Too Early for Feb Hatch-A-Long Thread??

[Merrymouse]

@CluckNDoodle you ARE a lifesaver!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I started out to have a dozen just for eggs for my family. that was ummmmm..... 11 years? ago. and now we have less than 300. I think??

Wow! The chicken math is strong with you

If I have over 2 pens and/or 15 adult birds I start to get overwhelmed. At one time we had like 40+ birds in 4 different areas on our 2 acres. In addition or all our other animals (horses, goats, pigs). It felt like all I did was feed, water and clean pens. Especially tricky in winter when you're hauling water. I don't know how you do it!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

If you're unable to separate during hatch and band them before putting them in the brooder then you could always sell some of the chicks this time as a "Mystery mix" and explain which breeds they have a chance of receiving, lol. Another option would be growing them out until you're able to more easily identify the different breeds.

I was surprised when I hatched Speckled Sussex, Cream Legbars, and Whiting True Blues side by side how easy it was to tell them apart. It's tiny differences that you wouldn't notice unless you're watching them hatch but sure enough I didn't even need to band them. I hope it's a pleasant surprise for you like that maybe but the breeds you mentioned and especially the mixes, do sound like you're going to have quite the assortment!

I had 20 hens and I re-homed some so I'm down to only 12 right now so I can allow my broody hens to raise chicks and keep some in the flock. I'm not the overachiever like @aliciaplus3, lol, but I do find every time I try to tell myself I only need 10 hens it looks like so few when that's all I have.

This post made me feel quite a bit better. I though I could probably figure out who's who by color and traits (combs, feathering). Nice to know I'm not delusional. I still have several day to figure everything out. I took a quick peek at baskets at the dollar store today. They all looked too tall. Ill need to get measurements before buying anything.

 

[aliciaplus3]

This post made me feel quite a bit better. I though I could probably figure out who's who by color and traits (combs, feathering). Nice to know I'm not delusional. I still have several day to figure everything out. I took a quick peek at baskets at the dollar store today. They all looked too tall. Ill need to get measurements before buying anything.

I had built a thingy to separate them for my first incubator. I used the plastic holy craft mesh... ok not sure what to call it but it worked ok. Check out the incuview thread aart (I think) used it to make one for the incuview

 

[Merrymouse]

Have at least 1 more pip now.

Make sure you share chickie pictures!

 

[FortCluck]

I candles my other silkie egg. I think it’s a late quitter. Did not see movement. Lots of black. Did not hear any chirping. Did not smell. I put it back in just in case but now I’m on the hunt for a couple of day olds to keep my singleton company. What do you all think? Quitter? View attachment 2021381View attachment 2021382

Quitter since there are no veins and no movement. So you have a single chick alone? Give it a little stuffy in the brooder. And a mirror

 

[dougieee]

Wow! The chicken math is strong with you

If I have over 2 pens and/or 15 adult birds I start to get overwhelmed. At one time we had like 40+ birds in 4 different areas on our 2 acres. In addition or all our other animals (horses, goats, pigs). It felt like all I did was feed, water and clean pens. Especially tricky in winter when you're hauling water. I don't know how you do it!

I find there is an initial "chicken fever", at which point your flock ends up way to big and then cooler heads prevail (i.e. constant nagging from spouse).
I generally incubate now and then sell all my excess as trios or pairs and just keep the best three for myself.
Apart from the brahma-canas currently in the bator which are an accidental project because of an overly amorous araucana (still cant work out how he ended up in with the brahmas?????)

 

[LynnaePB]

Thanks for all the condolences, everyone. I’m so glad I decided to open that egg. I learned so so much and am glad I gave the baby a shot.

So sorry to hear the little one didn't make it through the night, that's usually how it ends up with that position for my babies as well, I'm always glad I tried though. The ones who don't have their beak completely hidden seem like a breeze after dealing with that malposition and their survival rate is usually very good. I'm so glad you are happy you decided to try, doing such an involved and difficult assist really teaches you so much!

I candles my other silkie egg. I think it’s a late quitter. Did not see movement. Lots of black. Did not hear any chirping. Did not smell. I put it back in just in case but now I’m on the hunt for a couple of day olds to keep my singleton company. What do you all think? Quitter? View attachment 2021381View attachment 2021382

I think you are probably right about that little one being a late quitter. I've always been able to tell with my light shelled silkie eggs if the baby is alive. If it's far enough along to have absorbed the blood vessels near the air cell you will almost always see some sort of movement when candling (usually breathing). If it hasn't started to absorb the blood vessels and started breathing yet it can be completely still but you will see at least a few healthy looking blood vessels near the air cell in my experience. It's a good thing you are giving it extra time though, it would be great if it surprises you!

Congratulations on your little hatcher as well, what a cutie! I'd guess blue for the color too. The splashes I've had have been quite a bit lighter.

Here is my splash girl as a baby, all the other splash babies I've seen are about this color when hatched but I don't breed splashes so can't be sure they don't vary. It'll be exciting to see how your little cutie feathers out!

Oh and I hope the splay leg treatment works quickly! I've only had to deal with splay legs a couple times but once those braces go on they seem to really start getting around pretty easy and mine were able to walk normally within a couple days without needing the brace.

 

[FortCluck]

I think my silkie hatchling may be splay legged.. any advise? Im going to go google to figure out how to help it out.

Band aid or tape

https://www.google.com/search?q=tap...IEHa4uDuwQ_AUoAnoECA8QAg#imgrc=aTZhRWcbNAlaYM

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@CluckNDoodle you ARE a lifesaver!

So I was watching this video for a completely different reason but right at 0:37 seconds it just happens to show a little Silkie with a perfectly placed little strip of med wrap as an example for you!