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Post by cks4me on Sept 11, 2011 8:22:04 GMT -6
I got up this morning to find two babys hatched. It is about a day early, I think I turned the turner off on day 18 (friday) and today is sunday which would make it a day early. Actually they were born durning the night. Why would that happen and is it strange for that to happen?
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Post by gardendaddy on Sept 11, 2011 11:37:50 GMT -6
I had 4 out of my 8 eggs hatch week before last and they were about 2-days early. I understand that sometimes a hen will kick some out then re-gather them up and that can cause problems and delays. Mother Nature is a funny thing isn't SHE?!?!?!!?
Mike
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Post by cks4me on Sept 11, 2011 16:04:49 GMT -6
It is interesting that these babys, now four, are from smaller eggs. I separated the larger eggs from the ones that were smaller. I wonder if the size of the eggs means anything. They are not all the same breed so that can't be it. I have three Americanas and one lavender split. Vigerous and active but small, which they would have to be b/c of the size of the eggs. How are yours Mike that were early? I am praying the big ones hatch. Now I am trying to second guess myself. I have the larger eggs in the Brinsea the smaller ones in the hovobator, which to my surprise has done a great job holding the temp.
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Post by cks4me on Sept 11, 2011 16:06:47 GMT -6
Also the ones that hatched this morning are going to need to be fed by tomorrow morning what if there are still others hatching? I have read and been told never to open the bator once the hatch starts. Can any one give me input Please.
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Post by ellisfarms on Sept 11, 2011 20:06:17 GMT -6
I'm so happy my grandparents found a incubator at a yard sale for me going to use it for now . it does not have a fan in it does it need one? its an older one made out of Styrofoam
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Sept 12, 2011 20:00:43 GMT -6
A fan will help circulate the air and keep a more accurate tempurature. You can find a small fan from an old computer or on ebay and install it yourself. You don't have to have a fan but it helps.
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Post by cks4me on Sept 13, 2011 13:01:35 GMT -6
When I got home yesterday I had about 12 fuzzy little faces looking at me through the incubator!!! The other bator had four more.. The I looked and the frigging temp in one was 102. I grabbed those baby's out put in the brooder tub and when temp went down a little closed them (the bator) back up. I know you aren't supposed to open the tops but I knew they could not live long in 102. Then I noticed one that was in a egg where she had tried to pipe but the membrane was dried out and she couldn't peck through it. I had promised myself I would not mess with the eggs and let nature take its course but this was not nature issue it was a machine caused issue. Soooo I got some tweezers, disinfected them and pulled a little hole for the baby. Soon I realized the shell was dried too and that she was a little stuck to the dried membrane so I pulled off some more shell and membrane, enough that her head and lttle body was visible. Set it down and said a prayer and closed it up. When I have helped them before two or three times, I learned that part of that struggle they go through is really important to straighten them out and strengthen their muscles so they can stand. Low and be hold when I went back about two hours later there she was straight and standing!!!! Praise the LORD. I have learned a really valuable lesson through this, and that is you can help or you can help too much. I then had an epiphany ....it is sort of a metaphor for those who are raising kids.... watching our kids go through struggles is very hard for a parent to do, giving a little help is okay but when we make it too easy for them they do not learn the lesson, nor do they gain the strength they will get from going through the struggle on their own. This just blew me away folks. What a life altering realization for me. Especially since I am a therapist and I watch parents protect their kids to the point that they either can not make it through a struggle or wait for someone else to open the shell (struggle) for them. At this point they truly are crippled.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Sept 13, 2011 23:10:48 GMT -6
WOW! That makes totally sense. I often help them out and not just help but actually zip them out and pop the top. I then leave them to get out. Unless they're shrink wrapped. Then I dap a little warm water to loosen the membrane from the chick so they can do the rest. I have intervened when I thought they where in trouble and caused more trouble. Some made it some didn't. Next time I feel like helping I'll remember what you said. Congratulations on the new babies. I used to freak when the bator would hit 102 but I will just open a window a little bit and give the thermostat a little nudge till it goes down. If it goes over 102 I open the lid. It's not like the hen don't get up to eat drink and poop. Right? That is unless she has another broody that sits on them for her. My hatcher has to be moved. It's in a bad place. I'm having bad hatches where I usually don't. I had 28 eggs I put in the hatcher and only 7 hatched. The rest died in the shell. Never pipped. At least the partridge silkies hatched and those are the ones I was really hoping would. I want to replace my partridge roo. Poor thing is so ugly but thank goodness the hen is pretty. They make some very nice offspring. But I want to get a roo from them and put back into the flock. That is if the roo is a good one. I already know 1 won't pass the standard. It's skin and beak is too light. I'll keep them for a while to see how they feather out and if the color darkens up but i've never heard of it happening. It has perfect toe separation and looks like it will have very nicely heavily feathered feet and legs. Perfection is hard to come by. I noticed somebody has porcelain silkie eggs on BYC and the current auction price is $50. Thats a steal. I wish I had the $$ to get those. They also have partridge. If I remember right it's over a dozen eggs each color on the same auction. If somebody can grab those up it's a real deal. Those eggs usually go for very high. I've seen 10 porcelain eggs go for over $200.
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Post by cks4me on Sept 14, 2011 8:45:45 GMT -6
I had about ten that never pipped. It made me sick. They were some of my better eggs. My Americana roo must not be too fertile either although they say with all the hot weather it may temporaily interfer with fertility.
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Post by Timbo on Sept 14, 2011 21:33:13 GMT -6
Congrats everyone on the hatching!!
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Sept 14, 2011 23:38:04 GMT -6
I'm hoping to have a nice big selection for people to choose from in the spring. I have some chicks now I would sell. It's a bit early to start my winter hatching. And a little late to sell chicks. lol I have some sizzle chicks and some partridge silkie chicks. The partridge chicks came from the daughters of the one I brought to the show except the daughters have lots more gold on them. I should have taken one of them instead but live and learn. I actually had one all bathed and groomed ready for the show then changed my mind and decided to take her mother so got her ready.
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Post by Timbo on Jan 29, 2012 21:19:51 GMT -6
cks4me you make a good point.
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Post by herb on Jan 30, 2012 11:37:08 GMT -6
Egg size, temperature, humidity will all factor into late or early hatches. Egg size will not determine grown bird size.
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