Sooo much pooping

[mnwickens]

Thought I would share my first experience hatching eggs.

 

I just built my own coop at the beginning of the year and was giving some first-class hens from a friend's farm which was closing down due to illness in the family. Soon I wanted more hens which seems to be a common ailment.

 

So, having looked at the price and limitations of incubators I decided to build my own. It was made from an window pane from a greenhouse, an old TV stand, a computer fan, lightbulb and the only item I bought was a dimmer switch to help regulate the temperature. I also drilled several holes to cover or uncover to help regulate temperature also. I covered them with duct tape. It was all very much home made.

 

Six eggs I bought online and most of them, my home made candler revealed, were not viable in the first place. In the end just 1 hatched.

 

Six I bought from Absolute Chickens in Aldermaston and of those six I think at least 5 were viable, though only 3 hatched and survived in the end. Based on the eggs I got from Absolute Chickens and from what I've read online, my hatching percentage wasn't bad. I have learned lessons along the way which will help for next time. I had a lot of help from the omlet board.

 

On day 22 nothing had hatched and so I decided to candle them one last time. The egg I picked up started to chirp at me! So, I quickly out it back in and left it. That was the first one out and the others soon followed.

 

The four chicks are now in a brooder and seem happy and well. My children got to see one of the chicks from the point it began hatching to the point it broke out and started walking around.

 

One question I have is this. When the first two chicks hatched they started knocking all the other eggs around and I'm wondering if that is normal? Can that harm others who are hatching and what is the solution if one is needed? One chick got its beak out but did not make it any further.

 

Here are some pictures. Thanks to all who helped me with advice here.

 

One last thing, does anyone recognise the breed of the black one? It was in a mixed batch I bought online.

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/112831622087672998881/BabyChicks_01?feat=directlink

[Redwing]

Congratulations on your chicks

 

The first to hatch will climb over the others and knock them around thats normal, though worrying to see sometimes

 

Sometimes one will pip and not make it further, sometimes its just not strong enough. Keeping the humidity up and not opening the incubator help avoid this but sometimes it isnt meant to be

 

I'm not sure about the black one, it has feathery legs but doesnt look cutesy enough to be a Pekin, looking at the colour its possibly going to be cuckoo or barred it could be a Marans though the more common cuckoo ones usually have clean legs... if its from a mixed batch did they give you any clues? sometimes the mixed batches are all sorts running with each other so in that case it will be a cross breed. It looks a lot like my barred Wyandottes but they dont have feathery legs, if its a bantam it could be the lovechild of a Pekin and a Wyandotte!

[mnwickens]

The whole thing has been a great experience, definitely will try again soon. Maybe in a month when this batch are abit more developed.

 

About the black one, here is the description the Ebay seller gave of his chickens: "I have a varied flock of chickens, ranging from bantams to marans (copper black and cuckoo), light sussex, cream legbars..."

 

I guess that narrows it down a little.

[Redwing]

I'm going with copper black Marans (feathery legs) x cuckoo Marans

 

I also reckon its female as the head spot is well defined and small and the shanks are dark

[Jools]

I'd go with FCB Marans but crossed with something else

 

I've hatched both FCB and Cuckoo Marans and both were a lot darker than yours. I think more photoswill be required as it grows to allow us to make some more wild guesses!

[Redwing]

Yes progression pics please!

 

The only reason I say cuckoo Marans is the head spot, that normally indicates the barring gene but I suppose its not 100% especially with cross breeds

[mnwickens]

I'll post more pics as soon as they develop a little more.

[mnwickens]

Well, I didn't plan on leaving it this long to give an update. I guess its been about 8 weeks now.

 

We had four hatch, 3 leg horns and one suspected Maran. After moving them into a small coop outside with a heat lamp they seemed to be fine but one morning I found on of the leg horns dead. I suspect it had been sat on and suffocated by the others. The heat lamp was on though and I'm sure it was warm enough. Anyway.

 

Then my sister-in-law decided she wanted some chickens. Long story short she bought two pekins but then found it was not going to work for her. They are a few weeks older than mine but about the same size for now.

 

I have 5, 2 leg horns, a suspected Maran and 2 pekins. Here are pictures with what I think to be the sex:

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/awl-qVB6tS5bJoRQoc7yEw?feat=directlink all of them (far left a pekin I think)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_cwqW25ledgE7ZKmqGtxUQ?feat=directlink leg horn hen

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g0LhC6z_k91l7EixrvosyA?feat=directlink leg horn cockerel

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vdHYXbmAurI4rheJ5jnBJg?feat=directlink pekin cockerel

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aAPGiljSht2TO9m0tU3kmw?feat=directlink maran cockerel