CatsCube Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 (edited) Self indulgent I know, but I just keep wanting to ask questions and share whats going on, and keeping my whole experience on one thread at least stops me spamming! Plus I have my 5 year old son keeping a diary of the whole experience, so thought I would do one too. So first off in case you haven't guessed this is my first time doing this! I bought 2 pekins as part of a trio and rehomed the boy with a friend one lemon, one buff and the male was a lemon/buff cuckoo. I kept the 4 eggs that they laid in the following week and then on queue one decided to go broody on Saturday . . . . the same day I plugged in the incubator to get it ready! I decided that would be pretty ideal as it means trying both methods at the same time, my boys get to see all the hatch taking place in the observation incubator and they also get to see it happen naturally with mum. So the eggs, well I decided to go for as many as possible that would have space for. So I decided to purchase more (hopefully) fertile eggs from ebay. Having heard there has been some bad experiences of this I decided to use three different sellers in case I any of them ended up being duds. So I got 6 mixed which may have some silkie in them (running with a few silkie cocks), another 6 mixed which have frizzle cocks running with them (this seller gives a fertility guarantee so if more than 2 are infertile when candled at 10 days they will replace foc) and then 12 from a more species specific breeder, where the eggs arrived labeled, and is a mix of lavender, lavender cuckoo, gold partridge, black and white. So in total I have 28 eggs. I bought them on Thurs, two lots arrived the following morning and the last lot arrived on the Sat. So setting day was the Sunday the 15th (my youngest son Dylan's 4th birthday) and we placed 7 eggs under his chicken and the remaining 21 in the incubator. I decided to take opportunity to make changes to the broodys coop right form the start, and moved the dividing wall out from between the 2 nest boxes to give her a bigger space so I could sit water and food bowls next to her, and then I popped in the eggs for her. (one of her own and a selection from the bought eggs) Of course as soon as I lifted her out she then decided she wanted to free range with the other girls and not get back onto the nest, which had me a bit worried. I decided to "Ooops, word censored!" off and leave her to it. Within an hour she had discovered her next and sat. Yesterday I tried to leave her to it, while I cleaned out the other girls house, when I got an excited cry from Dylan 'Look mummy she has laid and egg and she pecked me' He was stood behind me egg in hand. no no no no no no! Explained to him that he had to leave the eggs under his chicken or the baby chicks wouldn't hatch, to which he whined that he wanted to pick up his chicken and have a cuddle, it took a bit of explaining to him that his chicken didn't want picking up now and she would be guarding her babies. When I popped the egg back under her I noticed that a few of them were exposed out the back so I hunted around to find something I could sit them in and keep more secure for her, I found an old shallow cake tin and lined it with some newspaper and then popped the eggs into it and shuffled it back under her bum. I also got a little dish which I filled with mixed corn and water and popped that next to her, which she immediately started to munch on. My paranoia now turned to my incubator, this is sitting on my dinning table out of direct sunlight. I have been watching the temp like a hawk as it does seem to have slight fluctuations which I don't know if this is normal or not, but what concerned me more was the auto turning mechanism, with the eggs being bantam eggs Im not sure the turning plate is turning them all and is more just 'jiggling' them a bit. So I have decided to one a day move them all into different positions, just in case a few of them are not moving enough. So onto today. I decided to take the risk of lifting my broody off her nest for a broody poo as she hasn't been yet I don't think. I have been somewhat worried about doing this in case she didn't get back on her nest again, so with her making her funny noises at me I lifted her off the nest and into the garden before I let the other girls out to free range (in case they distracted her) I sat her down on the ground and she didn't move, she continued to lay like she was nesting . . .but on brickweave! crazy girl, on some advice I had read I picked her up again and dropped her from a couple of feet, she stood looking thoughtful for a moment then squirted out a poo bigger than her head. Ahhh the infamous broody poo. Nice. Avoiding inhaling as much as possible I scooped it up and disposed of it into the wheelie bin. I stood watching her bombing around the garden making crazy noises like some 80's computer game. I tried to get her back on the nest after 10mins had past but she legged it off again. So I decided to head back indoors and leave her too it, keeping a watchful eye from the kitchen window. Sure enough as soon as I was out of sight she ran straight back to her nest. Result, despite my constant worrying things seem to be going well. I cant wait for candling! Edited July 20, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 That's a great idea to record it all. Laughed at the thought of the giant poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Well