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Barnyard Buddies:  Hatching Chicks  |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 18 2006 : 4:28:22 PM
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Ok so here's the plan......my sister has a ranch and wants chickens and my daughter is dying to hatch some. So we are going to build an incubator(no funds) and order a few chicks from ebay to hatch as a Christmas present for my sister.
I have the Encyclopedia of Country Living book and it has lots of info but any hints or tips you ladies can give would be welcome!
Thanks!
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2006 : 6:19:14 PM
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I will check but the closest freecycle place is Vegas which is 3hrs away. Thanks for the thought though.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 19 2006 : 7:22:39 PM
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| If it were me, I'd just use a cardboard box, or an old fish aquarium. Put a piece of cardboard on top and put a 60 wat bulb in there to heat it (one of those hooded lights works well, too) put a thermometer in there and see if you can keep it between 99 - 101 degrees. You have to turn eggs half way at least twice a day (put an x on one side and an "o" on the other side) or turn 3 or 4 times a day, but you have to turn them at least twice a day. Do that for 17 days. Oh, and you need some humidity in there too, a wet sponge or cloth. Then on day 18 you can stop turning the eggs, don't turn them anymore cuz they are getting ready to hatch on day 21. If the temp in lower, like 99 degrees then it may take a day or two longer to hatch. Its best at 100.5 degrees. I don't know how good mailed eggs do for hatching - I know lots of people complain. Problem with mail ordered eggs is that they get shook up too much in transit and then don't hatch. See if you can find some local eggs (watch for farms with chickens in pens or in the yards if they don't advertise eggs for sale.). Good luck. |
Edited by - OregonGal on Nov 19 2006 7:24:28 PM |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2006 : 07:53:55 AM
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Thanks, no local eggs that I can find. So I ordered some Dominque eggs off ebay.......we shall see my sister may only get one chick! :) Hubby and daughter are doing a bang up job on building an incubator -- free 3/4 plywood from the wood pile on post (Recycled wooden anything), and an old glass window I have for the lid so we can watch. (I will post a picture when I'm finished). We will line it with tinfoil (except for the air holes) and have a cake pan for water under the egg shelf. The only things I need to buy are a thermometer/ hydrometer and a lamp to take apart for a bulb.
Thanks!
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2006 : 5:38:35 PM
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| good luck. |
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CFlohe
True Blue Farmgirl
169 Posts
Cheryl
Port Angeles
WA
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2006 : 6:56:19 PM
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I also wanted to ask about hatching eggs but we've actually got a Black Silkie hen sitting on 4 eggs. It's awfully cold (for us anyway) and I'm concerned. Does the hen need to be in a warm place or is she able to keep the chicks warm naturally? She was somehow getting the other hens eggs and had more under her everyday till I put her in a rabbit cage in the greenhouse. At that time she had 11 or 12 so I took 6 or so from her and got rid of them. She had 5 then and last week I found one had hatched but it was dead. I don't know how it died but I worry about how cold it is in there (last night it froze, she is in the greenhouse but it's still cold in there too). This is my first year of raising chickens, didn't expect to be having chicks born until next Spring. I feel totally clueless about all of this.
Cheryl |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 04:23:25 AM
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I too have a setting silkie right now.
Eggs should be due to hatch in another week for us.
Yes it will be very cold, so this will be new to us both Keep the chicks out of a draft and wind
I'm assuming mom will do a good job at keeping the ckicks warm. The chicks do beg to stay warm and will seek her warmth if they get chilled
Our coop has one of those large dog crates for sleeping quarters so that affords warmth, but if your chickens have even the slightest taste of free ranging, they will eventually want to venture out.
animals have better sense than we do most of the time |
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babs
True Blue Farmgirl
226 Posts
Babette
MN
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 10:36:33 AM
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Cheryl,
Your hen and chicks should be fine. Usually when a chick is found dead or away from the nest, it's the fault of a rat or other predator. Mom hen will usually try to fight them off best she can, but if she has to she will sacrifice it to save the rest. I would make sure any little holes are blocked or plugged good.
Other than that, just keep out the draft and wind like another poster said. They should be fine.
Happy Hatching :)
Babs
Country Egg
www.countryegg.com |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 8:46:51 PM
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Oh, Cheryl and Holly - you'll be surprised at how darling the little chicks are (Holly, you might just end up keeping a couple for yourself!!!) and how enterprising and protective the hens are. I just love chickens, and having some eggs hatching sounds so exciting! Keep us posted!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Nov 21 2006 : 10:03:36 PM
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Well I would love to keep some for myself however we live in Army Quarters so it's not possible at this time. Thanks for the encouragment though!
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2006 : 9:41:07 PM
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Well, even if you can't keep them, Holly, hatching will be SO much fun! What a great project...
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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CFlohe
True Blue Farmgirl
169 Posts
Cheryl
Port Angeles
WA
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2006 : 10:19:43 PM
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Yes, I'm excited about the chicks hatching. One benefit to Holly using an incubator is actually being able to see the chicks hatch. The only way we can tell if one hatched is when the hen comes out to eat. The rest of the time we keep her cage latched so hopefully no rats or anything else could get in.
Cheryl |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2006 : 2:35:08 PM
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well we have our incubator set up and running just waiting for our eggs to arrive!
If somebody can tell me how to insert photos that would be great!
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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CFlohe
True Blue Farmgirl
169 Posts
Cheryl
Port Angeles
WA
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2006 : 5:29:45 PM
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We have a baby chick! We've had alot of snow the last 4 days and have been without power until this afternoon. I put some chick starter and water in with mama and baby yesterday, didn't see the baby but could hear it chirping. Today put more food in and the mama was eating it even though she had just gone out and eaten hers. I nudged the baby over to the food dish. The mama sure didn't like me messing with her baby. Later when I went out to check on them I saw that the mama had moved her other 3 eggs over near the food dishes and the baby was staying warm under her. It got down to 12 degrees here last night. So far all of the chickens have survived it. I'm sure they're all dreaming of warm, sunny days. I'll try and post a picture of the new chick on my blog tomorrow.
