MAY HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[chickenmeadow]

It's time to start the 'MAY HATCH-A-LONG come join in' as there are many people setting eggs that are due to hatch in May. So, here we go again! Another month of fun & sharing our incubator or broody set eggs "pips, rocking, wriggles, wiggles, cheeps, zips, popping lids, leaping outs & hatchings."

Don't know about your's but my chickens have been glaring at me all winter, as if to say "just when will you start that spring garden again, we miss our veggies"! The weather here in Oregon is still showing some frosty mornings here & there, but May is coming for a good time to plant most everything in the garden. I can hardly wait to enjoy & share the fresh, organic produce.

Last month there were so many different kinds of eggs set for chickies, goslings & poults. Many new "hatchers" joined in, along with many of those that have enjoyed the hatch-a-longs before.

I'm still hanging out on the 'APRIL HATCH-A-LONG come join in' until the hatch posts are done for the month https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4054162#p4054162 & will be checking in here to see what's happening til May comes. I've met so many nice & fun people here on the BYC & look forward to seeing you again for this month's hatch party.

If you're hatching or not, come on & join in for another month's hatch-a-long for MAY, we all enjoy the support ! Happy hatching everyone!! We just love those chickies!!

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Here's some info that I've collected for myself that you may find interesting or helpful! This is being posted to share some guidelines. You will find what works best for you & your equipment as you learn from your own hatches.

**I will continue to use "edit" to add more info as it is collected & seems important or interesting.

--MY INFO --REGARDING INCUBATION--
-----------------------------------
*When is day 1 (see #69 & #70) http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res32-qa.html

*Especially be sure to monitor the incubator temperature the day you set the eggs in the bator & the day you put them into "lockdown." That's when I've noticed more temp fluctuations. Also, I've had better luck at keeping temps even in a room where there is no draft &/or room temp changes.

*Emergency kit for incubator shut offs due to power outs: Keep a baby food jar filled with water & lid in the incubator ahead of time to hold temps longer, or add a warm one when needed. Clean smooth rock/s in the bator will hold temps longer also. Have some blankets handy to cover the bator to hold themps longer. Use a pocket warmer to warm the bator when getting cold, watch the temp in case it gets too warm.

*Calibrating your hygrometer (see # & read the calculation correction at the bottom) (see post #241)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=271098&p=25

*Using a "water wiggler" with a glass thermometer inside for accuracy, should be the same temperature inside an egg. Maybe try making your own wiggler & getting a non-mercury glass thermometer from the pharmacy? See my thread for comments & DIY wiggler.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=339602

*Sanitize your incubator between uses (I have used Brinsea Incubation Disinfectant, non-bleach, etc. The are a few choices for what to use including after sanitation, drying off in outdoor sunshine).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=62755

*The “dry incubation” method (Day 1-17 & Day 18 "LOCKDOWN" to Day 21+ hatch day. I start Day 18 in the daytime so I can monitor any temp fluctuations)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
(see post #3) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113681&p=3

*My Candling, simple, includes description & pictures (see post #6)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3364955#p3364955

*Egg progression (see post #1)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876&p=1

*Hatchability Problem Analysis, this is not just for problems. (Description of daily embryo development, see Landmarks of Embryonic Development, Durring Incubation, Days 14-18 to understand what leads to Day 18 "lockdown")
(see pg. 11 - includes section on “Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities” in chicks)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204

*Air cell
http://www.poultryclub.org/VHIncubation.htm

*Emergency egg repair with wax (see post #678)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=68

*Egg carton hatching (see example in *My Hatch Progression,........... as seen below.

*My Hatch Progression, from pip, zip to hatch & done in egg cartons in incubator.(see post #596)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=288983&p=60

*HOW TO STAY CALM & RELAXED WHEN WAITING FOR THEM TO HATCH
Still researching info on that! Let me know if you have any ideas!
I do know that they seem to hatch faster when I'm away or have fallen asleep, ha ha!

*My Brooder containers; fast & easy to set up, no-build, easy to find materials, & easy to clean. (see post #800)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3924713#p3924713

*Need to sex your chicks. (hatchery method at 2-4 days old) Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGYP3dUaVrQ&NR=1

*Treatments for Leg Problems in Chickens (& chicks)
http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

--ONE OF MY HATCHES--
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*My Christmas 09 - Incubation of 6 viable eggs (“save the favs”/see pg.70, post #695)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=70

*My Christmas 09 - Hatched eggs, 6 chicks (“save the favs”/see pg. 80, post #798)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=80

*I use distilled water in my incubator for the water tray & humidity, as I've seen my well water seem to go bad/foul smelling by the end of the 21 days (more possibility of bacteria, had a couple of hatches in the past that did not do well because of it). I also thuroughly sanitize my incubators after each hatch (Brinsea sanitizer, non-bleach, peroxide, some use bleach, etc.).

