Happy Hatchday 2015

Little chickies are peep-peep-peeping.  So far there are six eggs rocking, one completely hatched, and a few with little windows (and tiny beaks protruding) pecked out.

Tomorrow we should have an incubator full of little fuzzballs.

...and yes, I know, the pictures are a little fuzzy.  It's not easy to get a digital camera to focus through a window without removing the glass.  Keeping the heat in and the babies safe and toasty, I'll just have to live with some grainy photos.  8D

The wonderful world of Chickens: we have eggs

Not long ago I listened to someone say that as much as she would love to raise chickens for the fresh eggs, chickens don't lay in the winter so...Guess our girls didn't read that book.  We have eggs.  Lots of eggs.

Every morning we fill our Easter baskets full of lovely colored eggs.  Nothing beats a farm, fresh egg for baking or just eating straight.  Cakes and cookies are lighter and fluffier when fresh eggs are used.  And don't forget about taste!  Nothing beats the flavor of an egg produced by cage free, pastured hens.

To read more about how healthy those nice fresh eggs are, <read here>.

Pullet eggs

The Americauna pullets are finally starting to lay.  Found these cute little blue beauties earlier this afternoon (Buckeye pullet egg for comparison).  They seemed a bit surprised to see an egg (wow!  look at this!  I had a little tummy ache, sat down to rest a minute, and look what happened!  I feel better now.  How 'bout some snacks?)

Winter thoughts

It was 5 degrees on the local weatherbug thermometer as I bundled up to go check on the chickens this morning.  Any temperature above zero (and below 90F) works fine by me however I suspect that the girls would prefer something in the 60's.

It's no wonder that January is Oatmeal, Soup, as well as Hot Tea Month.  All sound delightful as I give the girls their morning scratch.  The door to the chicken house stays closed on these cold mornings.  Inside is a warm 42F. I'm always a little surprised by how warm chickens can be however just to be sure that they stay snug at night, a heavy layer of clean hay covers the floor and a heat lamp is strategically positioned near the waterer (just not too close to the hay).  They all happily surround my boots as I step in each morning, pecking away the snow or grooming my pant cuffs and pleats.  Moving slowly, I check for eggs while talking softly with the girls.

We're getting quite a few eggs each day.  As you note, they are quite colorful.  It's no surprise that Americaunas are in the group of chickens called 'Easter Eggers'.  Despite the chilly temps outside, everyone is warm and happy inside.

BTW: for those who are interested, here is a link to an application to calculate Wind Chill:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/windchill.htm
based on this, the 5F with a slight 4mph wind, drops the temp to -3.  I think a cup of hot tea would be good right about now.

Meet the new kids

Missy's girl

When it was all said and done, thirteen chicks hatched and twelve survived.   Remember: we started out with 26 eggs.  Seven proved infurtile.  Five failed to hatch.  There are all sorts of reasons for why things happen but what I believe is that those that survived were the strongest of the lot. 

Boys

So I got an email from one of you asking to see pictures where I actually separated the boys from the girls.  Mind you, this is very unscientific and, no, I didn't peak under their skirts to actually sex them.  This is just a best guess.

Among Americanas and other Easter Egger chickens, I have been told that by observing how stripey the down is, one can guess that these may be our boys. Buster is the stripe-est of the boys.  He's also larger than the other although in this picture, he's down for a short nap.

Girls

Similarly, the girls are all dressed in a solid colored soft down.  In this picture on can clearly see how much lighter colored Missy's girl is.  I'm not quite experienced enough to glance at their colorations and tell what they will look like as adults.  What we strive for are productive hens that are calm and good natured.  A happy chickenland depends on everyone getting along with little squabbling.

For those that are counting, you're right.  That's not twelve.  I also have two little golden wheat chicks, that will be my surprise chicks.

Now all I need are names. Your suggestions are welcom

Hatching Day (Round 3) part 3

Things started to finally quiet down last night and it looked like the last of the chicks were out the door.  I opened the incubator and quickly moved each one out and into the brooding box.  They settled in quickly.  Chicks sometimes need to be shown their food and water.  Each one was carefully taken to the water bowl to have his/her bill ceremoniously dipped into the font for the first drink.  Once this baptism was completed they proceeded to drink on their own.

