Recent content by LaurenRitz

  1. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    I have one of those handheld gunish things. Not sure if it's accurate, although the things that I've measured outside of this project it has been within the expected range. I'm sure the temperature inside the incubator is correct. I hold the thermometer about 3-4 inches from the round end of...
  2. LaurenRitz

    Possible breeding program

    My old broody was confused about the new chicks. They're too old to bond with her, but she wants them. She'll go into their brooder and talk to them, but goes back to her own chicks each time, looking back like she expects the babies to follow. When I first put them in the brooder it was...
  3. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    I'm going to discontinue this test. I candled the eggs and the development is all over the place. Those temperature swings did a number on the eggs. I'll probably restart at another point, under more controlled conditions.
  4. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    I always do dry hatch. It just works better for me. I have far fewer that die after lockdown.
  5. LaurenRitz

    Splayed leg? Or something else?

    I wrap the toes, but other people use a piece of paper and tape the toes to it. You should be able to find lots of information. A piece of tape wrapped over the bottom and top of the foot may also work. Just be really careful, because they do not like this procedure and will wiggle a lot. The...
  6. LaurenRitz

    Possible breeding program

    South central Kansas. My "Dorkings" are a multi-generational Dorking-Sussex cross, specifically bred for disease resistance. If you're ever headed in this direction, maybe we could meet somewhere. Are you closer to Branson, or Poplar Bluff? Just to give me an idea of distances.
  7. LaurenRitz

    Anybody raise Dorkings?

    No improvement.
  8. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    I have the same incubator and I've had good success with it. I have a second thermometer inside that says the temp is (now) 99.5. Or rather, the red line hovers just a hair below 100. Other than unfertilized eggs, my hatch rate is very high with just set and forget. This time I moved it...
  9. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    This test has been informative. Apparently my incubator doesn't hold temperature as well as I assumed. It goes up and down considerably with the ambient, and since the back of the incubator was against an outside wall that side is always cooler. The center is also warmer, and that's where the...
  10. LaurenRitz

    Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

    I just brought the week old chicks in. They did just fine the past week, but it's supposed to freeze hard tonight. With no broody, I don't want to risk it. One of the Kraienkoppe has gone broody, and I'll give her the new chicks from the incubator when they hatch. Her timing was off by a week.
  11. LaurenRitz

    Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

    Because turkey.
  12. LaurenRitz

    Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

    They're rather like cats that way. "I intended to do that." "I moved because I wanted to, not because not moving would be stupid." And the final, "I'm not moving, and you can't make me."
  13. LaurenRitz

    Spoiled little velociraptors

    A few posts up, I mentioned my broody who was with my sister's flock for a while. Well, her babies are 6 weeks, 5 weeks and 4 weeks. I think she decided it was time to teach them to roost with the flock. So yesterday at roosting time she took them over to the main coop. Everyone was already in...
  14. LaurenRitz

    Splayed leg? Or something else?

    Make shoes for her to straighten the curled toes. She may need a day or two before it's healed completely.
  15. LaurenRitz

    Low hatching temp for large eggs?

    Day 16 (incubator countdown): take into consideration that these temps are taken at different times of day (early morning in this case), with a handheld thermometer so at varying distances. Temps range from 94.8 to 97.3. I candled and there were two clears and three that I couldn't see. The...
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