MARCH HATCH-A-LONG come join in

Wasn't planning on it, but suddenly I had the urge to set some more eggs in the incubator for March. You know how that goes..... Still hanging out on the FEBRUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in' with a few more batches due in February. Then I'll shift over for March.

So anyone who is collecting eggs, incubating or watching a hen set, candling, pipping, zipping, hatching or whatever for the month, come join in on our March party. It's a great opportunity to share, ask questions, learn from what others are doing, & see great pictures to get your "chick fix." I especially enjoy seeing & hearing about all of the different breeds.

Join in & help get things rolling! Happy hatching everyone!

---------------------------------------

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.

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

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

*The “dry incubation” method (Day 1-17 & Day 18 "Lockdown" to Day 21+ hatch day)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
(see #3) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113681&p=3

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

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

*Hatchability Problem Analysis (Description of daily embryo development, see 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 #68)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=68

*Egg carton hatching examples (see #5)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/form/viewtopic.php?id=276491&p=5

*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 Brooders, easy & quick to set up, no-build, easy to find materials, & easy to clean. All of these brooders are fitted with a 1/4" or 1/2" wire mesh top to keep them in &
other things out, the 2 ends are just bent down. A temperature guage or two are taped to the inside side at their standind level, to monitor the temp. A red heat lamp
is over one end of the container, to leave the other end as a "cold side" for them to escape the heat when they want. When too much heat is escaping I just put a
container lid over the top of the "cold side" & away from the lamp, which can be adjusted & removed easily. Chicks are transfered to larger sizes as they grow & need
more room. I keep a few xtra, empty, clean containers around to transfer them to when it's time to clean out the old one & move to the clean one.
-2 to 3 day brooder after 12 to 24 hrs in the incubator, set inside of a larger clear plastic storage container to stop drafts, next they'll go into a medium container when
they're getting around good. Temps start at 95 degrees F at one end for the first week, but leaving a "cold side" at the other end for them to escape too much heat; then
decrease temps 5 degrees every week. My brooder room is a recreational room that is insulated but not heated.

-Two brooders sharing 1 heat lamp, since they have most feathers & no longer need as much heat.

-Four brooders side by side, 2 lamp going with focus on the youngest ones needing more heat.

-The last stage brooder in large container with wire mesh top & no heat lamp needed. Good for when they need to be weaned off of the heat &/or it's too cold to go
outside yet.


*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
http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

--ONE OF MY HATCHES--
------------------------------
*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

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, put eggs into cardboard egg carton bottom with hole in each cell 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 the last hatch took 20 hrs from 1st pip to the last one hatched.

--OTHER INFO--
-------------------
*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, DE (diatomaceous earth), sand & road dust (fine dusty dirt). 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 DE only in the bottom of each of my nest boxes too).

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

Yayyyy..just put my first batch in my brand new incubator...set it up yesterday afternoon to make sure it got the correct temp. and it held it at 100 all night so at 5:00 this morning I added 8 Partridge Cochins, 5 Salmon Faverolles, and 8 Ameraucaunas eggs to it....since bantams hatch about 1-2 days earlier...I'll wait a day or two and add a few Mille Fleur D'Uccles to the batch.....wish me luck. It's my first time in years of trying this.

Hi,

I am getting ready to hatch eggs for the first time. I am planning on setting them on Feb 27, so they should hatch March 20. I was gonna just put in maybe 12-15, but I was talking to a friend yesterday, and they would like 12 pullets. Sooo... I will probably be hatching more than that. How many eggs does everyone recommend to get at least 12 girls? ( I wouldn't mind keeping a couple, if there is extra) I was planning on a 50/50 ratio, plus some extra in case of infertility, early death, etc. So do you think 30 or so would work? More? Less? My hens aren't laying "full speed" yet, so I will have to start collecting probably this weekend to get that many eggs.

Thanks!

I'll join you! I set my FIRST EVER hatch in the incubator friday night. So, I'll anticipate hatching on or around 3/5 or 3/6 (I set them late friday). I'm extremely nervous and excited at the same time. I'm holding off on candling until the end of the week at least, as I'm not confident that I'll see anything as it's my first time, and they are brown eggs.

Thought I'd check in here for March, it's going to be a fun month!

D'Angelo N Va.: Is that new incubator holding at 100 a "still air" or "forced air/fan" type? Mine is a Marsh with a fan holding at 99.5 degrees F. Mine are usually all bantams, but I do notice that my Favs usually hatch a day later than the rest. Sounds like you have a nice mix of eggs going. Wishing you luck; it will all come back to you, even after years!

crittergal: Wow, hatching more pullets than roos seems to be an age old question. How nice you already have some spoken for. What kind? 30+ sounds like a good start; knowing me though, I'd set more. Be ready with a plan for what to do with the xtra roos & you can always put any xtra pullets up for rehoming/sale. You'll have to let us know how your ratio of pullets works out. Best wishes!

Deanner03: Yep, your Day 1 count was Sat. 13th, since you set late on Friday. How dark brown are your eggs? My Ameraucana cross green/blue eggs have been the hardest for me so far. Day 7 candling is harder, have to know what you're looking for. Day 10 is the easiest 1st candle day, just look for the dark mass/chick near the center, air cell at the wide end, & clear egg white at the pointed end. I can see all of this in my eggs, even with a regular strong flashlight. My favorite inexpensive one is a small handheld 9 Led; I grasp it with the light up, pinch my thumb & 1st finger together to form a circle, lay the egg in that circle with the wide end to the left & start looking (if turning egg, do gently/slowly). Have fun!

edit: spellcheck

Can I get through February first, please?

Thanks, save the favs I would mostly hatch "mutts", except for some BR's, cause that is what the rooster is. I have been thinking though. . . .I am not sure I am ready to handle that many chicks, so I may see if they don't care, i will maybe split it in half, so I don't have more than I can handle. I will let you know how it turns out.

Quote:
debiraymond: Me too! I've still got 3 hatches to go in February on 16th, 18th & 21st. Just didn't want to leave anyone here without notice.

On my way back to 'FEBRUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in', check that one out too if anyone wants to see how that month has been going.

I'll be back!!!!

Quote:
debiraymond: Me too! I've still got 3 hatches to go in February on 16th, 18th & 21st. Just didn't want to leave anyone here without notice.

On my way back to 'FEBRUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in', check that one out too if anyone wants to see how that month has been going.

I'll be back!!!!

I will send lots of extras

Ive got 11 bantam Faverolles eggs due on the 3rd I think or maybe the 1st then I should be setting another batch of my own eggs some time in march but we will see.

Henry