The heat lamp is set to keep them nice and cozy for a few days.  Over time it will be turned on less and less until they can keep themselves warm without too much additional assistance.  Since the majority of the chicks hatched between 3 and 4 am.  So I don't really know which egg they came out of.  There are a few however that I did see.

The solid fuzzy chick in the lower left hand corner of the above picture, is actually very silvery grey like her mom, Missy.  The little lightly stripey chick standing near her, is Molly's little boy.

Inky's little girls

Speaking of stripey, a couple of the boys are very stripey indeed.  I suspect they may end up looking like their father, Sandy. One of them is already making it known that he's the big chick in town.  Fortunately, the majority are pretty laid back and just let him squawk.  He was the first to be named: Buster.

Big Buster

***Side note: Have you ever heard the expression 'as rare as hen's teeth'?  It's true!  Before the chick hatches, she develops a hardened cap on the tip of her bill.  This cap allows her to peck and break free of the shell.   She starts out by pecking into the airsack at the tip of the egg, then pecking a breathing hole in the shell.  After resting a bit, she gradually pecks around the inside end of the egg forming perforations which allows her to break free.  This is an exhausting process.  Some of our chicks took nearly 24 hours to completely break free.  If  you look at the tip of this baby's bill you can still see her hen's tooth.

Now a little humor: after getting everyone tucked in for the night, I still had seven or eight unhatched eggs in the incubator.  This morning another little boy hatched out and another egg had a breathing hole pecked open.  Makes me wonder if any of the others may hold surprises as well...stay tuned!

Hatching day (round 3) part 2

Things got really busy here early this morning around 3am.  As I turned in last night around 10pm, we had three chicks drying in the incubator and the other eggs looked pretty still.  Around 3am, the party started.  One chick after another, came tumbling out.  Currently there are nine with a few eggs pecked with little bills protruding.

Let me once again apologize for the quality of the photo.  After learning my harsh lesson about opening the incubator too soon, these pictures were taken through the viewing portal.  I'll post better ones in another day or two once the babies are moved into their brooding box.  Happy Birthday!

**By noon, we have eleven chicks and two more eggs have portals poked out.  I wish I knew how to correctly sex chicks.  The only sure fire way I know to sex chicks is to separate the chicks into two groups.   Within each group, the ones that grow up to be roosters are boys.  The ones that don't are most likely girls.  Among Americanas, I have been told that the stronger the 'stripey-ness' is of their down, the more likely they are to be boys.  If this is true, I may have three boys on team chicky.

Hatching Day (round 3)

I'm happy to announce that starting this morning around 6am, another batch of chicks began hatching.  By noon, six of the eggs had little windows pecked out of them with tiny little bills protruding.

Spring Chores, continued

You recall last year I told you to embrace your children and let them share in helping out in the garden.  Of course I was referring to the assistance that was provided by Wee Chick and the puppy.  As he has grown so has his exuberance for helping.

Like any child, one needs to help focus the enthusiasm or in this case, dig where necessary and not just randomly make holes.  Today we transplanted roses.  He happily dug a nice deep hole.  We happily put the rose into the hole.

Even the girls pitched in.  Buckets of weeds and tufts of grass were removed from around trees and from the planting areas.  These were brought to the girls for yummy salads and good snacks.

Update from Chickenland: We candled the eggs again this last week and found that  so far 17 out of the 26 eggs are showing signs of life. Five of the eggs are far enough along that the little peanut inside was seen to be wiggling about (as if to say, "turn out the light!  We're trying to sleep in here!").  It's hard to embrace the old adage to not count one's chickens before they hatch, but previous experiences have taught us now to be patient.

