First Egg Pipping

[karenbc]

I was so excited to find the first egg pipping this afternoon. The incubator took us awhile to get settled out and steady with new wafer thermostats and another part that goes with it. Hopefully by the morning we have our first fuzzy chick!

[Woodpecker]

That’s so sweet & exciting., a fuzzy chick !

[Mari-in-IN]

Apr 28, 2020 23:07:45 GMT karenbc said:

I was so excited to find the first egg pipping this afternoon. The incubator took us awhile to get settled out and steady with new wafer thermostats and another part that goes with it. Hopefully by the morning we have our first fuzzy chick!

Hi karenbc !
Do you mind sharing more info?  I'm curious as to what type of incubator you are using and what type of roos/hens you have as far as what the chicks may end up being.

I have been seriously contemplating purchasing an incubator in the future  - as here recently, none of my hens have gone broody.  It has been several years.  I soooo wish someone would go broody around here and make it easier on me! 
~Mari

[karenbc]

Hey Mari,
I'm using a very old Sportsman incubator - it doesn't even have a see through door! The trick with this one is getting the temperature to stay steady. We had to replace the wafer thermometers (2) and the little black plastic gizmo that attaches before the wafers. They all control temperature...but then getting it back to that sweet spot was tricky and took a lot of adjusting and waiting. I try to keep it at 99F - that seems to work the best for the little building it's set up in.
This machine has the automatic tipping trays, so the eggs are tilted back and forth, without having to be turned by hand - very handy that.
It doesn't have a humidity reader, so I keep 2 plastic trays full of water, and spray the eggs with water every day, especially duck/goose eggs.
I think this model holds 300 eggs (chicken). I use cardboard egg cartons with the lids ripped off to hold chicken eggs. The lids often work to hold goose eggs.

One of my tricks is to write the date on the egg that they have to be moved down to the bottom of the machine to the still hatching tray. I use a black felt pen and haven't had a problem with that. For the goose eggs I write it on the side of the egg, with the initial of the month and day. It's easy to get mixed up with the longer hatches like goose otherwise.

A lot of people candle eggs with a flashlight - I don't bother. They either hatch in the bottom or they don't. The ones that don't after a few days past hatching get thrown in the bush for the wild things...but far enough way they don't come in the yard looking for meals here!

Cornelius the rooster is a pure Welsumer (like on the Cornflakes box) - hens from this breed lay a dark brown egg. Most of the hens are Isa Browns (laying machines but not nifty looking - they get ragged with putting out so much into eggs.) A couple of other birds in there too, including a nice big quiet black hen - no idea what she is. I traded the use of my traveling cages to a neighbor for 2 dozen of her fertile eggs. She has a barnyard mix as well, with some olive egg layers in the mix, and a Brahma rooster. Haven't checked to see what that looks like.

Whatever hatches should be an interesting mix.

I copied out a list of hatching times for different species, and have that on the wall beside the machine. It's easy to get them mixed up. Hen eggs I let go for 19 days and geese 29, then down to the still tray.

Another trick is to the write the temperature in the machine on the calendar daily - that way I can see if an up/down trend is happening.

Over the years I've hatched everything from quail, guinea fowl, chickens, geese, turkeys and peacocks. Guinea fowl are wild from day 1 and I never did find they tamed. Quail are like ping pong balls.

With experience you'll get to know as soon as you walk in the building if the temperature is to low, and if anything has hatched. Chicks start peeping before they are out of the egg.

Another thing I've learned - don't help the chick out of the shell unless you absolutely have to. They'll often hemorrhage if you pick at the shell. If they seem to be drying out, mist with a spray bottle. If the shells seem to thick for them to get through, it's likely to much calcium in the hen's diet. Takes a lot to get to that stage though.

I started out with one of the square Styrofoam incubators - nasty thing. Had to turn eggs by hand, it was smelly and difficult to clean up.

I'd also like to find some broody hens. But finding regular old bantys is proving difficult right now. If I could get my hands on banty eggs I'd be stuffing those in too hatch too!

Anything else that comes to mind Mari, feel free to ask. I can't say I'm an expert, but I've been hatching for quite a few years and founds things that worked or didn't. I don't get 100% hatch, but I don't really mind...nice goal, but just doesn't happen for me.

[grannyg]

I used to love listening to the chicks pip with a stethoscope pressed against my incubator...you will hear scratchings and pecks that are unreal...<3

[Mari-in-IN]

Wow, that was a very informative read there karenbc .  Thanks so much for taking the time for such a post.  Wow, seems you have hatched out just about anything that could be!
Sounds like you are going to have quite the menagerie when this batch hatches - eh?  Oh, such fun...