MY "DRY INCUBATION" METHOD USED - That was very successful for me, but you will find out what works best for you & with your equipment.
The purpose of using this method is so chicks don’t grow too large & not be able to turn during pip. Also, so they don’t drown in the excess liquid in the air cell when they pip/break through the inner membrane, before pipping the outer shell; the excess liquid is caused by too high humidity.
*Days 1 thru 17: Temperature was 99.5 degrees F (this temp is for forced air incubators, measured at the level of the egg using a small thermometer that lays on top of the eggs), Humidity was 40% to 42% (with a couple of drops to no lower than 25% for air cell growth, may not be necessary though). Eggs were propped up at an angle with wide end at top, but most people just lay them down sideways. Turned eggs 3 times a day (on my work days) & 5 times a day (on my weekends); 5 times is better & always turn an uneven # of x's a day.
*Day 18: "LOCKDOWN" starts. Stop turning eggs (they will position themselves for the air cell, turning eggs can put them out of position), put eggs into cardboard egg carton bottom with hole in each bottom for circulation, the carton keeps the air cell at the top & stops the hatched chicks from knocking around other eggs), keep temp at 99.5 F, bring humidity up to 55% for the durration, & do not open the incubator again until all chicks have hatched (opening it would drop the humidity too much for the other chicks in eggs & they could stick to shells & not get out).

Be patient, as a few hatchs had some that took 24+ hrs from 1st pip to the last one hatched. I've come to attribute hatches that started on the same day with all eggs, then hatched at different times may have something to do with the breed of chick, hot & cold spots in the incubator (so I move the eggs around a few times in the bator when turning), etc.

--OTHER INFO-- Things to read/consider to help keep from stressing about incubating. Relax & enjoy the wonder. LOL!
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*Homemade Natural Chicken Dust Bath Recipe (external parasites, such as mites & lice) put 1 part of each of the following in a kitty litter tray & leave out (keep dry) for chickens: wood ash, sand, DE (diatomaceous earth), & road dust (dusty dirt). You can also use STALL DRY in place of the last 2 ingredients, DE & road dust. My chickens love to bathe in this mixture so much that every morning I see the main rooster standing in the tray calling his flock to join him for a bath. (I sprinkle a little STALL DRY or DE only in the bottom of each of my nest boxes too). Food grade DE is the safest for humans & animals, it usually contains only 1% silica. My local livestock feed store carries it in 50# bags, I split that with other people.

*Natural coop & nest box cleaning & external lice/mite control (See post #903) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4057137#p4057137

*Feeding your breeding flock for fertility, that's where a healthy egg starts. I have good luck with keeping my flock healthy & fertile by feeding the following daily: Organic chick starter crumbles, Organic layer crumbles, Organic layer pellets in the coop (less waist when locked in at night til morning), Oyster shell, grit, BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds-free feed in shell or ground like I do, very good for fertility), Alfalfa meal (with or without molasses), dried crushed cheyanne peppers (chickens don't have heat receptors, so it doesn't burn their mouth, etc.-helps worm them & adds circulation), Homemade Kiefer (has good digestive bacteria & can help with immune system, like a liquid yogurt, no heating method, just use the starter grains over for each batch-you can find starter packets in a health food store or get the grains online somewhere-got my grains from a friend), mealworms (easy to find at a pet store & easy to grow your own from the starts you buy from a pet store, directions below); grass clippings; garden scraps; & fresh clean water daily (a few days a week, they get ACV (apple cider vinegar) in the water, but not every day). Most mornings, the chickens start their day with a treat of my verson of "chicken mash" which is: Organic chick starter crumbles 18% protein, alfalfa meal, ground BOSS (blk oil sunflower seeds), dried crushed cheyanne peppers, Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer powder (which also has kelp, haven't tried other supplement poultry powders like Rooster Booster but they may be good also), homemade Kiefer & water to moisten (in freezing winter just add the Kiefer, no water-the milk butterfat stops the mix from freezing, but the water freezes here in 20 min.).

