Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

So, why are the eggs hatching early? I'm wondering if it was the way I held them before setting them. When I got them from CL and Stumpfarmer, I just kept them in the garage. Stumpfarmer had them in the fridge. So, did putting them in a warmer garage get them "started"? I know it's not the incubator, since all the other hatches this year have been on time, and we even had overlaps between species (peafowl and chickens). Not really a problem, since we have several brooders; just curiosity.
 
So, why are the eggs hatching early? I'm wondering if it was the way I held them before setting them. When I got them from CL and Stumpfarmer, I just kept them in the garage. Stumpfarmer had them in the fridge. So, did putting them in a warmer garage get them "started"? I know it's not the incubator, since all the other hatches this year have been on time, and we even had overlaps between species (peafowl and chickens). Not really a problem, since we have several brooders; just curiosity.

It is possible that they started "cooking" if stored above 80 degrees.
 
Meanwhile DH is famous for bringing his antivirus disks to parties and making the hosts computers healthy and happy.

Which I am not right now. Diamond Dave, the splash AM rooster, is right poorly; he has had a poopy butt off and on since I got him in April, and once before when the temperature dropped after a warm spell he was weak for a day or so; I increased his wind protection and cleaned up the water and feed pans and he got better immediately. This morning (it was 45 two nights in a row, with no wind) he's in a ball and weak to death- not paralysed, he can stand up when he's feeling offended, and walk a step or two- but otherwise Not Healthy, and his crop is completely empty.

I gave him yoghurt and wrapped him up, but I am unhappy, and pessimistic- and Bluebelle is frantic, although in perfect health.

The woman I got him from had treated him with both Eprinex and Valbizen the week before I brought him home, which I thought at the time was an overkill. He's been fertile (is the pappy of the 8 chicks down with Malvina, who are all running around and growing fast) and other than being easily startled and prone to flying into the roof (maybe he's had vision problems? Is that possible?) has been a regular old rooster except for his problems with the cold.
Julia, when we worm, as with mammals as well, we worm once, then waite a week and worm again, as the first time you usually do not kill the worm's ova.
Within a week, the ova can hatch in the bird (or mammal) and start a whole new generation of worms.
Sometimes I even worm 1 X a week, for 3 weeks.
Maybe you need to worm him again ?
 
It is possible that they started "cooking" if stored above 80 degrees.
yes, and eggs can "cook" if held over 60 degrees, albeit slowly, but they still can develope.
They ideally should be held between 50-60 degrees, and turned several times a day, for no longer than 8 days, for an ideal hatch.
Over 60 degrees, the embryo struggles, below 60, the embryo is in limbo.
Below 50 & injuries can result.
 
Check this out, in my 'backyard' :














We can see these worms from 50 yards away !
Some are 1" and some smaller....hairless, and very hungry !
Glad they like weeds and not my vegetables !
FYI: These are the larvae of the Cinnebar Moth,,bright red & black 'skipper-type' moths, who love ragwort, and this plant is a ragwort.
The moths were introduced here from various other parts of the planet, do eat the nasty ragwort, and they are doing their job nicely !
 
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I'd be a lot more entranced with how cute Hamburg chicks are if it weren't for the fact that I have ten of them in the hall bathroom, and one just crowed.

I need to finish my cheese and crackers and go retrieve the cage-part I broke while putting it together (pilot holes are not optional) now that the glue has dried, and pick up eggs/check feed and water/pull grass for the rest of the chickens/ catch the roving sheep/ feed said sheep/turn off sprinklers/ take my underwear off the line/ et'c and so on and hope that nothing else has broken, escaped, gotten sick, or hatched early, since Cheery's kids are also due Tuesday. Them, I want: I'm hoping for at least one cockerel who can be bred to a Porcelain hen and come up with Porcelain chicks.
Julia don't forget Andrea !
She is still struggling to get Hammies and more than likely would take any extras you've got !
 
Not sure if it's a fail or a win...
Last night i candled the last duck egg no movement. This morning candled again before doing eggtopsy NO movement. Cracked the egg on the side of the table (hard) opening it up still no movement. I get the shell off the whole head of the duckling and it gasps taking a huge breath and comes to life. It's drying off in the incubator now, it's deformed (bill doesn't line up right).
So much for me saying I don't help them out of their shell. I jumped when it gasped because I really thought it was already dead.
 
So, why are the eggs hatching early? I'm wondering if it was the way I held them before setting them. When I got them from CL and Stumpfarmer, I just kept them in the garage. Stumpfarmer had them in the fridge. So, did putting them in a warmer garage get them "started"? I know it's not the incubator, since all the other hatches this year have been on time, and we even had overlaps between species (peafowl and chickens). Not really a problem, since we have several brooders; just curiosity.
Some breeds DO hatch sooner than others, but I do nnot think any hatch naturally on day 19 !
I have Ams that routinely burst forth on day 20...right on schedule !
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The JGs, on the other hand, have been known to take a little while longer.
Some varieties of Marans can take a little longer as well.
If they are all hatching early, I would suspect your temp is too high, I have to calibrate my thermometers every so many weeks..I've no idea how they can become so 'off' but they do !
Gremlins do it, I guess.
idunno.gif
 
Check this out, in my 'backyard' :














We can see these worms from 50 yards away !
Some are 1" and some smaller....hairless, and very hungry !
Glad they like weeds and not my vegetables !
FYI: These are the larvae of the Cinnebar Moth,,bright red & black 'skipper-type' moths, who love ragwort, and this plant is a ragwort.
The moths were introduced here from various other parts of the planet, do eat the nasty ragwort, and they are doing their job nicely !

They are also known as Tansy caterpillars..know to eat, bum, bum, bum...tansy!! LOL!...Tansy is ragwort for those who dont know =)
 
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