The 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!

[Happy Chooks]

Welcome to the 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

It's that time again! Every year, hundreds of members come together to set eggs to hatch on the exact same day - the day BEFORE Easter. As a group last year, we had 7,491 eggs set for hatching! If you are new to hatching, this is a great way to get a lot of help, tips and advise. Join in the fun for the largest BYC Hatch-a-long of the year!



Set Chicken eggs on Saturday, March 25th at Noon (whatever time zone you are in)

Other poultry breed setting dates listed below...

We want to hatch on April 15th, (the day BEFORE Easter Sunday)
button quail: 16 days to hatch; set March 30th
coturnix quail: 18 days to hatch; set March 28th
seramas: 19 days to hatch; set March 27th
other bantam and LF chicken: 21 days to hatch; set March 25th
bobwhite quail: 23 days to hatch; set March 23rd
call duck and other bantam ducks: 26 days to hatch; set March 20th
pheasant: 22 to 29 days; set March 17th - March 24th
mallard (derived) duck,goose, turkey, guinea, peafowl: 28 days to hatch; set March 18th
goose: 28 to 32 days to hatch; set March 14th - March 18th
muscovy duck: 35 days to hatch; set March 11th
emu: approx. 53 days to hatch - set Feb 21st (for you "serious" hatchers)



TO JOIN the hatchalong simply post in this thread that you wish to enter and we will add you! Set dates for each type of domestic fowl are listed above.
This thread is our main chat thread for the hatchalong where you can find anything from new friends, awesome incubation help to the most detailed educational discussions possible and how could we forget the laughter and fun!
This post of the Hatchalong (1st post) will be updated as we move along with all the important information you will need.
But if you find yourself with a question just post it on the thread, everyone is helpful!


ALL CONTESTS ARE HELD IN SEPARATE THREADS,
TO ENTER each contest YOU MUST VISIT EACH CONTEST THREAD, READ THE RULES AND ENTER THE CONTEST, SIMPLE!

If you end up not setting any eggs, please let us know! It makes it easier for our record keeping and we don't have to try to track you down!​

Places to find hatching eggs:
BYC Buy ~ Sell ~ Trade Section: Chicken Hatching Eggs

JUST IN TIME HATCHING EGG AUCTION: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/754077/just-in-time-hatching-egg-auction-and-bin-thread/2100_50




Contests!

Contest #1: Guess How Many Eggs Will Be Set Winner: @I LUV MY CHICKS

Contest #2: Photo Caption Contest 1st Place: @candyfloss 2nd Place: @wornoutmomto3

Contest #3: Cutest Baby Fowl Sponsored by Omlet Winner: @aridchickens

Contest #4: Edible Easter 1st Place: @yellowherb 2nd Place: @deserteggs22 3rd Place: @eggbert420 and @missprissychick

Contest #5: Broodies and their Babies 1st Place: @redranger209 2nd Place: @dan26552 3rd Place: @casportpony

Contest #6: Flapper Contest 1st Place: @casportpony 2nd Place: @yotetrapper 3rd Place: @GoldenFlight

Contest #7: Natural Egg Photo Contest 1st Place: @Ravynscroft 2nd Place: @LadyCluck77 3rd Place: @pioneerchick816

Contest #8: Silhouette Contest 1st Place: @CuzChickens 2nd Place: @NathanZee

Contest #9: Guess How Many Will Hatch Winner: @Jessimom, but prize deferred to next 2 closest guesses 1st Place: @Phage 2nd Place: @casportpony

Thank You to @ronott1 , @BantyChooks , @Yorkshire Coop , @sumi and @Auroradream26 for helping me with this year's Hatch-a-long! I truly could not do it without their fantastic help!

 

[candirroberts]

I couldn't resist doing this.

 

[brandmarie]

Pics from candling!

 

[ChickAsThieves]

I have to confess something... this morning I took my 4 week old chicks and moved them outside so that I can clean out the brooder for the HAL chicks. I promised my other half that I wouldn't set any more eggs for awhile, but when I collected them this morning there was a really perfect EE egg and... and... I WROTE THE DATE ON IT AND I PUT IT IN AN EGG CARTON AIR CELL UP AND I'M GOING TO SET MORE EGGS AND GET IN TROUBLE AND I DON'T CAAAAAAAAAAARE!

SET ALL THE EGGS!

I've lost my mind is what I'm trying to say. I never thought I'd grow up to be a completely insane chicken lady, but here I am, killing it.

 

[The Cottages]

Happiness is holding a new born chick!!!!

 

[brucifer]

Well somehow my incubator spiked to 133 degrees... The eggs are screwed...

I had that happen to me one time before. In my case is was operator error (me!): I had just finished candling a dozen silkie eggs at day seven, and they were all looking great. However, the room was dark, and I was in a hurry, so when I put the lid back on incubator, I didn't notice that the dangling thermostat probe was left on the outside. When I returned a few of hours later to check on the eggs, the temp on the digital readout had spiked to 122ºF. Both of my backup thermometers also showed 122ºF.

At first I was angry because I thought the incubator had failed. However, on closer inspection, I realized what I had done. My heart sunk, so I know the feeling. What hurt me the most was that my young son who was there with me while we candled the eggs started crying when he found out the chicks had all died.

Like anything else in life, hatching eggs can yield great rewards and a lot of joy, yet at other times there are disappointments and setbacks. I just try to roll with it all. I bask and take in the good times and quickly move past the bad. I hope things go much better for your next hatch.

 

[ronott1]

I just realized that I reported an incorrect number set. I said 31, but really set 35! I candled just now, pulled one clear egg and realized that the incubator looked really full for 30 eggs. Recount showed that I am even fooling myself with the chicken math!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Don't forget to clean the windows on your incubator! Cuz we'll all be looking like this:

 

[redranger209]

I had 7 chicks hatch out of 9.

 

[Happy Chooks]

A huge Thank you to my helpers for this hatch!

ronott1, sumi, Yorkshire Coop, Banty Chooks and Auroradream26!!!!

Thank you for helping me with this years Easter Hatch!

​