Chicken Forum banner

My very first hatch out of an incubator

4K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  ReTIRED 
#1 ·
This is my first time ever using an incubator and I am very excited to see how it works. My first hatch is Monday and my second is Wensday. Does any one have any tips?
 
#2 ·
When you go into "lockdown" leave the lid closed EVEN if you feel the chick "needs help". Let nature do its thing, if the chick is strong it will make it. It sometimes takes 24 or more hours for the chick to come fully out. Also dont worry about feed or water for 3 days, let the chicks stay in to dry off then place them in the brooder with feed and water. Dip the beaks in water to show them where it is. Good luck!
 
#9 ·
Congrats ! Just estimate the time, just put down the time you came home. The chicks will be fine for 3 days so being off by a couple hours wont hurt.
correct that is why i said 48 hours because that way there is still a little extra time left on the clock.
i dip their beaks at or about 48 hours then put down paper towels for the 1st week on the brooder floor. after a week i put down pine shavings.

piglett
 
#10 ·
piglett said:
correct that is why i said 48 hours because that way there is still a little extra time left on the clock.
i dip their beaks at or about 48 hours then put down paper towels for the 1st week on the brooder floor. after a week i put down pine shavings.

piglett
I may try the paper towels this time,
 
#12 ·
How is ur babies? It is always exciting the first hatch. I still get all warm and fuzzy pulling the first babies of the season. Such a miracle of life.

VIVI
 
#18 ·
Oh dear I can't see how you can't like silkies! Everything about them is just so :D, well nevermind just how I feel and you have a right to how you feel. I was also wanting a broody hen to and out of 20 with 2 being silkies and 1 blue cochin I have had no luck. So this means I use the bator when I want babies.
 
#19 ·
they need to learn what to eat & what not to eat
some think the shavings are food so i go the 1st week with the papertowels.
The paper towels have dye and bleach remnants on it from the manufacturer. "round here we just use a small amount of HAY crumpled up as a base. If they eat any...all they will get are some seeds from it...totally good for them.

My first batch of the season hatched last monday.....9 out of 16 eggs...not bad since this is an experiment...I mixed Black Giants with LegHornes hoping to get large fast growing Meat and Egg birds that tolerate Heat and Cold better than a pure strain:D.......Next two batches are regular straight runs and the go into the machine this Tuesday.:)

<img id="ums_img_tooltip" class="UMSRatingIcon">
 
#20 ·
The paper towels have dye and bleach remnants on it from the manufacturer. "round here we just use a small amount of HAY crumpled up as a base. If they eat any...all they will get are some seeds from it...totally good for them.

My first batch of the season hatched last monday.....9 out of 16 eggs...not bad since this is an experiment...I mixed Black Giants with LegHornes hoping to get large fast growing Meat and Egg birds that tolerate Heat and Cold better than a pure strain:D.......Next two batches are regular straight runs and the go into the machine this Tuesday.:)

<img id="ums_img_tooltip" class="UMSRatingIcon">
Using hay early on can cultivate disease so I wouldn't suggest it for the first few weeks!
 
#21 ·
The paper towels have dye and bleach remnants on it from the manufacturer. "round here we just use a small amount of HAY crumpled up as a base. If they eat any...all they will get are some seeds from it...totally good for them.

My first batch of the season hatched last monday.....9 out of 16 eggs...not bad since this is an experiment...I mixed Black Giants with LegHornes hoping to get large fast growing Meat and Egg birds that tolerate Heat and Cold better than a pure strain:D.......Next two batches are regular straight runs and the go into the machine this Tuesday.:)

<img id="ums_img_tooltip" class="UMSRatingIcon">
I LIKE the "idea" of that particular CROSS !
( I'm thinking similarly about crossing Black Jersey Giants with my Buff Orpingtons ! )

SORRY...I'm really NOT attempting to "hiJack" this thread. Just making a comment.
:)

Bruce ( ReTIRED)
P.S. NO....I'm NOT giggling. I'm laughing OUT-LOUD ! Ha-Ha !!! ;) :D
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top