Auto door randomly closing during the day

[andynjanec]

First post on Omlet .

We are incubating some eggs in a Brinsea incubator and ..............I can hear cheeping.the eggs are joggling about and one had a small bit where its pecked the shell.

Panic stations.

 

How long does it normally take for them to come out of the shell?I am a bit worried they might not be able to get out of the other 2 as the eggs are a touch small and I know the eggs shell is hard on the smaller eggs when we fry up.

 

Cant believe it.We tried last year and none hatched. weyhey.

[The Dogmother]

Please don't be tempted to help them out of the shells - they will do it under their own steam, and helping could cause damage. Increase the humidity if you haven't already done so, and wait

 

I take it that your brooder is set up, warm and ready.

[andynjanec]

Brooder.I was going to put them in a cardboard box with a lamp.WIll that work?

[The Dogmother]

It coudl do if you set it up right - you will need a length of card to round the insides of the corners off so the chicks don't get trapped in the corners. You will also need wire to put on the top - they learn to jump out pretty early if the sides aren't very high

 

Adjustable lamp, disinfectant, feeders, chick crumbs, drinkers with small stones or marbles, pleanty of clean litter so that you can change it regularly. Spare bulb for the lamp.

[Egluntyne]

Please be careful that the lamp doesn't set fire to the cardboard box.

 

This happened to a friend of mine. Mercifully she was on hand to rescue the chicks!

[The Dogmother]

Please be careful that the lamp doesn't set fire to the cardboard box.

 

This happened to a friend of mine. Mercifully she was on hand to rescue the chicks!

 

[andynjanec]

One arrived an hour ago.Had proceeded to juggle the other eggs all over the place.So much for stopping turning on day 18.

 

 

 

Do I have to give it water yet?

[craftyhunnypie]

I use a plastic storage crate for my chicks for the first 2 weeks. Better than a box. Get them from Instore, Poundstretchers or Wilkinsons. Mine is quite deep & long. I just use shavings. I put mesh wire over the top of mine.

I use an indoor guinea pig cage after 2 weeks.

I also now use an electric hen - superb they are!

There is lots of help on how to look after chicks on the forum... please please read it as it is brilliant!

 

Emma.x