Sorry double post!
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Sorry double post!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk..... I'm probably feeding my cherub :)
i havent candled my eggs yet. but she has 11 under her...mine are bantoms. but i dunno what breed they are. plus my three red girls too. question can a bantom breed with a normal sized chicken? what happens there? as i'll let my three big girls in with my others - and we have two bantom roosters...
I think i may leave any chicks in the shed this time and let them go - just keep the dog away from them- and see how we go. i think 7 months of chicks in the house is enough. plus i may have a neighbour - if he gets his chook run up who may want them but we'll see. i have two other girl who are on the lay - and only semi broody - i'm collecting 4 eggs aday which is nice seeing as its been none in the cold weather.
down the track i may be getting some gunnie foul off another neighbour - they will have a crack at snakes, which is what we need around here and can act as gard dogs too. wont say no to that, lol.
Bella as for marking the eggs I write with led pencil what breed they are so BO for buff orpington PR for plymouth rock etc. Then on the opposite side I write the date they were laid. I use these marks for turning purposes as well as to know who's eggs are fertile and who's aren't. I dont mark which ones I need to check to see if are clear. I didn't throw my clear eggs out until about day 12 or something like that so gave them a good chance to show something up. Probablem I am currently having is the RIR eggs are very brown and spotty and they are very hard to tell/see
Hey girls, thanks for all the feedback. I candled again tonight! Lol! On most of them it was clear to see a network of blood vessels. On a few you coul very clearly see the baby with the pin ***** of dark colour for the eyes. I marked them tonigh with chalk cos it was all I had! Lol! I just gave a tick for the obvious ones and a star if it was super clear with eye visible etc. there were about 4 that I was uncertain about. I am honna try to leave them alone for a few days if I can, but my track record isn't great! Lol! Oh dear! Very exciting tho to see the babies developing so clearly! Can't wait! Only 17 days to go!
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Sounds very promising Bella. My first batch are day 20 today. I expected to see some cracks now but so far nothing. I thought I heard a cherp from one this morning and I think I may have seen a few eggs rattle but maybe it was wishful thinking. I also candled my others eggs I put in on the 3rd September and am a little disappointed with the fertility. Most of them were brought eggs and of them only 1/4 of them have something in them. I'll give them another 5days before feeding them to the dogs. Out of the 30 eggs I put in I think only about 7 will make it to the end.
Oh mildez, that sounds disappointing!
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Awww one day i would LOVE to get a rooster and try some breeding but i highly doubt DP will be in on it ;)
I would really love some chicks for the girls to grow with though.
Well HotI got something like 12 eggs while we were away (left thursday) and we got 8 yesterday when we checked them so that's 20 eggs since Thursday... GO CHOOKIES!
See how we go for the next couple of weeks, the girls must be happy enough - might have to start taking some eggs to kinder or something.
ZF thats awesome your getting so many eggs. I'm still yet to get enough for us to eat and have enough to incubate. Ive just had two young pullets start laying in the last few days so soon should get enough. We use alot of eggs in cooking so could easily use 12-20 a week. Also as I let my hens out during the day and they wander over several acres I know they have a few hiding nests so loose some there. We have alot of long grass and machinery, sheds etc. I also discovered 3 hens were laying under a huge pile of wood which was for a bonfire so I lite that a few days ago and got an extra 3 eggs yesterday.
Well my exciting news is after feeling deflated that my eggs were never going to hatch I noticed 1 egg cracked when I got home an hour ago and now it has a tiny hole in it and I can see a beak wiggling inside. So hopefully by tonight I will have my first chicken out. I had 5 sussex which were due out yesterday/today and so far there is no action. Last time I candled them they were all alive so Im not sure whats going on there. The one chick thats has started is an orpington and was placed in 24hrs later. So I still have 16eggs I'm waiting to see signs of hatchment. I hope I get alot of them out. I started with 34 I think in the beginning
hey girls i just had to share
we have gotten 2 very big eggs in the past 3 days!!!
the first one weighed 106 grams and was big as my daughter who is 9 - her palm!!
today we got another whopper which was even bigger at 114grams!!!!
our normal king size eggs we get everyday which weigh over 70grams looked so small against these whoppers!!
they were so big that they didnt even fit in the egg carton!!!
the first one was a double yolker!!!
i am tipping the other one will be as well- will let you know when i crack it tommorow!!!
gotta love this warm weather- my chookies obviously are with such awesome eggs!!