Out in the yard, some of the girls are gaily dressed in their little aprons.  These are called Chicken Saddles and are used to protect the hen while her feathers grow back after rough housing with the boys.  One of the local smartypants suggested that I give all the girls red capes with their initials emblazoned upon them (big "G" for Goldie, "LM" for Little Miss, etc).  Personally, I think they're much happier with what they have. 

chicken saddle

The chicken saddle was pretty easy to make.  It's about the size of a potholder.  Elastic bands snap in place underneath the hen's wings for a snug, yet comfortable fit.  I originally heard about these from a poultry rancher.  He had some champion birds that he kept special for shows and going to the fair.  In order to keep his girls nice and pretty, he used these little aprons.  When I noticed that our girls were looking a little rough around the edges, I looked up the pattern online and put these together.  Like any kid in a new outfit, there was a certain amount of tugging and pulling, but when they realized that it was on to stay until Mom took it off them, they settled right down.

Of course I suspect the ones that didn't get an apron are now wanting to know why they don't have one.

 

Spring chores

A small dent was made in the list of Spring To Do's.  When the rain isn't coming down is sheets and buckets, it's rather nice to get outside and take care of business.

The daffodils are springing up every where the soil is rich and moist.  Last year we found some growing along the Northwoods drainage ditch.  Although we left most of them to enjoy the next year, we did dig up a few large bulbs to replant along side our front walkway.  The walkway bulbs will probably be blooming around the time those in the woods start to fade.

The garden continues to expand.  We're doing our best to keep it from getting too large and unmanageable, remembering first that we other things that need our attention besides the garden.  Throughout the winter, we set aside the chicken leavings to mellow and compost.  This was periodically turned over until, finally, the day came that we could use it on our gardens.  Big fleshy worms tumbled out by the shovelfuls as we carted and dumped wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow out where the tomatoes and green beans will call home.  Composting may not be romantic but it is certainly gratifying to know that one's soil amendments are so rich and healthy.

 Side note:  when composting, if the pile has been turned regularly, and given enough water and air, it should not smell sour or stinky but rather loamy or like wet dirt.  According the Farmer's Almanac, It takes between 45 and 60 days for chicken manure to compost, depending on conditions and it's always a good idea to blend it with other amendments such as plant material and top soils. 

Chicks and more chicks

Hi!  My name is Dingy.  I hatched out a couple of weeks ago along with some of my brothers and sisters.  It's sad that they weren't as strong as I was and even though I was born with a little leg trouble.

Momma says that she was learning about how to hatch eggs and said that she had been advised to set the incubator temps at 99.5 and humidity at around 50 or 60%.  I don't know what that means.  All I know is a lot of my sibs seemed to have trouble hatching and I was born a little gimpy.  The condition is called splayed leg where the chick's legs are stretched out so that she can't stand up quite right.  Momma splinted my legs with a bandaide for a few days.  Now I'm right as rain.

This is my brother, Toby.  He's a lot bigger that me.  I can't imagine how big the egg was that he came from.  He keeps an eye on things and when I get into trouble or need help, goes to get mom to look in on things.  I know I'm safe when he's on alert.

Another batch of eggs is in the incubator.  We should know if I get to have more brothers and sisters in a few weeks.  I can hardly wait!

New kids on the block

Two of the chicks continue to bounce around.  Hatching was difficult on many of them.  apparently the humidity wasn't quite right.  This caused the shell membranes to become tough, making it too hard for the babies to break free.  Live and learn.  Meanwhile the little fuzzyballs are quite entertaining on their own.

Hatching Day Three

Round about 9pm last night, another chick popped out.  At times the hatching room sounds like someone's driving a squeeky shopping cart round and round.

new baby laying across her sibling's foot

12 pm - the latest fuzzyball is still drying out.  I've removed the partially hatched eggs where it appears that the chicks died in hatching.  It's sad but sometimes these things happen.  Meanwhile I'm leaving the other eggs to see what happens.  The babies will be moved to a separate nursery later this afternoon.

Hatching Day two

Watching the eggs roll round and round, as soft peeping rises from them time-to-time.  The little fuzzball (A13) is still working on keep feet to earth.  Apparently it's a wobbly world.  We're setting up a nursery for the babies, starting inside the house and will gradually move them out as the weather warms.

