sundogplanets, 1 month ago

There are at least 3 chicks out of eggs, and at least a few eggs pipped! Hatching eggs is just incredible.

Pictures soon - right now they're still in the incubator. It's important to keep the humidity up, so it's a good idea to not open the incubator until they're all done hatching, they don't need to eat for at least 24 hours after hatching. But in practice, I always open it up way sooner than that because I can't wait to hold the little fuzzballs!

JulietJFall, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets Oh what fun! The first time I saw my neighbour hatch eggs in an incubator, it felt to me like growing animals from seed. We took five chicks home and it was marvelous to watch them grow. Enjoy your fuzzballs!

BashStKid, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets I was going to ask about the humidity as you must still have the heating on.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago

@BashStKid actually today is the first day we've had the windows open (even though it's really not quite warm enough...)

sundogplanets, 1 month ago

First chickies!!

So far just 4. Hopefully a few more tomorrow?

4 chicks (2 black, 2 yellow) inside a styrofoam incubator full of eggs. The chicks are all slightly damp looking, and draped over the eggs in various chaotic positions.

phranck, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets Cutie little T-Rex 😍

sundogplanets, 1 month ago

Downside of living in a super quiet place: I'm going to hear chicks peeping in the basement all night long

sundogplanets, 1 month ago

More chicks!

Up to 12 now, with a few more still hatching. Not a great hatch rate, but it was still pretty darn cold when I collected the eggs.

A very dense pile of floofy yellow and black chicks in the corner of a cardboard box (for transport out to the barn)
The brooder setup: a small walled-in area in the barn with straw on the floor, and a red heat lamp close to the floor. There are several chicks all gathered around a feeder and a waterer, both improvised from old plastic food containers.

gbwust, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets lovely

bsmall2, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets
What kind are they? It looks like you have a variety.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago

@bsmall2 They're a mix of a bunch of different heritage breeds

CuriousMagpie, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets Are they aware of/interested in the unhatched eggs?

Ulrich_the_Elder, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets The first day of spring at my house is the first day I cannot see any snow at the same elevation as me. There is still snow against my neighbors fence so not quite spring yet. It is also expected to snow about 5cm tomorrow.

grb090423, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets 🤗🤗🤗

wendinoakland, 1 month ago

@sundogplanets I’ve planted my tomatoes - and the bees are all zoomin’, but rain’s coming in. :(