How cool det! Nice work little ladies! I can't wait!
How old we're your Chooks when they started laying everyone?
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Another double! Lol!
Det I am backing that second egg is a double yolker also. I get a few from my Dads that have been but non have gone over 90grams. The ones around 90grams have all been double yolkers. My biggest eggs so far from my girls have not hit 60grams yet with the smallest been 32grams. I have several this week that have all been 36grams but they are from 2 pullets that have only started laying in the last 2weeks.
Bella my 2 little bantun pullets that started laying this past fortnight are 6.5months old. I have a pullet that is 8months that has not layed an egg yet but I think she is close. She has started visiting the nest site and going of on her own just to sit so I'm expecting she will soon. The younger 2 which are now laying are bantums where the 8month old girl is a standard size orpington.
Well I almost want to say my first incubation has been disasterous except I do have living chickens and I know heaps of people who got none in their first attempt so its not completely disasterous. Ive obviously stuffed up the humidity as NOT one chick has made it out of the egg without help and each one has been very stuck to the inside membrane. I helped a few partially and 12hours later they still had made absolutely no progress to get out of the rest of the egg. There all very exhasted and completely stuck. Some I had to use some luke warm water to unstick them. They aren't all pretty and fluffy although most are dry now. Only a few are walking around and the rest look like they will cark it. Ive used a syringe to give them some water which I think helped alot as they seemed more lively an hour later and more vigorous. I did loose one which I think I helped to much and it was very runty. So out of 17 I have 10 alive chicks currently, 1 dead one and 6 showing no signs of doing anything. The first one is strong now and trying to peak everything so I seperated it in the incubator as it was starting to peak the weaker chicks. I'm going to cook them up some egg yolk and offer that to them first hoping to get them to not struggle as much and maybe mix some yolk with water to syringe the weaker few. I hope they make it. I'm not worried about some of them as they are looking stronger by the hour but some are really struggling. As for the other 6 eggs time will tell if they are going to hatch or not.
Go *det* well go her chookies anyway.
I didn't get to weigh our big one as my scales are crap but i bought some digital ones so i can check now.
Our standard eggs are about 65g and i weighed the silkies this morning and they were about 45g so i can't wait to see when we get a bigger egg - no doubnle yolkers here though.
So jealous of you ladies with chicks :(
Those who weigh there eggs do you find they are the same weight from the same chook? One of my girls lays daily and her eggs have only ever been 56grams. Ive got about 12 eggs from her since buying her 2weeks ago and the weight hasnt changed by even a gram. Will have to take some pictures of my chicks and try upload them. 8 are doing really well. No signs of the other 6 eggs and 1 weaker one is improving whilst the other is deteriorating I think. Ive got to give my Dad his 4 sussex chicks so that gets me down to 6 of my own if they all survive. Im going to buy a new incubator. I want an R Com but gee they are pricey. Those who are incubating artificially what incubator do you use?
yup it was another double yolker!!!!
our small eggs are around 70grams - we breed them big here!!!
our chooks were closer to 20 weeks when they started laying
they havent stopped since and we are guaranteed at least 3 eggs- most likely 4 eggs a day
pretty good for 4 chooks hey
so wanna get some more chookys now
Det, what breed do you have?
So I candled again tonight, lol! I think I can see movement in 16 ou of 18 eggs! Very exciting! It is almost like watching a heart beat in them but I can't possibly be the heart beat I don't think. It is quite a large area that seems to move in proportion to the eyes that I can see.
I can't remember who asked, but I am using a brinsea 20 something or other. I borrowed it from my bff's sister and it seems great! It has an auto turn cradle and it also works without that. I have never noticed the temp to change on it more than by .10 when just left alone. It also heats up quickly.
So girls who have done this before. When do you toss the eggs that u think are clear? I am day 7 now.....
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I tosse out at day 12 with my first batch which hatched 2 days ago. I didn't get any rotton eggs blew up in the machine lol. My 2nd batch is on day 12 today and I'm yet to discard the clear ones (which is more then half this time) I'm going to toss them out tonight. My 2 incubators are side by side and I have been so obsessed with the ones hatching the 2nd batch have been left alone for the past 3days except when I turn them (semi auto)
So I got 11 living healthy chicks from my first effort. I know where I went wrong. I was naughty and opened the incubator after day 18 and I think I let the humidity out which caused the chicks to stick in the eggs. So I wont do that next time. I stuffed up as I had eggs in which were 24hrs behind so had to open to turn the younger ones so I definately learnt from that error and wont do that again. I'm putting eggs in tonight some are duck eggs from my parents so this is another first.
