|
Post by cks4me on Apr 6, 2011 13:28:49 GMT -6
Well the six out side netted two babys. One a Phoenix that Herb gave me it is so pretty. Thanks Herb Inside out of 18 I have five very healthy, one maybe not quite as healthy, one in the bator got stuck between eggs on its back and I waited to see if it could right itself and it became apparent there was no way. I finally quickly went in and turned over. It is small and I did not expect it to live this long but when I go in it wakes up and moves around. Another in there still trying to get out of shell, probably won't. I sure wish I knew how to hatch like you guys I wish I knew what I was doing wrong. One thing for sure I will never put so many eggs in the incubator again. There was no place for them to turn and move to work out of the egg. How many do you guys put in at a time? I have the yellow one that is a 20 I think. Looked small but I figured the makers knew what they were talking about. I am happy and sad. Would love to put these out with the momma what do you people think? They are two days behind those outside. Momma took them out for their first walk today and they looked so cute. Plz give me input. I don't know how long is too long to wait to introduce them etc. Input very welcome. Tks
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Apr 6, 2011 13:56:42 GMT -6
When mine hatch I put them in a brooder which is either one of the 20 gallon aquariums or the big clear plastic tub. I put a heat lamp on them which is usually a 60 watt light bulb in it. I put a screen over half of it and cover that with a towel. They stay in the brooder till they are about a month old. Of course it gets cleaned and clean wood shavings put in. Depends on how many are in it on how often it gets cleaned. Then they go to the grow pen which is a double pen that has heat lamps in it also. It has hardware cloth (wire mesh) on the floor. The poo goes on the floor of the shed and I just clean that up. They stay there till they're nearly fully feathered. Then they go to the juvenile pen which is not heated. In the winter and when it's still chilly at night I make sure they stay warm and may stay in the grow pen longer. Anytime i've tried to put chicks in with adults the chicks get hurt or killed so I haven't done that in a long time. This year is the first time i've had broody's and I had 4 hens sitting on eggs all winter and we had to take the chicks away because the hens would end up killing the chicks trying to steal them from each other. So we started taking the eggs and puting them in the incubator when we heard chirping.
I'm sure others do things different than I do. When my hens go broody again I plan to change things so they all have their individual pens so the chicks don't get fought over or hurt by any other chickens.
|
|
|
Post by Timbo on Apr 6, 2011 19:46:27 GMT -6
I dont know much about adding eggs or chicks to a hen. I was afraid to do it knowing they sometimes get them killed. I have broods setup for different age groups to raise them in.
|
|
|
Post by cks4me on Apr 7, 2011 13:47:04 GMT -6
Thanks Timbo. Yesterday I had one little one that was struggling so and I did finally move a shell then she got wedged between two eggs on her back and I waited and waited and waited and finally could not stand her crying and turned her over. Cute little thing. I did not expect her to make it but this morning when she heard my voice she ran to the side of the bator. There were four others trying to get out but they have been trying since yesterday and I doubt they make it. Timbo do you remove the babys when they are fluffly even if there are others still hatching. My bator was so crowded with the first four I had to get them out. Is any one else experiencing bators that are cramed full of eggs and the babys can't get out? My bator is supposed to hole twenty but honestly I had eighteen in there and it was crowded. Woudl love some input about this issue. Thanks everyone.
|
|
|
Post by Timbo on Apr 7, 2011 21:07:34 GMT -6
Well thats great glad it done good. I remove empty shells as they hatch if its really full like mine is today. I try not to take them out until they dry but if they r pretty fuzzy and u have a container to put them in with enough heat to help them finish completely dryin with out them gettin too cool and keep them away from any cool drafts. If you do see some in eggs not able to hatch you can crack it and help it out of the egg. I dont like doing it usually my wife does it most of the time. If you get to many chicks in the hatcher at one time they will trample each other and kill some. I'm going to shut up now. I could talk forever on hatching. but i will try to anwser any questions u have without rambling to much.
|
|
|
Post by Timbo on Apr 7, 2011 21:13:03 GMT -6
I have two 48 egg trays hatching right now, so it's nonstop pulling out chicks. I hope they all hatch and we will have a lot to bring to the sale.