"Busty" in the below pic is half Isa - no idea what the other half is...



Yeah, I had heard that you shouldn't help them out of the egg.  Oh my, I don't think I could bear to watch if one was having trouble.

In the very near future I am going to be picking up some Mystic Maran and Plymouth Blue Rock chicks.  Never had either breed before and am soooo looking forward to having them here.

I currently have Barred Rocks, Buff Orps, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Black Australorps, Black Sex-Link, Americanas, and some mixes that were hatched out here by broodies.

I had Isas in the past and they just about drove me nuts!  They were indeed fantastic layers but don't get me goin' about personalities and what not.

So, karenbc, how are things going at this time on the chick front?

[karenbc]

Up to 8 chicks - and more pipping.  imgur.com/a/aPZkSYI

We have one that has splay leg. Have been reading up on that. Don't know if I can help the little tyke or not.

What I did do is put an asphalt roofing shingle piece on top of the dog heating pad. It's gritty, and should help the chicks to get around.

Mari does your lighter coloured hen lay coloured eggs? Usually with the greyish legs they do.

Tomorrow we are off to buy 2 silkie hens and a rooster. As well as a dozen fertile eggs for the incubator. We spent the morning cleaning one of the pens in the chicken barn to get it ready for the silkies. I'd like to keep them separate for the time being. What a job the barn cleaning was, with hay matted down and the geese being in there all winter. Sure glad Tim spotted my project and came to help. (I took out steaks for either BBQ or smoke for supper as a thank you!)

[Mari-in-IN]

Awwwww karenbc... Cute little darlin's!

From what I have read, I think there is a good chance of correcting splayed legs if something is done pretty quickly.  I remember reading in Storey's Guide about using a band-aid - but always thought - how much trouble that might be due to the adhesive...
I read through this and it seemed doable:

www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-we-correct-splayed-legs-on-new-chicks.72873/

Seems there is a lot out there on the net in regards to trying to correct it.  Hopefully something will work for you and your little tyke.  I've never had a chick with that condition but I myself (being the absolute biggest softie) would do what I could to try to correct it - hoping that it would indeed be "correctable".  Ah well, guess all you can do is try and hope for the best-eh?

You know, I betcha Busty's dad was an Ameracauna.  Mum was definitely an Isa.  Gee, it's been so long since she was in lay.  I'm pretty sure that she laid eggs that were more on the creamy order.

I hope all goes well with the acquisition tomorrow.  Yep, a lot to be said for a good and helpful man!  Hope those steaks turned out wonderful for y'all!

Take care!
~Mari

[karenbc]

Chicken Run, Chicken Run done.
Home with 2 banty cross hens and a white purebred Silkie rooster. (Love their blue ear holes)
Plus a dozen banty eggs into the incubator.

Lost the little splay leg, and one other chick. Into the freezer with those, we have a friend who does taxidermy and makes "weirdish" jewelry that the Goth type folks just love with the bones & skulls. She has beetles that deflesh the critters for her. Not my cuppa tea - but to each his own. she is talented!

Oh, the place we got the birds from today, had a newborn miniature horse colt - wasn't even 24 hours old. Cutest little guy!

[Mari-in-IN]

Oh, that's too bad about the losses karenbc.  However, it sounds as if you had a neat day besides.  I will have to look up pics as far as the roo you acquired.  I have never been up close and personal with Silkies - have just seen the neighbor's from afar.  Sounds like the icing on the cake as far as seeing the new colt - that would have for sure made my day!

I picked up my little darlin's today - and have spent quite the time being entertained whilst watching their crazy little antics.   Such fun.

Take care,
~Mari

[karenbc]

Silkies are the funniest looking chicken. Their feathers look more like fur. Feathery feet, and an extra toe. Their skin is usually black! Hens usually set really well.

The chicks you picked up Mari, are they the Mystic Maran and Plymouth Blue Rocks you talked about earlier? I had 3 Marans roosters at one time, the black/white ones...wish I'd kept one. When I butchered them, they had lots of yellow fat, and were nice and big...the only thing I fed them boys for most of the winter was oats. Easy keepers. If I can find a couple of hens or rooster, I'll breed that back into my backyard flock.

[Mari-in-IN]

May 7, 2020 2:12:20 GMT karenbc said:

Silkies are the funniest looking chicken. Their feathers look more like fur. Feathery feet, and an extra toe. Their skin is usually black! Hens usually set really well.