6am -- the two eggs that had little windows in them last night are still rolling back and forth.  The holes are a little bigger and one can clearly see that the chicks are working to open a bigger door.

12pm -- One of the eggs that started hatching last night looks like the chick may have lost its fight.  Will continue to keep watch.  Meanwhile another egg has a new window in it.

Keeping Watch

2:30 pm -- Was looking at some of the other eggs and wondered when and if they too will hatch.  Back on the 28th, I had candled the eggs with the following results:

A - strong blood vessels otherwise too dark to tell
B - bloodline. infertile (removed)
C - same as A w/ large air sack
D - same as A, lots of whiggling
E - same as D
F - feet can be clearly distinguished
G - too dark to determine
H - same as G
I - can see outline of feet, some whiggling
J - Feet and dark blood vessels
K - light blood vesseling
L - strong blood vessels, prune size shadow (chick?)
M - strong blood vessels, lots of whiggling
N - same as M
O (11) - same as M
P (6) - same as M
Q (DD10) - same as M

A was the first to hatch.  The other three that I can clearly see, I can't see the ID on yet.  (have been told to fuss with the hatchlings while they work their way out.  which also means to keep the lid on and no peeking.)

5 pm - seems to be a lot of discussion taking place among the hatchlings in their shells but I get the sense that they are all having second thoughts.

I Won’t Hatch!
Shel Silverstein
Oh I am chickie who lives in an egg,
But I will not hatch.
The hens they cackle, the roosters all beg,
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
For I hear all the talk of pollution and war
As the people all shout and the airplanes roar,
So I’m staying in here where it’s safe and it’s warm,
And I WILL NOT HATCH!
From Shel Silverstein. Where the Sidewak Ends. New York: Harper and Row, 1974. page 127.

Being patient.  It can take 48 hours for a chick to get out of its shell...

Hatching

Last night one of the babies announced herself from the incubator.  Peeking in, all the eggs seem to be sitting in the same spots where I had put them however one in particular has been especially noisy.  I find myself thinking back on one of our cockerels who constantly whined in his little chicky way.  This one however quiets down and cheeps more softly when I talk with it.

6:00 am -- no one has yet come out to play.  It's certainly noisy in there!
6:40 am -- the first little chick has come tumbling out of the egg.  Letting the baby rest while chatting away at the other eggs.  (shell marked A13)
12:00 PM -- two other eggs are making noises while baby (A13) sleeps and dries out

3:00 pm --  A13 is nearly all dry.  If you look over baby's back you'll see where one of the siblings is working its way out into the world.  It's funny to watch an egg suddenly burst into activity, rolling this way and that.
5:45 pm -- hatching is exhausting business. Two more eggs now have little peep holes and periodically have little bills protrude from them for the occupants to loudly announce their presence.  Watching baby has reminded me of when the others came home a little over a year ago.  Chicks have two settings: on & off.  They'll be scurrying around doing their little chicky business when suddenly they'll stop and fall over, sound asleep.  This goes on for about a week or two before they settle down into a reasonable routine.  But in the meantime. . .

Hatching !!, candling and waiting

As snows blow once again, fiercely about us, today looked like a nice day to hunker down and talk to the eggs in the incubator.

About two dozen eggs were initially were set in the incubator a little over a week ago.  These were checked on day seven for development.  Those that absolutely looked like nothing was going on, were removed.  Those that were questionable and without doubt looked like a chick was forming were placed back into their warm cradles. 

So far it appears that we have 18 eggs that show some signs of life.  I never cease to be amazed as I watch  the shadow of a little pea wiggle and turn in front of the light.  I imagine the little chick saying, "please turn off the light! I'm trying to get some sleep."

Hatching, update

The welcome wagon was all set up and ready for any babies who appeared.  We watched with rapt attention as the eggs rocked and softly worked their way around the inside of the incubator.  A muffled peeping could be heard from one of the eggs.

Perhaps it was a mistake however I chose not to intervene but let the chicks hatch out on their own.  To no avail, no chicks hatched.

