What is the best way to hatch shipped eggs????

[CrzyChknLady81]

I'm so undecided on which way to go. Lol! I am happy that I stayed completely hands off for 5 days, though, cus they're looking good! Yes, please tell me how yours is doing!! I took my water out because I am going into the 50's with only a toothpaste cap of water in there! Dry is running 40%...nice!

Sorry, forgot to update last night..but have 10 developing out of the ones I set with yours
And my paint Silkies, the most perfect shipped eggs I've ever received..not one messed up air cell of the bunch..but 15 made it to lockdown, it is late Day 18 and already have 2 pips..that makes the last 2 hatches came early so I turned my incu down a hair..

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

And yes, I love dry..it seems to make the while process just a tad less stressful

 

[RubyNala97]

Sorry, forgot to update last night..but have 10 developing out of the ones I set with yours
And my paint Silkies, the most perfect shipped eggs I've ever received..not one messed up air cell of the bunch..but 15 made it to lockdown, it is late Day 18 and already have 2 pips..that makes the last 2 hatches came early so I turned my incu down a hair..

Awww, happy hatching!!! I love getting to watch them break out of their shells! I'm happy yours are developing! Tomorrow is day 7. Going to do my official candling. I check a couple tonight while tilting and the air cells looked totally solid, I think I'll lay the good ones down tomorrow and any wobbly ones I'll keep in the cartons! Yay for shipped eggs!!! Ps...I'm a dork!

 

[RubyNala97]

One more question... Is 85 degrees okay for 2 week old chicks? They were getting to hot with the 250 bulb, so I put in a 150 red bulb instead. It's 78 in the house.

 

[themenagerie]

yes..it's fine. They can handle much cooler temperatures than you think. It's in the high 80's here, and over 80 degrees in the house so I turned the lamp off on my 2 week olds. They're perfectly comfortable.

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

One more question... Is 85 degrees okay for 2 week old chicks? They were getting to hot with the 250 bulb, so I put in a 150 red bulb instead. It's 78 in the house.

I dunno if I've shared on this thread or not..but this is much safer (and cheaper) than running a heat lamp..and the chicks LOVE it..

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

Just smash the back down so it's lowet, smaller or colder chicks will go to the back, it gives them more of a 'real hen' experience and they seem much more content than with a lamp..it also really helps keep them on a normal night/day schedule instead of a 24/7 red world
Just make sure all cut edges of the frame are taped and that your heating pad doesn't have a auto-off feature or you can over ride it..

I use a 12$ heating pad from Dollar General, the wire just laying around..I do use a sheet of rubber shelf liner (the same kind I use in my hatcher) and put that over the frame and under the pad to keep chicks from trying to get in the holes of the wire, and then I tuck a towel all down around it..1. To keep the heat in better and 2. Bc they will figure out its warm to lay on top of and once that starts it'll be covered in poos if you don't use the towel..

 

[RubyNala97]

Just smash the back down so it's lowet, smaller or colder chicks will go to the back, it gives them more of a 'real hen' experience and they seem much more content than with a lamp..it also really helps keep them on a normal night/day schedule instead of a 24/7 red world
Just make sure all cut edges of the frame are taped and that your heating pad doesn't have a auto-off feature or you can over ride it..

I use a 12$ heating pad from Dollar General, the wire just laying around..I do use a sheet of rubber shelf liner (the same kind I use in my hatcher) and put that over the frame and under the pad to keep chicks from trying to get in the holes of the wire, and then I tuck a towel all down around it..1. To keep the heat in better and 2. Bc they will figure out its warm to lay on top of and once that starts it'll be covered in poos if you don't use the towel..

That's an awesome idea! My mom was telling me that she uses a heating pad when she rehabs wild animals and we were thinking if we put one in there the chicks would just poop all over it. So that is my project before the next batch gets here!! Thank you!

 

[CrzyChknLady81]

Very welcome..I am always sending them on loan with people that buy chicks so that the chicks aren't just thrown in with a heat lamp and loose that sense of security..and it works great for that last lil bit of "fluffing" that it seems like new chicks can never reach in a hatcher..

 

[FridayYet]

They look great!

Blooie has a great thread with instructions for the "mama heating pad" and a lot of people have posted their adaptations. I had already bought an eco-glow (which the chicks loved!) or I would have made one.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update