The chicks you picked up Mari, are they the Mystic Maran and Plymouth Blue Rocks you talked about earlier? I had 3 Marans roosters at one time, the black/white ones...wish I'd kept one. When I butchered them, they had lots of yellow fat, and were nice and big...the only thing I fed them boys for most of the winter was oats. Easy keepers. If I can find a couple of hens or rooster, I'll breed that back into my backyard flock.

Yeah, I've read that Silkies are great setters.  I have also read that due to the long feathers on their heads - that it is best to contain them due to their vision being a bit impaired as far as birds of prey?  I've noticed though, that my neighbor that has them lets them run loose...  I really don't know much about them except for what I have read...  And - ETA - I have noticed that in some of the pics I have seen online that not all of the birds eyes are "covered up" by their feathers?

Yep, I picked up 4 Mystic Maran pullets (hopefully) -  townlinehatchery.com/product/mystic-maran/ 

And 7 Plymouth Blue Rock pullets and 1 cockerel - townlinehatchery.com/product/plymouth-blue/

Yeah, in future, I want to do some breeding (correction -- THEM to do some breeding  ) - just hoping one of these days in a year or so - someone around here will go broody or I may have to purchase an incubator yet!

Soooo, do you have more eggs ready to pip - or are you now waiting on the banty eggs you just put in?

Take care! 

[karenbc]

Morning Mari - the incubator is about 2/3s full - so expecting more chicks as the days go by. We were up to 17 live chicks as of yesterday.

Just about to do a town run to pick up bags of shavings - a whole pallet full! Works out to $6.95cdn a bag instead of $7.95 buying individual bags. And while in there meeting a lady to buy a dozen fertile banty eggs. Fertile eggs here sell for between $10 and $25 a dozen.

[karenbc]

Hatching season is winding down. Have 63 chicks hatched so far!
Another 3-4 days will see the incubator shut down.
Not a single goose egg hatched - hopefully they'll get in gear again. Sometimes they lay twice a year.

[Mari-in-IN]

May 28, 2020 3:53:05 GMT karenbc said:

Hatching season is winding down. Have 63 chicks hatched so far!
Another 3-4 days will see the incubator shut down.
Not a single goose egg hatched - hopefully they'll get in gear again. Sometimes they lay twice a year.

That's a few chicks there karenbc .
Just wondering - since they are different ages - do you raise them all together?
No experience here with geese.  That's too bad none of them hatched.  
Take care.
~Mari
ETA - What type of geese do y'all have?

[karenbc]

I keep the youngest chicks in a separate little pen until they are big enough to fend for themselves. I'll soon move all the oldest ones into the chicken barn, where they can a quarter of the barn.

The geese are Toulouse, but not the type with the big dewlap. There is one African/Toulouse gander - with the weirdest high pitched "voice".
I've given them access to the raspberry patch which is way overgrown. They are making their way through it weeding.

[aoconnor]

karenbc, great info! I love my birds, I have1 mature Peacock, three juvenile Peacocks, and the same number of Peahens in each category. I have a load of Guineas as well. I have multiple breed Bantams, some of those are Silkies, some are Cochins, some are Sebrights or some color or other. All have lovely babies! I am sitting next to my incubator as I type just waiting for a bunch more keets to hatch. I have 2 out, and at least 5-8 that will hatch tonight. One is almost completely unzipped and I'll be waiting for it to finish so I can put it in the brooder before I go to bed. Then of course I'll be up and down all night waiting to see if the others hatch so they can alas be moved down to brooder.'

If you're anywhere near North Central Texas I'll give you some Bantam hens to set eggs with, or to be broody for you! I have enough, and keep getting chicken chicks I don't really want! I'm moving into my bigger birds only, Guineas and Peas and Turkeys. I can't even give my adult chickens away, everyone is buying like crazy from Tractor Supply to get chicks, apparently they don't understand it can take up to 18 weeks to start getting eggs!

[karenbc]

Thank you aoconnor for the offer of Bantam hens. I'm a mite distant from you though, being north of the US/Canada border by about 500 miles!

I have raised guineas and peacocks in the past, as well as heritage turkeys. But at the moment I don't have any of those about.

That's so odd that people would rather go to a business to get chicks instead of getting them home raised. I haven't placed an add yet to sell any of mine. I want to decide which birds to keep for ourselves and get them separated out.

Saturday we have a friend coming who is a butcher...we have rather TOO many rabbits on hand...about 25 that should have been butchered some time ago. He's interested in trading some of his services for some chicks, so that's a good thing.

What type of incubator are you using?