Cheryl |
Edited by - CFlohe on Nov 29 2006 5:30:37 PM |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2006 : 7:05:27 PM
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Hi, Holly! Our web guru, Gabe, has posted some great instructions for photo posting here:http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6290. If you have any problems or questions, just let me know - can't wait to see the eggs/incubator/chicks!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2006 : 8:01:31 PM
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Got our eggs today and hubby is even now looking for a 40watt bulb cause the temp is to high with a 60 watt so that we can put them in and get started!
Actually we are back to the 60watt cause the 40 watt was to cool. So we shall see what happens....
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Edited by - ArmyWifey on Nov 30 2006 9:56:23 PM |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2006 : 7:44:46 PM
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| Ok, if its too hot, then put a few small holes in the top to let some of the heat out, start with like maybe two, 1/2 inch or so and see if that helps, if its too cool, plug one up, etc. - measure the temp. from the top of the eggs. Don't forget to have a little moisture in there too, like a little dish of water, or a wet sponge - just don't get the eggs wet....that will cool them off and you don't want that. good luck. |
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CFlohe
True Blue Farmgirl
169 Posts
Cheryl
Port Angeles
WA
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 7:42:41 PM
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Our little chick that was born this last week died when it was a couple days old. It looked so healthy! It's awful cold here and our power was out almost all week because of a bad snowstorm. Was I expecting too much to think the mama could keep her baby warm enough or could it be that she kept eating the chicks food along with her own? She's still setting on 3 eggs and 1 of them looks close to hatching. How should I handle the food issue? I can't separate the chick from the mama for too long because of the cold.
Cheryl |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2006 : 8:45:15 PM
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well, actually we are now back to the 40watt bulb and it seems to be holding pretty steady temp wise. The 60 watt was just getting to hot. Humidity is an issue though, can't seem to get it over 50% (hygrometer from the pet store) even with a cookie pan of water and sponges -- for now I think it's ok but what to do for the last three days??
As this also counts for science for school I made a chart for dd to keep track of temps, humidty and turning times.
Thanks! Will keep you posted.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Dec 05 2006 : 3:30:08 PM
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Cheryl,
If a baby chick gets even one little chill, its a goner. Baby chicks, just before they are born, consume the yolk in the egg, thus, it can live for three days without eating anything, or drinking anything. If its really cold, don't be in a hurry for it to come out from under that nice warm mother hen. There is a reason that most birds have their babies in the spring when its warm - babies stay warmer. As far as food goes, offer some ground up oatmeal, not so that its powered, but really small pieces. Chick starter is hard for the little ones to eat. The mother chicken will get/let it out to eat when the time is right. Make sure there is plenty of food available, but I can't fathom a mom that would eat all the food, they generally teach the chicks to eat and offer them food. I would just keep food close to the hen so that when the chick comes out to eat, it can get back under the hen. And another thing, in this cold weather, don't let them drink COLD water - keep their drinking water warm, and that goes for grown chickens as well - warm water in the winter as much as you possibly can! Make double sure that the baby can't get into the waterer - or it'll get a chill and die. I'm sorry you lost your baby chick. One never knows why a chick dies, some that look fine, suddenly for no apparent reason, die. I'm now kicking myself for hatching some in the fall - I have to keep them in the barn with a heat lamp on them all the time cuz they just can't keep themselves warm enough - old man winter can be brutal. Its all a learning thing .
Holly, my experience with water and humidity has been, I worried too much about it! One time I thought I was being real smart and kept lots of humidity in there - yep, I think the poor things probably drowned in their shells- maybe too much moisture in their lungs, who knows. I think, less than optimum will work as long as there is some. Chickens hatch their eggs without additional humidity. So I say, make sure there is some humidity in the box, keep a sponge nice and wet, and let it go at that. Tho, I have read that humidity will be more if you have more surface area moist, so perhaps two sponges next to each other would create more humidity for near the end. But I still believe a healthy chick should bust out of that shell with no problem. |
Edited by - OregonGal on Dec 05 2006 3:41:03 PM |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2006 : 10:49:44 AM
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Update! we've got 8 definetly fertile eggs and one maybe! Yeah!! It's better than none in my book considering this is our first go round and with a homemade incubator!
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2006 : 08:13:16 AM
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Update:
well our chickies didn't hatch. We did a post mortem and 5 of the 8 were developed enough but looked shriveled ...... we couldn't keep the humidity up enough and once we got to my sisters the temp fluctuated more than here.
oh well. Still a fun experiment
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Luzy
True Blue Farmgirl
922 Posts
Luanne
Pueblo
Colorado
USA
922 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2006 : 08:24:33 AM
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So sorry to hear about the chicks. You really gave it a great effort and that's all you can do. I'm proud of you for trying Holly. You might watch Craigs List too for an incubator. I found lots of free, great stuff on that website. Big Hugs, Lu
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May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2006 : 5:52:37 PM
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| I agree, you did your best and really tried - sorry it didn't work out as we were hoping. I have an incubator and lots of times there are perfectly formed chicks in the shells that don't hatch - you just never can tell what's going to happen. But you gave it good effort. |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Dec 31 2006 : 07:47:58 AM
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Thanks ladies. Honestly, I'm not sure my sister is really ready for chickens yet anyhow. Just a bit disappointed for dd who really wanted to see them hatch.
Happy New Year to you all,
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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Barnyard Buddies: Hatching Chicks |
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Hatching Chicks