|
|
|
Post by rinksgi on Apr 7, 2011 22:21:21 GMT -6
One of the best things I did to improve my hatch rate was to reduce the humidity level. I try to keep it close to 50% and don't generally add water until it gets below 30%. I raise it to 65% on day 19. I know some people don't measure the humidity, but I highly suggest getting a hygrometer. I also don't mix hatches,but I don't have a large incubater. Tim, are any of those babies hatching marans chicks?
|
|
|
Post by Timbo on Apr 7, 2011 23:41:23 GMT -6
Not yet but the Marans are due to start hatching Fri or Sat. I moved them down to the hatch tray so any time. If they all hatch there will be a crap load of them. I have silkies and EE's hatching this week so i been pulling them out in small sessions.
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Apr 8, 2011 0:13:03 GMT -6
Timbo- do you sell the silkie eggs? When my incubators get empty I plan to start filling them with silkie and sizzle eggs. I'm interested in turkey, duck and goose also.
As for the hatching, When mine are dry I take them out and pu them in the brooder. Mine are fixed with a heat lamp and covered and in a room with no drafts. I also remove the shells when they get out. If they seem to be having a problem hatching, I use a pointy fingernail file and carefully chip away at the shell around the air cell then peal the membrane enough to pop the lid. I'll set them back in the bator to do the rest unless there is bleeding. Then I go ahead and get them out, cut the cord and put a little pressure on it to stop the bleeding. I don't have to do it very often but I just can't let them die in the shell.
Hydrometer - you can get one at walmart for around $7. It measures the temp and humidity. I keep mine around 50% and don't add water till it gets down to 35%. I plug the big vent holes to hold in the humidity as long as I can to avoid opening the bator much. You can adjust how much of the holes you cover to adjust the humidity. The temp/hydrometer is small and you can set it right on the turner.
I can go on and on si I had better stop now.
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Apr 8, 2011 0:15:56 GMT -6
I have some true ameracauna's to hatch on the 21st. I don't plan to keep them. I candled tonight and they all show veins. I'll have some extra b/b/s orphingtons too. I have an incubator full of different breeds due on the 21st.
|
|
|
Post by rinksgi on Apr 8, 2011 1:10:43 GMT -6
I know Tim, What did we get into? On top of that, I gave my brother over 50 eggs to set. They will hatch in a couple of weeks,or maybe next week. I can't remember.
|
|
|
Post by gardendaddy on Apr 8, 2011 6:52:46 GMT -6
I had as shown in another post, a Buff Oprington hen that was sitting on golf ballls then I got some chicks from R & J and then took the golf balls out then added the chicks...she could not tell the difference. Then one week later, I added 3 more new chicks and she still could not tell the difference. I just reached in under her with chick in hand and when the chick popped out later she did not know if she had the original chicks or others...all are happy still today...one week after adding the last chicks. Good luck either way.
Mike
|
|
|
Post by herb on Apr 8, 2011 8:31:29 GMT -6
I rarely take chicks out until the full 2nd day of hatching.
|
|
|
Post by cks4me on Apr 8, 2011 9:25:24 GMT -6
This morning I still had one trying to get out of the shell. Wish I had read this last night. I have been told to NEVER help them out of the shell so I have resisted. That said if the one is alive when I get home I will try. The little, and I do mean little, half the size of the other chicks, one was put in the big tub with the others. They tried to pick on it and the little sh-- went right up to them and pecked back. I was shocked. It thinks it is a giant. Cutest thing I have ever seen.....
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Apr 8, 2011 12:08:11 GMT -6
It's just up to the person. Some people won't open the bator for any reason and then there are those (like me) that will help. I've had more success than not. I figure if they where meant to make it they will. I've had a few that pipped through a vein and I saw the blood and went into action and saved the chick and one or tow that I didn't see the blood and they apparently bled to death and never made it out.
I just try to give them all a chance. Nature will take it's course either way. I had 1 that I just knew it would die. I left it in the bator and it just laid there for the longest time. The next day it was up and acting normal.
|
|