I didn't know that chicks wil help others to hatch, but I think she's lonely and frustrated as the only one. She is a riot, running to the window of the hatcher frantically chirping at me whenever I cluck at her ( didn't know I could actually speak chicken). What if she turns out to be the only one - will she be neurotic and need psychockanalysis- lol?

I wish I knew what I was doing (thought I had read everything ever written about hatching chicks)..........sigh

 

[Rathbone]

Just checking in with you all. My flat egg is still developing nicely. (fingers crossed).
I will check in with everyone again on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!!!

 

[btpeters]

Is it too late to post to this thread?

I'm having a funny FIRST hatch experience...

1--Started seven eggs (BCM) I bought from ebay (that i wasn't thrilled with the looks of) in my new little brinsea eco 10.

2---Ordered more eggs.

3---Realized I would need another bator to house original eggs when new ones came...so we built a styrofoam one from odds and ends.

4--Moved originals eggs from brinsea to styrofoam on day 6.

5---Eggs now in styrofoam and temperature fluctuated between 93 and 101 for 2 days till got that evened out to 99-100.

Things pretty uneventful until...

6---Lockdown for past two days has temp at 101-102 (moving air)... Don't know why it has spiked, and scared to open it up to adjust anything.

WILL THESE POOR EGGS HATCH?

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE? This being my first time I have no clue...

STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT...

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

Quote:
What are these vitamins of which you speak??????

 

[laughingdog]

glad to know my fuzzy butt peep, isnt the only loner who was acting neurotic. i just got some left over dutch bantam eggs, from the neighbor, that ive been wanting for monthes, but three including one with length ways crack going over half egg, and the one doesnt look fertile at all. i got these after something got into the coop and tossed the eggs, and most were thrown away, but i am trying and hoping for these three including one with crack, though they were layed i think unless new ones, before or right after got rosecomb bantam egg, and hen just started setting days ago... two or three look like my rosecomb were they seem to either been starting and stopping development or surging, or just bacterial growth. he sad his one poor hen, just yesterday or day before, had started trying to set the ten at least he could see on top, and they were burying them in milk crate with straw to try to keep them warn. course me being nuts and keeping my chooks in my apartment mostly (though originally just had one crippled bantam hen, who had own nice sized wire dog crate, with the pan under the cross wires to hold it in normally, and a thick thin spaced grill grate to let poop fall through, and a fridge drawer seeming perfect as she nested and layed in it as opposed to other things, when i put tore uo into small squared paper over the straw she had originally), but recently trying and hoping they can make it out side on warmer nights, as trying to get old english bantam hen to lay as she is broody but no eggs, and think the male actually got to mate her today (my gimpy hen beats them terribly if she catches them, especially if they're mating).

 

[Coldweatherbirds]

I thought I was having unusual luck for newbie until today the power went out for an hour while I was at work and the digital thermometer says the incubator went down to 88. It was back up to 101 when I got home (LG still air). Someone posted earlier that hers went down into the 70's. I wonder if they hatched. Mine are all due to go into lock-down tomorrow. They are mutts from my birds listed below. I work 12 hour shifts and commute, so I won't even start to put them in lock-down until after 8pm. I'll be so tired by then! Then one more marathon shift Sunday and I'll be home to see pipping start (crossed fingers) on Monday and Tuesday! So, WILL THEY HATCH????

 

[laughingdog]

*trying or even looking like might try to mate* so never actually got to it, but i put clucky the gimpy hen in for a bit to try to let the other two relax, play, and dust bath too ( id just put out a big mound of fresh grit, sand and dust for them, but she was chasing other hen and two roosters away, as oddly the only thing she doesnt attack are me and the crazy chick).

 

[laughingdog]

im just using the standard bird vitamins for exotic birds you actually shouldnt use for most birds, but chicks/chickens drink it so fast, and they seem to like the taste and color, they gulp it down, and perks them right up when starting to get sick, and want to jump start egg production (remember i got three eggs a day from the one hen, so must work well enough).

 

[snazzyboots]

i'm having a similar problem to btpeters. my incubator (still air hovabator) was steady for 3 days at 101.5 til i put the eggs in. i knew that opening it would drop the temp so i didn't check til the next day. since then it has been fluctuating between 91 and 103. i can't get it right. i'm not turning the dial much just a little smidge. are these eggs doomed? i'm really worried

i'm almost resigned to going to tsc and getting babies. getting really discouraged with the incubation process. anyone have any ideas?? thanks