The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: pikilily on March 06, 2011, 07:32:09 pm
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Hi folks- i think i am going to need your help!!!
i have a hatching in my incubator that seems to be going poorly. Hands up its probably my fault....been a bit dippy and not had the temps set correctly...
Anyway, today, out of 18 eggs, we have one Welsummer chick hatched successfully, but no real sign of any more. I may well be looking for a just few chicks to keep this one company as it grows....i just cant bear the thought of it being completely alone.. I dont mind what breed, as long as they dont lay brown eggs. All the rest of the hens are Welsummers. They would end up being free range and kept for eggs.
I am just north of Dundee
cheers for any help or suggestions.
Emma T
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What day are they on - they don't always stick to 21 days!
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yes - it is actually day 21, so i may get lucky and get even just one more.
I feel so stupid. normally i am meticulous about the details for all the animals.....checking and rechecking everything. This time i think i will blame it on constant pain and lack of decent sleep....cant be anything to do with age!!!!!
Anyway back on topic- I just want to be ahead of the game and be prepared for the possibility that this little chick may be an only child, unless i can adopt!
Emma T
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I've got some in my incy just now but not due to hatch for another 2 weeks, sorry.
I often get ones hatching on day 23 and day 24 is not unheard of. Are these from posted eggs or your own? I find posted eggs tend to space themselves out a bit.
Good luck for another couple. ;)
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Hopefully not but if you do not get any more hatch about 3 years ago i had only 1 hatch from 6,i phoned around all the local breeders but nobody had chicks as it was winter time,i put in with the chick a teddy bear and he as it turned out was quite happy,but this bit i find very strange he was raised in the house until he was around 3 months as the weather was so bad,he did have other chickens with him just in separate cages,once he went outside he was fine with the others and quite happy but now if the kids who picked him up every day go into the run hes in he comes and attacks them.
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these eggs are from my own hens....still no sign of further activity! The thing was i had the temp too low- i am sure i have read that that means the chicks develop more slowly, so i am not giving up hope untill day 24/25.
yes piggy, I will have plans B and C which will include raising her alone and then introducing her to the other hens when she is older. I have a good broody box and then a double tier rabbit hutch for going outside.
I have previously had a hatching that was poor (bought in eggs) and luckily managed to get my little Isa Brown hen to 'adopt' the chick even though she wasnt even broody herself.... it was touch and go then, though! Live and learn eh!
I will probably set another batch later this week, and make damn sure i do it properly this time. I have promised a couple of folk cockerals so need to keep to my word!
going to phone round a few folk today!
Emma T
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HI Emma,
we have light sussex chicks, one week old today. We stay near the Forth Road bridge in Fife, if you are interested. PM us.
Kind regards,
Ronnie Dalrymple.
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Emma T whot do you like in chicks
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have you got any blackrocks gary? I do love them...... Really i dont mind, really really I just want some to rear alongside this poor wee lonesome chick. Cos I have the welsummers who lay distinctive brown eggs, and i have the welsummer cockeral, I can select the eggs for hatching for breeding.
Basically what days old chicks do you have? if any??
Cheers Emma T
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sussex silki winedote chocklate orpington could have some black rocks .would like to try youre eggs see haw they go
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What type of sussex do you have?
I might be tempted with those ;)
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i have light sussex all medium birds 3 weeks old silkies wyndotts blue gold lace chocklate orpington or a mix 12 birds £20 pound and i will be att forfar mart as well as thainstone