Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[LilyD]

I use pine pellets from day one with all species other than quail, the quail start on puppy wee pads only. I actually put puppy wee pads under the pine pellets because it makes it super easy to roll up and clean.

Guineas are one of the species that will eat their bedding. My friend lost one to eating pine shavings so I wouldn't do that. Another person that I did a hatch-a-long with used wee pads under her guineas for a couple weeks I think before she had issues with them trying to eat it. The pine pellets break down into such tiny particles that I don't worry about compaction but I haven't hatched guineas yet to try it.

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I had the same issue with turkeys they eat all their bedding no matter what you use so I brood them on a bare dirt floor usually won't get those until around May so it's warm enough to have them outside.

 

[LilyD]

I use the pine shavings and pine pellets. Right now I have pine pellets in my brooder

I start out with Viva paper towels because they are compostable so I don't have to throw them in the trash then switch to pine shavings when they are a bit older.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I remember going to the doctor when I was preggers. The first idea of having kids, I thought if I had a girl I would quit, because in my husbands family, they had the same sex over and over. I didn't want to keep trying for a certain sex. I didn't want to know what I was having but I asked the doc if she knew what I was having... she said "Oh, yeah." if it is a girl sometimes they say well we cannot tell. but oh yeah means a boy, and I had the sonar, and even though it was not good quality then, you could still tell. I told my boy in my belly, I was excited it was a boy and I told him his name.... Tanner. When he was born he was very tan, they thought he had Jaundice he was so tan and they put him under those lights. He was just tan. Since I was resigned to having boys, I went for a second. This one I wanted to know, I got the sonar and you could see it was a girl 100%. When she was born, she was very pale, but I think it was because my son was named Tanner, he ended up Tanner than the daughter. Careful what you wish for. A comedian once said do you think of the name and god grants your wish, or do you see the baby then name it. In this case god granted the wish. He was very happy, he was a teen during the Twilight series and girls thought he looked like Taylor Lautner. Although at the time he would not admit it, but to the girls at his school he was the prize. Everyone was team Lautner. *ultrasound.

 

[hysop]

I am no pro and I’ve only hatched once before this one but I’d be inclined to maybe carefully open the shell above the air cell tomorrow and take a peek at what’s going on. See if they have passed or are maybe still alive in there and malpositioned. I had to do that with 3 eggs at the end of my last hatch. If you’re comfortable with that, of course. If not I’d probably be inclined to give up by day 24? What do others think?

Okay thanks I’ll do that. For one of the two white eggs I think it’s a goner, I didn’t see movement not even slightly, so I’ll candle later again tonight and check to see if I see movement.

 

[LilyD]

Right on track with this batch will be the second hatch that is on time not late. Spot check is amazing and such a help keeping temps on track.

We have two external pips tonight when I got home so things are starting up. Should have babies by the morning.

 

[FortCluck]

I start out with Viva paper towels because they are compostable so I don't have to throw them in the trash then switch to pine shavings when they are a bit older.

The pine pellets have been amazing with my bantams. They seem to be fine with them. I do shavings in the outdoor brooder in the shed.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Oh the telling the rooster how much time they have... We met people in Canada once, and they took us to their family farm. There was a pig there and we came out to see it. It was a big friendly pig. The guy that showed us the pig said "we are going to eat that one." And the pig squealed and ran away.

One time we went to the zoo with my kids, we went to the farm section with goats, and a pig came running out, because you could feed them corn you bought. My daughter said "Look a pig!" The pig stopped running and put it's shoulder into it's cheek like it was being modest. And was blinking it's eyes like it was cute.

 

[hysop]

Oh the telling the rooster how much time they have... We met people in Canada once, and they took us to their family farm. There was a pig there and we came out to see it. It was a big friendly pig. The guy that showed us the pig said "we are going to eat that one." And the pig squealed and ran away.

One time we went to the zoo with my kids, we went to the farm section with goats, and a pig came running out, because you could feed them corn you bought. My daughter said "Look a pig!" The pig stopped running and put it's shoulder into it's cheek like it was being modest. And was blinking it's eyes like it was cute.

Pigs have the intelligence of a 3 year old I think. I had a pet pig once, RIP Hammy , and he was smart and friendly and my dog’s best friend. I want another pig but I doubt my heart can take it

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I am no pro and I’ve only hatched once before this one but I’d be inclined to maybe carefully open the shell above the air cell tomorrow and take a peek at what’s going on. See if they have passed or are maybe still alive in there and malpositioned. I had to do that with 3 eggs at the end of my last hatch. If you’re comfortable with that, of course. If not I’d probably be inclined to give up by day 24? What do others think?

This is usually what I do once all actively hatching chicks have stopped I start looking into whether a chick is just slow to hatch or needs assistance.

 

[LilyD]

The pine pellets have been amazing with my bantams. They seem to be fine with them. I do shavings in the outdoor brooder in the shed.

I can't use any bedding even paper towels with turkeys they will impact their crops every time. I try and make sure the feed store keep mine in a box instead of putting them on the bedding until I get there to pick them up they are just not smart. My first season I lost 6 in one night cause they ate all their bedding instead of their food.

The chickens I start on paper towels so I can spinkle their food on the floor to start then when I have a few to teach the others it doesn't really matter cause the older ones show the youngers how to find food and water.