Solitary chicken - need advice

[TAJ]

The hatching eggs arrived and have now been unpacked and are in the shed cool for 24hrs - point down. The new incubator looks really easy to use and I have set it up to run for a couple of hours to test it out - no problems.

 

So they will get set from tomorrow and I shall report back in 21 days. The eggs are a mix of JA757s (as sold by Cotswold Chickens) and Coloryields - Poulet Anglaise is getting a 90% hatch rate, but he sent these eggs down to me and I am inexperienced so do not expect that sort of rate.

 

Tracy

Edited September 30, 2009 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Good luck!

[teri]

keep us updated and good luck

teri x

[TAJ]

keep us updated and good luck

teri x

 

This R-Com pro 20 really is place in eggs add water and press go. It plays a little tune as it turns the eggs - I guess to warn you if you are candling or such like when it does the auto turn cycle. I hope as the chicks develop it doesn't disturb them! Prehaps it should sound like a mummy hen to reassure them!

 

What are peoples views on candling? I think I will attempt it at 7 days & 14 days - I get the feeling you could over handle the eggs and damage them, so the least done the better, but understand the issue of removing bad eggs so they do not affect the others.

 

Tracy

[atsw]

It's not so much the actual candelling that's the problem, but the sudden change in humidity when you open the incubator lid to remove the egg(s). The nearer you get to 21 days, the more of an impact this will have. The chick has to be able to break out of the shell. If the humidity is wrong, this become a far more difficult task, and the chick can die trying .

 

Andrew

[Lewis]

I'd say candle at 7 and 10 days to check fertility then 14 days to see they are all developing. I know some people that candle every day and the chicks are fine, with these last chicks we candled every few days and 9 out of 12 were fertile and hatched.

[TAJ]

So now my 2nd broody that stopped being broody as soon as the hatching eggs were in the post (hence me buying an incy) has now decided to be broody again - since Wednesday. Today I moved her into the Eglu on her own with one egg she was sitting on as the others were getting angry at her hoging the nesting box in the cube.

 

If she is still sitting tomorrow I think I will give her a few eggs from the incy - at least if she does do it naturally I might be able to get her to raise the incy chicks for me instead of getting the brooder and heat lamp out. Don't you just love chickens

 

Tracy

[Redwing]

they are hugely unpredictable arent they?

 

Good luck with whatever she decides to do next

[TAJ]

they are hugely unpredictable arent they?

 

Good luck with whatever she decides to do next

 

I thought if I gave her some of the eggs whilst I was around at the weekend if she does change her mind (again) I will be around and they can go back in the incy if needed - I shall only give her 3 and leave 9 in the incy I think - not that I don't trust her you understand.

 

Tracy

[atsw]

If the eggs in the incy hatch at the same time as those under the broody you can 'add' them to the broody nest. Most hens can't count and won't notice . When our hatching eggs failed we inserted 4 of 8 1-day old chicks under the broody. She accepted them without question, so the following afternoon we added the other 4 while she was on a 'comfort break'. She did look a little baffled at the sudden increase in chick activity in the nest box, but simply accepted the situation and did a fab job bringing them all up.

 

This was our broody with the eight chicks back in June.

 

See post here for pictures of the flock taken in the last couple of days.

 

Andrew

[TAJ]

I cannot believe 2 weeks have past and I only have a week left to wait! The broody is driving me made all the time she is in the cube with the others she wants to sit in the nesting box and keep everyones eggs hot whilst I am at work! I put her in the eglu and she is off the nest, leaving the eggs to get cold and will not settle - she is now on her 3rd 2-day visit to the eglu so the hatching eggs are all safely in the incy.

 

Tracy

[TAJ]

Only 3 days to go! The R-COM pro 20 has now stopped turning the eggs, reduce its temperature and increased the humidity ready for the hatch. Heat lamp, chick crumb and brooder at the ready (so being so prepared will mean none will hatch!)

 

Tracy

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I understand that theory.......expect the worst and anything better than that is a bonus

 

Good luck ,

 

Sha x

[TAJ]

One day to go (set am Wednesday) - but 7 out of 12 have now pipped and another one is wobbling like mad.

 

Tracy

[TAJ]

Now 9 out of 12 have started the breakout, brooder ready and waiting with lamp on, water & food containers full. (can you tell this is my 1st hatch - the next 24 hours I am sure will go very slowly!)

 

Tracy

[Chook n Boo Mum]

...I'm on the edge of my seat with you TAJ !!!

 

My chicks pipped & hatched under mum so I only knew about it when she stood up & there were 3 little fluffballs

 

Sha x

[TAJ]

...I'm on the edge of my seat with you TAJ !!!

 

My chicks pipped & hatched under mum so I only knew about it when she stood up & there were 3 little fluffballs

 

Sha x

 

They are in the dinning room, so I can see every nibble on the shell and beaks popping out - such fun.

 

Tracy

[atsw]

I'm sure you know, but be extreemly watchful with regard to their water. Chicks seem to be born with a very strong urge to drown themselves .

 

Initially, water is best put in a jam-jar lid, which you should also fill with marbles. This allows the chicks to drink, but not drown. The instint to drown lessens after a week or so, but do be very carful in the first few hours and days.

 

Andrew

[TAJ]

I'm sure you know, but be extreemly watchful with regard to their water. Chicks seem to be born with a very strong urge to drown themselves .

 

Initially, water is best put in a jam-jar lid, which you should also fill with marbles. This allows the chicks to drink, but not drown. The instint to drown lessens after a week or so, but do be very carful in the first few hours and days.

 

Andrew

 

I am new to hatching, but I have raised day olds before - in the past I have only lost 1 at 7 weeks out of 11 raised, so I am confident with them once they are a day old and all fluffed up.

 

One is now hatched and running around the incy climbing over the other eggs chirping at the top of its voice, hopefully more will join it soon - it is only day 20 after all.

 

Tracy

[Griffin]

Good luck with the others!

[TAJ]

Two now fully out and sitting together having a chirp.

 

Tracy

[Redwing]

Brilliant thats great

[TAJ]

Just a quick update 4 now hatched, two fluffed up and the other two still wet as only been out about an hour. More cracks are appearing in the other eggs - so now only one egg out of the 12 hasn't got a crack or already hatched! 11/12 is pretty impressive for fertility, lets just wait and see if they all make it out of their shells. They are not due until tomorrow anyway, so there is still time for the 12th - I had already given up on the last three eggs by lunchtime today and two of them have now started so there is still time.

 

So far 3 yellow and one brown chick (one variety are white and the other are brown as adults), they were mixed so I do not know how many of each I will end up with.

 

Tracy

[Egluntyne]

Marvellous. It never loses its magic.

[Lewis]

Well done on the - its really good fertility especially at this time of year.

 

We need photos