What did you do with your flock today?

[FBMcrazy8]

I get an occasional chick or duckling that hatches a little early but almost all hatch on time, regardless of size. The early hatches come from eggs I left in the nest and collected a large batch at once. Guessing those eggs are having some unseeable development happening even with no hen brooding them....either from the hens warming them as they lay more or from our high temps. When I was using my homemade incubator it was harder to keep the temp exact...with it I got more early hatches from temps running high. Those are the only things I've seen effect time required to hatch.

I can't swear with call ducks because I haven't hatched many yet...but my bantam eggs I can swear...mine take the normal amount of time. So far my duck eggs have also.

I don't change temps or humidity for lockdown. I stick to 99.5 and 55 through out. I have an excellent hatch rate and almost never lose a chick during hatch. I know reading says bump the humidity, but I never will. I tried it in the early days and had worse luck then I do now. I stick to what's working for me.
I worried more about the calls too. I read so much about their hatching problems! Hard not to worry. I'm guessing those pet quality beaks are the difference. So far mine are almost all hatching well on their own. I had one hatch with a deformed beak that needed assistance, one hatched that would spin in circles every so often from the moment it could stand also needed help hatching, and a malposition that I thought would need help but made it out on its own. Since you also have pet quality, I'm betting almost all will hatch well on their own.

O that's too bad...I'm so sorry for your loss. I'd time it so the maximum number possible get the vaccine at the correct time.

Do you leave your humidity the same for chicks too? What kind of incubator do you have? I’m just trying to see what everyone does with their eggs so I kinda have a good feel. It’s good to know they will hatch at the time they should…I’m sure they’re maybe an early bird here or there but average is good. I’m gonna talk to my Call lady when I go pick some up from her next week. We bought a lock for the door today so this whole mess can’t happen again unless I do it. I’m honestly thinking that I might vaccinate all of them when this second batch hatch. I will just have to be mindful of Marek’s possibly spreading to them through my shoes and cloths. I wish the vaccine can be used 22-22 days after the first use…

 

[ChicksnMore]

Do you leave your humidity the same for chicks too? What kind of incubator do you have? I’m just trying to see what everyone does with their eggs so I kinda have a good feel. It’s good to know they will hatch at the time they should…I’m sure they’re maybe an early bird here or there but average is good. I’m gonna talk to my Call lady when I go pick some up from her next week. We bought a lock for the door today so this whole mess can’t happen again unless I do it. I’m honestly thinking that I might vaccinate all of them when this second batch hatch. I will just have to be mindful of Marek’s possibly spreading to them through my shoes and cloths. I wish the vaccine can be used 22-22 days after the first use…

Yes on chicks, though they only stay in the incubator until dry...then they're moved to the brooder which doesn't have humidity control. I use RComs. I really love them. They do everything for you. My experience with different incubators is very limited though. I used an incubator my kid made for me when she was in middle school up until a few years ago. That kids now 28...lol. It was huge and worked great but temp and humidity control was less precise. I learned a lot about hatching with it though and would be happy to use it still if I hadn't melted a hole in it.

The RComs are care free incubators with more settings then I actually use. I top off the water every other day, candle as needed and smile as they hatch. Think it'd be hard to fail at hatching with them. I'm sure there's a lot of really solid incubator brands that'll give that same experience.

I'm not sure how much you need to worry about Marek's. I always thought my experience was a bit of bad luck combined with a bit of stupidity on my part. I will say it's an awful experience if you do have it happen and playing it safe is smart.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

The 2 cocks are being crazy. Sometimes, when E is mounting one, R comes and tries to mount her, too. Is this weird? Or are they just trying to get to the finish line first? Should I put them both in bachelor quarters until next year? They are good protectors, though. When R mounts, E will fight him off. What to do?
Spring will be springing soon, lucky @Gammas Bearded Babies for the nice weather break. We won't hit that until maybe June!

Well not sure the good weather is here to stay...but I'll take whatever I can get!
My 2 boys do this too...I think it is their way of trying to claim that girl for themselves. But don't take my word for it.
Bluey has finally gotten a boost of confidence lately and has poor ole bootyhead Joey running around with his neck stretched high watching every little corner.

@FBMcrazy8 agh! I'm so sorry that happened to yall and the babies to be! That's hard more ways than one!

 

[kurby22]

Worked on my scraps coop today and I’m sooo exhausted and sore But it’s getting closer!

 

[Shetland lover]

You guys Nohope doesn’t have MG, Mareks or Reticuloendotheliosis. I wish I had also done ALV too! I might do one more and test for that. After that I’m out of ideas on lymphoproliferative viruses! Any ideas other than ALV @Shetland lover ?? I’m back to a potential toxin now if it’s not AVL aren’t I?

View attachment 3401525

Could stil be an ALV or even a deficiency, I suppose. When was your property built? Heavy metal toxicity causes ataxia and paresis. It can be a lengthy progression in it's symptoms depending on how it's ingested e.g. if a bird ingests lead shot it's going to manifest symptoms more quickly than if it's picking up tiny particles in the soil over time. A blood test can determine if it's a metal toxicity.

Botulism or algae intoxication could be another possibility although these tend to kill pretty swiftly.

Sorry it's taken me a while to reply. I had to get a paper done for my course and as usual, left it to the last minute

 

[Shetland lover]

It smells pretty good. I honestly think any brand would work but my dad (who is picky about literally everything) swears by just Bath and Body works. Though I’m sure he hasn’t tried another brand either.

His foot part is diffidently mummified but has yet to fall off. The black itself goes all the way to his knee (joint) but I’m not so sure that the whole thing is going to come off. There might be part of that, that is left behind. His behavior is the same. Good boy and a healthy appetite.

I hear Avon Skin So Soft original fragrance is also good. Unfortunately, i hate the smell

That's good to hear, that it's not progressed beyond his knee. If his leg feels warm and solid immediately above the mummified portion, it looks dry and there's no discernible smell I wouldn't worry at this stage about removing it. Just monitor it, check it's not progressing further up the leg, keep an eye out for injury or ulcers as he won't be able to feel them himself or mushiness. Did I send you the 3D printer plan i found for a prosthetic leg? If he can manage without one, all to the good but if he can't, there's options.

 

[ChicksnMore]

Worked on my scraps coop today and I’m sooo exhausted and sore But it’s getting closer!

View attachment 3405787
View attachment 3405788

That's looking wonderful! Are you making a closable window for this coop as well? All I want to work on lately is my new coops, but I decided to use asphalt emulsion on the outside and it has to have 50° or higher while it dries. Too cold for it still . You'll have some cozy and happy chickens in there soon

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Worked on my scraps coop today and I’m sooo exhausted and sore But it’s getting closer!

View attachment 3405787
View attachment 3405788

Lookin good!!!
I wish I had your eye for making something come together! I tried to frame out the bottom of the lean-to coop addition and idk...somehow it is level on all 4 sides but using what I got is very difficult to make come together. Then I keep remembering what @TropicalBabies said about the roof pitch and trying to make sure I have atleast a couple feet height all the way around inside the addition cuz remember all mine are tiny babies and most cuddle puddle rather than roosting.
I think yall need a roadtrip!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Worked on my scraps coop today and I’m sooo exhausted and sore But it’s getting closer!

View attachment 3405787
View attachment 3405788

That is just SO cute!! Good job!!!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Threw leftover brown rice on a beautiful morning. Expecting- hoping for wetter weather the next few days

Empty pot checkers

Koke'e boys are good, staying dry, warmish, safe and fattening up in preparations of their new lives. Spy cam shows them getting visited by feral hens and chick.