thebdj Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 All, Yesterday I had a combination of the worst and best day of my life when it came to chickens. Let me set the scene ... On Wednesday my first chicken came out in the incubator! As predicted, this sparked much of a furore in the 'bator and slowly but surely over the next 24 hours, more and more arrived. I had decided to take a half day from work on Thursday to ensure that the chick 'run' in the shed was all absolutely ready and then was going to slowly introduce the chicks to it and spend time with them. I drove home and as I got in saw that my thermo was off. Odd I thought ... then noticed the oven clock was off. OMG ! Power cut! Ok don't panic, probably just tripped, just turn it back on and check on the babies. Click. Click, click. You absolutely have to be joking. Total power outage and my chicks (most less than 24 hours old) and remaining eggs were now sitting in, at best, a room temperature incubator with no humidity control. Absolute panic ensues and I decide that whether he likes it or not, my mate and his wife are about to get descended upon! I chucked bedding, feed, heatlamps and most importantly the incubator into the car. Assuming that heat was of the essence, I blasted my aircon up to the highest it went (32 degrees celsius). I absolutely melted in that car. I swear I lost a stone! Anyway, arrived at his whereby his wife has already made a great big run out of cardboard boxes (just in case the power outage is long term and they need to come out of the 'bator) and suspended some string so a heatlamp could be hung. The incubator was put straight back on and kicked in straight away (note to anyone who is after an incubator, the RCOM Pro 20 recognised it was still in a cycle even though it had been powered off and just resumed the cycle from where it left off. Very good!). Believing that my 4 remaining eggs were probably goners, my efforts were concentrated on the chicks. They seemed quite cool about the whole situation actually! And then a little miracle happened, a foot appeared from an egg and after only a few minutes of kicking, a new one was born bringing my tally to 11! The chicks all seemed fairly un-perturbed with it and after a few hours and confirmation from my wife who I also got to go home and check on power updates (!) the decision was made that I could return! Back everything went in the car, and back on went the 32 degree aircon! (Note to all, my mate lives 30 minute drive away). Back at my house, incubator back on again! and after some messing about finalising their run, they were then placed in there and observed! 24 hours later and all are doing well. They are enjoying the extra freedom, seem quite warm and cosy and are taking well to eating and drinking. Naturally I now call them my Carlsberg Chicks. Probably the most hardy chicks in the world! This is surely not the normal introduction to hatching! I'm not sure I could take this again! And for the record, I have now bought a generator so if this misdemeanour happens again, it won't matter. Tired, emotional. Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Oh dear! What a journey for you, hatching isn't usually that eventful It just goes to show what hardy little things they are, we don't give them enough credit and I think can worry too much. I hope the next few weeks don't bring any dramas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Sorry, I had to laugh, thats a very humorous account Well done though you are a very dedicated chick parent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I'm so please the outcome has been good.....if a little lighter (you ) and further travelled ( ) than the average hatch....and sorry I have been chuckling to and am still wearing a silly grin We should write a book......the Omlet Experience would be a good working title...with all the best forum entries in it.......... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebdj Posted September 5, 2009 Author Share Posted September 5, 2009 Well up for making some contributions to that book! You will no doubt be pleased to hear that my chicks who did endure this whole experience are now absolutely fine. They appear to love their new accommodation and have taken to chick crumb and water with ease! I have also replaced my infrared bulb with a dull emitter so my shed doesn't look like something straight out of Amsterdam! AND... fingers crossed, my gold silkie has just decided to go and sit on the nest and stay there. Not a peep from her and she's all fluffed up covering as much as she can. What a complete bonus her going broody would be! Will keep you posted. Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