*Grow your own mealworms: Just keep them in a deep container (5 gal bucket with lid cut, cut large hole in lid & attach screening); keep them in the dark & out of the heat; fill the bucket 1/2 or more with wheat bran; layer the top with a piece of burlap (they'll lay eggs on this), a fresh whole carrot (a good clean food that does not mold easy like apple does), then 2 pieces of brown paper bag or newspaper (for easy worm collection inbetween the 2 papers); add the purchased worms. They will turn into beetles, lay eggs, hatch into worms, grow & start all over again. Wow, do they multiply!! Durring hot days, mist the top with water in a spray bottle. Check often to remove any moldy carrots & sift out bedding when the wheat bran has turned into dusty droppings at the bottom (put the droppings into a new container & watch that hatch into worms also); when the siftings are done hatching, you can just toss that into the garden. It's a very self-sustaining, high protein & inexpensive food source.

*Good veggies for chickens https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats

*Chicken poo identification (graphic pictures, but very informative, droppings tell all about the health of an animal) http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

*Breed abbreviations. I'm always wondering just what type of chicken they've abreviated now. (see post #15) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=42774&p=1

 

[Illia]

FINALLY - Was wondering when you would start this.

I have 11 Tolbunt Polish eggs and 10 Easter Egger x Polish eggs in the bator. Out of those, I have 6 Tolbunts fertile and developing, and 3 Easter Eggers fertile and developing.

Here's the Tolbunt eggs, pre-incubation:

Here's the Tolbunt eggs during candling, from a couple days ago to today.

All of them are due May 10th!!

 

[wolftracks]

Setting up the bator now.

I'm IN!

 

[chickenmeadow]

Illia & wolftracks: Happy to see you jumped right in with you setting announcements. Great candling pics Illia!

Sorry it took me so long to get this started. I've still got company staying with us, their sleeping in, so I got a chance to sneek to the computer. They're great friends & demand a lot of attention too.

I hope to be getting eggs soon from a breeder, so I can join in with the fun too.

Happy hatching everyone!

 

[cluckcluck42]

Count me in! Fourth time is the charm right? After not having anything hatch last time I am trying again, all with my own eggs from my flock. I have set today April 24th, 18 or so Ameraucana and 25 or so mixed brown eggs from my RIR and Buff brahma with my EE rooster. I'm going to throw in whatever the ladies lay today in a few hours. Next hatch no matter what my hunny says I am ORDERING SOME EGGS!!!!!!

I was hoping you had this thread started! Thanks for that

I hope you get some eggs soon.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Illia how did you get those pics?! I tried with my regular camera and never had any luck at all. Do you have a digital SLR? I have one and haven't tried to take any candling pics yet, doh.

 

[outback hatcher]

I've got welsummers and rirs in now they go on lockdown on the 5th.
waiting for my french black copper marans, french wheaten marans and dominiques to start laying

 

[Lotsapaints]

I'm in

set my 15 turkey eggs yesterday due 5/20 have eggs on the way for the turkeys, I found somebody who has meaties but not cornish x they hatch out easy so 22+ of those. I have Cuckoo Marans coming white rocks and just got white red laced cornish...I'm sad this is the last bunch no more room so not again till fall and then it will be with my eggs. I am having so much fun and learning so much but I think this incubating thing is very addicting

I never planned on this many chickens and now I have turkeys...

 

[Gypsylion]

I set my first hatching attempt yesterday with some eggs I'm *really* excited about - blk mott and self-blue d'Uccles and a mix of birchen/barred/brown-red/gold-laced bantam cochins... lockdown on the 12th, if all goes as planned then hatch on the 15th!

Using a thermal-air hovabator w/ egg cartons, turning the entire thing 3-5x/day.

Question: everything I've read on here about the egg carton method for days 1-18 says that people lift one side then the opposite side. I'm planning to lift all 4 sides sequentially (i.e. If the incubator were a clock, I plan to lift the noon side, then 3, then 6, then 9, then noon again). Should I just lift 3 and 9, and leave noon and 6 out of it?

Also, my temp was around 90-94 deg for the first 10 hrs, and humidity around 60-70%. I got it to 100 deg/45% hum by this morning, but will egg development be affected by the incorrect levels for that period?

Thanks for any advice - I'm so excited!

 

[MissD'uccle]

I am in...I have some due the 7th and the 14th (staggered hatch, yippie

)

Black mottled and blue mottled d'uccles due on the 7th
Black Copper Marans due the 14th!


Good luck and happy hatching all!