Det that is awesome big eggs. I'm yet to crack 60grams from any of mine but I guess as they get older they will lay bigger eggs. Good news on them laying at 20weeks also. Im feeding my young ones on a turkey mash which apparently will make them grow and then lay faster as its got a higher protein content them a chook one. I noticed my 3week olds have a growth spurt as soon as I gave it to them so it must work. I also get about 3 eggs a day someimes more. Ive got 2 old girls that dont lay at all and then 2 pullets which aren't laying and 4 that are. So I avergae 3 a day from 4. Although its like an easter egg hunt here trying to find where they layed them.
We have two chicks in the shed! so now its bound to rain! haha every time we hatch/have newly hached chicks it RAINS
Thanks for the info midez, I will restrain myself when it is my turn!
How do u girls about increasing the humidity towards the end?
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I'm not exactly sure how to increase the humidity. I brought a thing that measures both temp and humidity but it doesn't arrive until next week. I assume you increase the humidity by adding more water and I think the temp comes slightly down at day 18. I brought mine down to 37.5. The higher the temp evaparates the water faster and if you dont keepo topping it up quickly the humidity will decrease. Well so im told. I guess its trial and error. My eggs are at day 12 today (counting the 3rd Sep as day 0) and I put 25 more in yesterday. Almost all of those don't belong to me but.
mildez I did some research about the humidity and a few people recommend immersing a sponge into water and then dip that into the edge of your water and allowing it to help increase the surface area of the water so more evaporates into the air. makes sense as long as you keep the door closed I guess
Thanks for the tip Bella. I may have to steel some sponge from DH stash. My eggs are day 13 today so another 5days for my humidity thing to arrive so I can tell exactly what the humidity is doing. Once they go in lock down I wont be opening the lid until Im taking chicks out with any luck. I did my final candle last night and will check on day 18 when they go in for the finale. I've only got 9 this time (last time I had 17 and currently have 10 chicks from the 17) Ive got 4 rhode island reds, 3 buff orpingtons and 2 light sussex. Then I have another 25 eggs (only about 6 are mine) on Day 2 and I told my Dad I will do one final incubation in 1 week and that will be it for a while. 3 of the 25 are duck eggs. Would be so cool if a duckling hatched but I'm not counting on it. Do you still have 16 going strong at your last candle?
Out of the 16 I think maybe one has something wrong with it. Maybe a bacterial infection, I'm not sure. It just looks different. It has a bit of a ring around it, which I have read can be an indicator. I will check it again tonight and see if it is ok or not.
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How are those eggs coming along Bella? Mine are day 21 today. So far I have 2 out and another 3 making their way out or trying anyway. All by themselves so a much better result this time then my first time. The 4 rhode island red eggs are yet to do anything unfortunately. I paid $25 for a dozen and only 4 were fertile and so far I don't even have 1 chicken. I hope something hatchers atleast. And also my trio of speckled sussex arrives today. Im very excited.
Hi Mildez :) I am doing well. I have 15 in the incubator now, all are moving and getting harder to see just due to the babies getting so big. This afternoon marks the beginning of day 18. I think I should take them off the rocker now. Or do I wait until day 18 is complete? I have had so much conflicting advise! I can't wait for my babies to come. Fingers crossed it all goes ok! I have $55 worth of eggs in there!
Mildez, enjoy your snuggly cuddles with those sweet little ones. fingers crossed they all come out ok
Bella I now have 6 out of the 9 and 2 more have cracks in them. The 9th looks like its doing absolutely nothing. I'd definately take them of the turner now and lock them in for the remainder of the journey. You often have an early bird that comes out on day 20 so if you leave them until the end of the 18th day that only gives them just over 24hrs to get their direction right before hatching. How exciting. I'm at the end of day 21 now (counting the first day as O) My first lot of eggs I paid $130 for 2 dozen. Only 12 were fertile and of those only 6 hatched successfully and their almost 2 weeks old now and doing well. I had to pay alot of money for the particular breed I was after as they are hard to come by in purelines and not bantums. In saying that although they were dear I paid $260 for my trio so if all survive I paid basically $21-$22 each for them but do have to raise them and I obviously have no idea what genders I have yet. So I guess $25 for a dozen is not much but I do hope to get more then 1 chick out of the 4.