it maybe that I have no idea, but Matilda I think has the making of a good mum, seems I don't need to hoof her off the nest each day as she has been doing it herself, a big poo and a quick run around and she's back to her job, I have been putting soaked mixed corn next to her and she has been eating this happily, so all good on the broody front. The incubator I still feel a bit nervous about, I check the temp quite a lot and I had been happy that it had been a stable 100 degrees for the last few days, but last night I checked on it and it was 103! I have tweeked it back down a little and Im still manually moving all the eggs once a day. OH just bought a maglight yesterday for me to use for candling, Im not sure how early I can do this, as I was going to do it at day 10 but Im feeling impatient. Plus if any are showing as duds that Matilda is sitting on I would like to replace them with viable ones from the incubator as I trust her to hatch them more successfully than me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Checked on the incubator this morning and found it has no water in, I know the instructions said about first timers should just put 1 or 2 cm water in the bottom then nothing again till half the eggs have pipped, but I cant believe that I should run it dry for another 2 weeks. So I filed 2 of the 4 bottom sections with water, as I understand its not about depth but surface area. Hopefully this will provide some humidity but not to much. Broody Matilda let herself out into the run to stretch her legs so I let her out for a free range with the other girls just so they remained familier with each other. She headed straight for the raspberry patch and treated herself to a much deserved dust bath. Seemed to be enjoying herself a bit too much, so after 20 mins away from the nest I shut her back in her run, to which she promptly returned to the task at hand. Tomorrow s day 8 so I will candle again and try to get some good pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I'll follow this! Don't re-fill the water troughs, more eggs are lost due to too much humidity than too little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 realy do you think I should let it run dry for nearly 2 weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Yep, too high humidity will kill the embryos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 I agree too much humidity has killed more chicks than too little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 I have just used a turkey baster to suck the water back out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Here are the pics from my candling on day 5. You can see what I mean about a darker area on 2/3 of the egg, and the first pic you can clearly see the air pocket at the bottom. I don't know if this is how they are meant to look. I will be candling again tonight (day so will hopefully get some better pics including ones with the veins more visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Ooh, very interesting seeing pictures of candling- I can't hatch myself due to lack of space and nowhere for boys to go, and I always wondered what they look like. I know I would certainly love it if you could keep up the pictures as the eggs develop You must be very excited I hope everything goes well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share Posted May 24, 2011 Here we go, results of last nights candling (day I managed to sneak the eggs out from under Matilda while she was sleeping too, and found one dud under her. Well Im assuming its a dull and removed it and swapped it for one of the incu ones, but see what you think of the pics. Here are some of the good ones, now with little baby chicks visible inside, which were amazing to watch them bobbing around. Over half of them I could see a clear chick bobbing around, then others were too dark to see, this one is lighter but cant see a chick, but giving it the benefit of the doubt And this one is the dud I took out from under Matilda, although its got a dark looking yoke, the contents was swishing around like water inside and their was no sign of chick or veins inside, so Im guessing it may have been fertile but just never developed. Heres a dud for comparison So were now standing at 25 viable eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Great pics, thanks! I sold 30 eggs to a chap local to me, he's just got back to me and said 28 out of 30 have hatched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 I have candled again! Day 14 (set day counted as 0) Very exciting. Im not candling the eggs under Matilda any more as Im just leaving her to it. But I did the eggs in the incubator, well another is a dud, dont know how I missed it last time But it was very swishy inside and light in colour, so were now don't to 17 in the incu. But as for the rest . . . wow! I cant believe the difference, before when candling it was a mainly deep red looking area with the odd vein and a little black lump the size of a pea bobbing around. Now is a big black mass pulsing and moving around filling the vast percentage of the shell. of the 17 remaining eggs I saw actual chick movement in 11 of them, the others were too dark to clearly see of they were moving, but still looked good. My only concern at the moment was the size of the air sack, as particularly with some of them was rather large, and not just confined to one end, but going up a side as well, even though I saw movement inside Im wondering if the humidity is too low for this stage. Im also wondering at what point I should turn off the auto turner, as being bantam eggs they should be around the 19 day mark which means I should stop turning at day 17, however everyone on here recently hatching pekin's have had them hatch at the standard 21 days (don't know if thats classing setting day as 1 or 0). Next big thing is chick proofing Matilda's coop and setting up the brooder, I have got everything ordered. Will post candling pics tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Stop turning a day earlier.. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jossy Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Hi. It's lovely to watch your diary it's so exciting.. I would agree with the others .. I went on an incubating and rearing chick course at bevs rare breed poultry in Cheshire.. We were advised to run the incy dry till day 18 then get the humidity to about 55% which we did.. And got 100% hatch! Also stop turning at day 18. We only have a little 7 egg incy.. Amazing to watch. We hatched sabepoot bantams and the first one was out on day 19... Mothers day then the rest 12 hrs later . We have just set another 7 lol it's addictive 3 little silkies and 4 kermingcham browns .. Lovely dark eggs Good luck with the hatch I shall be watching your thread .. It's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 I stoped mine turning a day earley and both of mine arived on day 20 both 5 days old now and looking soooooo cute :) Hope the rest goes well for you em x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Okay here are the candling pics from day 14. Here the first two you can see what I mean about very very large air pockets which have spread up the side of the egg as well as at the tip And here are a couple more normal looking ones you can see ho much larger the 'chick' mass has become Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 This mornings task was prepping for chick arrival. First was to make the brooder for the incubator chicks. I decided to use the dog cage instead of a guinea pig cage as it has more room. I have put cardboard around the sides as they could probably just walk out between the bars! The bottom I have lined with jcloths and I have put the electric hen, feeder with chick crumbs and drinker with marbles. Now for chick proofing Matilda's house. I made some quick changes while I let her out for her broody poo. I have removed the straw from her nest and put a layer of easybed in the house over jcloths, trying to keep the wood shavings away from the food and drink. I have also removed the dividers that turn the back section into nesting boxes so they wil all have free run of the inside of the house. Onto the outside run. I have removed the door/ramp and replaced it with a wider and longer ramp so its not as sleep, and added a non slip mat. I have added secondary feeder and drinker to the run, with the feeder raised on a brick platform to try to keep bedding out, and also a lovely matching blue omlet shade to keep rain out. Were now placing bets on chick arrival, Im guessing the first pip will be tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Exciting! LOVE the coop, where did you get it? I'm sure i have a leaflet with something like that in, maybe it was feather animal housing ( ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Thank you, that one is from pet pads, it was stupidly cheap something like £160 so half price and the run was free) and they do pink and green ones too. I think I will get a pink one to sit next to it as my pekin flock increases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 . Too bad it's so far. I've hatched 18 chicks so far, another 20 eggs under broodies, just after some Frizzle hens now to breed from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Pet pads deliver, thats how I got mine, I think it might have been free delivery too. Anyway exciting news!!!!! Today I came down stairs and was watching one of the eggs rolling around, so I decided to pick it up and listen to it and it was cheeping it me, we all had a listen then I returned it to the incubator and noticed this! The first egg is pipping, I had a listen and heard a little tap tap and a cheep! As much as I want to stay all day staring at the eggs we have a family day out to a theme park today, as I understand things it will prob e a good few hours yet before things really get going so hopefully I wont miss to much. Will update again once I get home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Okay so one more little update. I have decided to add water tot he incu now as hatch is imminent, as Im out today I don't want to leave it to the other half to do as the adding/removing water seems to cause temp fluctuations so I want to be about to tweek if needed, and I wont be going out for a couple more hours. Also I just went and checked on Matilda, and found she had kicked an egg out of the nest it as stone cold, I just candled and saw it was all dark inside so I have popped it in the incubator just in case. Also one of her eggs has pipped! I cant hear any noises from inside any but at least things are underway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 WOO exciting! Was trying to find it on pet pads but can't find the pink? It may take a few hours.. Mine took about 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