I have removed the batch from the incubator and set a new batch in.  We've restarted the clock.

Hatching, day 20

What do I hear?  What do I see?  A rocking egg?  A tiny peep-peep-peep calling out from that shell?  I may be a little silly, but I've been talking to them every day.

"Ladies, this is me.  I'll be your mom when you come out.  It's a happy, friendly place.  You'll have a snug little bed and fresh clover to eat.  Enjoy your naps cause soon it will be time to wakey! wakey!"

Just a year ago, my big boy Sandy was a wee little fuzzball along with his brothers and sisters.  Hard to believe.  For now, we listen for the babies to call for mom.

Peep!  Peep!  Don't go to sleep!  When you wake up we'll be here!

Hatching: Day 18

It is now day 18.  The eggs have a few more days in the incubator before we can expect or hope to expect the tiny sounds of peeping from the central room.  Early this morning the eggs were all candled one more time, then removed from the egg turner and carefully laid onto the floor of the incubator. 

During the next few days, the unhatched chicks will wiggle around inside their shells, positioning themselves so that their heads are close to the air pocket.  What's left of the yolk will be enclosed inside their bodies and their belly button (yes, chickens have belly buttons) will close.  The yolk will provide the chick with the food and water it will need during and after hatching.

During most of the incubation, the humidity has been kept at a steady 50 - 60%.  This was done by filling the wells located in the bottom of the incubator with warm water.  The last few days however, it's helpful to the chick to increase the humidity.  This will lessen the likelihood of the shell sticking to the chick, making hatching more difficult.  To do this, the wells were filled again and clean damp sponges have been added. 

The nursery is now closed.  Now we wait...

Hatching chicks, Day 12

The incubator has been humming away, keeping the babies warm as they gradually turn into chicks.  We candled the eggs again today to see what is developing.  According to the experts (eggs-perts?), we should be able to see the heart beat by now.  Unfortunately, due to the color and density of the shells, we've had no such luck.  That being said, we have seen the little chicks wiggling around inside their eggs!

According to the Mississippi State University website, one can expect the chick to grow and develop based on the following schedule:

Before Egg Laying:

Fertilization
Division and growth of living cells
Segregation of cells into groups of special function (tissues)

Between Laying and Incubation

No growth; stage of inactive embryonic life (*my note: an egg can remain undistrubed for up to 10 days before incubation and still be viable.)

 

During Incubation:

First day

16 hours - first sign of resemblance to a chick embryo
18 hours - appearance of alimentary tract
20 hours - appearance of vertebral column
21 hours - beginning of nervous system
22 hours - beginning of head
24 hours - beginning of eye

Second day

25 hours - beginning of heart
35 hours - beginning of ear
42 hours - heart beats

Third day

60 hours - beginning of nose
62 hours - beginning of legs
64 hours - beginning of wings

Fourth day - beginning of tongue
Fifth day - formation of reproductive organs and differentiation of sex
Sixth day - beginning of beak
Eighth day - beginning of feathers
Tenth day - beginning of hardening of beak
Thirteenth day - appearance of scales and claws
Fourteenth day - embryo gets into position suitable for breaking shell
Sixteenth day - scales, claws and beak becoming firm and horny
Seventeenth day - beak turns toward air cell
Nineteenth day - yolk sac begins to enter body cavity
Twentieth day - yolk sac completely drawn into body cavity; embryo occupies practically all the space within the egg except the air cell
Twenty-first day - hatching of chick

So what are we looking at?  By all appearances, five of the eleven eggs have signs of continued development.

Those with veins showing when candled continue to darken more and more each time.  What's more exciting is that some of these now show a pronounced shadow about the size and shape of a large butterbean (about the size of a nickle).  I was surprised this morning when one of these little beans wiggled around as I gently turned it in front of the light.  That 21st day is approaching fast!

What about the others?  About half of the eggs appear to not be developing.  This is not unusual for hens as young as ours.  Most of those that did not grow appear under the candler like the one in the lower right hand corner.  This is perfectly normal.  After the others hatch, we'll start collecting another group and try again.