The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[misschickenlittle]

I candled tonight because I needed room... Got more eggs today!
I have 31 left from my 53 (I think that's right) set for this HAL. I added 38 eggs to my bator though! Yikes!! Don't tell the husband!!
I also have 11 eggs in the hatcher. There are 3 external pips but none of them are the Jubilee Orps I want soooo bad. It's just now day 21 but I really want them to hatch.

 

[Eggsalad]

Well just as a note, as I closed it down tonight, two broodies have decided to share the remaining 15 eggs and the five chicks. They broke a pipping egg in a squabble for nest rights, probably a few hours away from hatch and decided to share. It is absolutely hilarious to watch chicks go out to eat & drink & try to figure out which broody to go back to cause they both purr, tidbit, and scratch close feed for the chicks. I am a little sad cause I saw the panic and intensity of the hens trying to get the chick out of the shell, it was gasping, look fully formed, just needed a few more hours...it was very sad and I felt so bad for the hens trying to get it up & running. Nature is so beautiful & cruel. Two more went broody today. This will make five....not sure I can handle or accommodate that many. Can the sound of chirping chicks cause a hen to brood? I am beginning to think so. The two new broodies just absolutely locked down, stealing eegs, growling, ALL puffed up. I truly do not know how you incubator folks handle it all. I think I may write something up, I would like to have an incubator cause you never know when a hen may go broody, but a broody takes care of so much. Trying to hatch, everybody sounds like a kid with a box of Cracker Jacks...just can't wait for the prize at the bottom of the box. Of my hatches, I know one is a Sultan, maybe silkie mix dad. Grey , black face, five toes, and feathers like you stuck it in a light socket!

 

[margaret8]

Well just as a note, as I closed it down tonight, two broodies have decided to share the remaining 15 eggs and the five chicks. They broke a pipping egg in a squabble for nest rights, probably a few hours away from hatch  and decided to share. It is absolutely hilarious to watch chicks go out to eat & drink & try to figure out which broody to go back to cause they both purr, tidbit, and scratch close feed for the chicks. I am a little sad cause I saw the panic and intensity of the hens trying to get the chick out of the shell, it was gasping, look fully formed, just needed a few more hours...it was very sad and I felt so bad for the hens trying to get it up & running. Nature is so beautiful & cruel. Two more went broody today. This will make five....not sure I can handle or accommodate that many. Can the sound of chirping chicks cause a hen to brood? I am beginning to think so. The two new broodies just absolutely locked down, stealing eegs, growling, ALL puffed up. I truly do not know how you incubator folks handle it all. I think I may write something up, I would like to have an incubator cause you never know when a hen may go broody, but a broody takes care of so much. Trying to hatch, everybody sounds like a kid with a box of Cracker Jacks...just can't wait for the prize at the bottom of the box.  Of my hatches, I know one is a Sultan, maybe silkie mix dad. Grey , black face, five toes, and feathers like you stuck it in a light socket!

In my area all I have is guineas and they hide their nest. They never lay inside the pen. Outside the pen their are predators at night. So I have to use an incubator in order to save the hens and eggs!

 

[mlm Mike]

I am sure it is what ever the incubator says it should be! That must be perfect right? -smh- I hate this thing

Yes,it must be spot on. Would it help if it played a little song?

 

[Eggsalad]

I am not disrespecting anyone using an incubator, I would LOVE to have one of those little self turning models.( Brisn something) I personally was not ready to have chicks at this time last year, although it was in the plans for the near future, now I just had hens go absolutely broody and taking over the favorite nesting boxes. I built them a maternity ward and moved them and now I have more broody hens showing up. I wasn't even ready when I got these birds at this time last year as an adoption/rescue thing. Two days of warmer weather and I'm knee deep! I'm sure we'll work it out, I would just like to be able to catch my breath now & then. My hubby would LOVE to have Guineas, I told him AFTER we get the chicken thing all squared away. I was offered quail ( all I would take) ducks and turkeys this year already. Got to get the chickie birds set up better first, so hard to say no !!!!!

 

[Eggsalad]

By the way Margaret8, that bird in you avatar is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[mlm Mike]

Down to 4 eggs

BUT Guess what my amazing husband did to cheer me and the kids up?

We're waiting to hear.

 

[Eggsalad]

We're waiting to hear.

YEAH! never said the "what"!

 

[margaret8]

By the way Margaret8, that bird in you avatar is absolutely gorgeous!

TY I raise peafowl and guineas. I just hatched some guineas!

 

[margaret8]

TY I raise peafowl and guineas. I just hatched some guineas!