Wow mildez, that is a lot to pay for some eggs! But if they are what you want then it is great to get them. I am lucky that I have yet to get expensive tastes. I have gotten that with everything else in our lives, so watch out!
Day 19 here. I am so excited!!! I have pretty much everything ready. I have yet to get feed, but I am still hoping I can get organic chick feed brought in soon. Otherwise I will have to wait. Fingers crossed for me girls!
Cool your on day 19. You might see them wiggling if you look long enough. By day 20 I had my first cracks in the 2 incubations I have done. Do you have a brooder and that sort of thing ready for them to go into? I've got 2 my Dad made for me and I find I need another. Thats only because I have a weak chicken that cant go in with the strong ones as they think he is dinner and will peak him to death little vulchers.
I just did something naughty and paid alot of money for an R Com incubator. They are suppose to be the best out there (very expensive unfortunately) its 2nd hand. I'll be collecting eggs now to incubate and that will be it for the end of the year as I want them outside by Christmas. I'll only be putting in only my buff orpingtons and the new speckled sussex I brought.
Other good news is I just found out my very old ginger hen is laying eggs. I was mistaking her eggs for another hens eggs and another hen that I brought a month ago has just started laying. I dont know what was wrong with her when I got her but her comb/ear lobe things were very pale like she was anaemic and now she has alot more red to it and she has laid me 2 eggs. Only problem is the shells are so fragile both eggs have been broken when I pick them up and they just shatter in your hand when you push ever so lightly on them. Going to give her some shell grit and keep doing what Ive been doing. I think letting her free range is the best for her and then Ive been giving her the usual bread, wheat, lasyer pellets and meat meal.
Bella what breed are the chickens you are about to hatch?
I have 12 austrolorpes and 3 anconas left, I did put 6 anconas in but those were the ones that went bad or didn't fertilize.
I have hearda fair bit about the Rcoms. Everyone is quite taken with them :)
Oh and I think I heard some tapping before.
My first egg has pipped! Soooo excited
Oooo this is exciting. Has it cracked some more? My 1st chick this time took over 12hrs from pip to chick.
My speckled sussex laid an egg today (and yesterday but it had a crack in it) so Im collecting them to incubate them. Can't wait. Just hope they are fertile. I paid $180 for the trio so I'm keen to breed a few more out of them.
Nope ithas done nothing! I first noticed it at 3. It is now nearly 9. However in the last few hours I have had 5 more crack their shells. Waiting is so hard!!!
Yes it is hard especially when you see some action and think it should be progressing faster than it does. Hopefully you will wake to several fluff balls although they might take a while to fluff up properly.
Fingers crossed! UTI's really strange cos there are 6 there with cracks, but none have progressed further. Ian not hearing cheeping either, but then they may be asleep, cos I did hear some earlier. Iris really hard to wait!!! I will be thrilled I we get babies out cos dd will be hard to explain to if there are none that hatch.
naww thats soo cool!
chicks look soo...bad when they first come out of the shell...kinda drowned rat like hehe
no new broodie chooks yet...waiting waiting waiting. i have a friend who wants day olds to raise, which will be interesting LOL i think it'd be better if it was near-er to christmas though - cus he's still at school (as is his younger sister who wants to 'raise her own') but we'll see.
other then that not much happening with the chooks. keepingmy 3 mottly crew locked up until they roost in the chook shed on their own - as chaseing them and catching them and taking them down there is annoyihng as hell LOL
Thanks dansta! "UTI's really strange". Lol! Gotta love predictive txt!!!!
Two babies this morning! Lots more pipped, more than 6 more. I checked at 2:30 am cos I thought that it was 5:30, there was one egg with lots of progress, but by 4:30 there were two completely out. Dd is itching to touch, but I am making her wait. :)
Congratulations on the chicks Bella. How adorable (when they fluff up) Hope they keep coming.
I candled my batch that is due to hatch on the 5th October and a number have stopped developing. I'm sure its from the new incubator I use (It has the eggs on the pointy end and tilts) where as my other one lies them on their side and you manually turn them. Can't wait for the R com to arrive. I've got 8 eggs in my collection now and am adding about 3 a day to it. My new coop will be ready at the end of the weekend. Not much more to do to it and the chickens have somewhere to go.