JUNE HATCH-A-LONG come join in

It's almost June, so time to start the 'JUNE HATCH-A-LONG come join in.' Another month of fun & sharing our incubator or broody set eggs, wether they're shipped in eggs or good ole' fashion from your barnyard eggs. There'll be lots of "pips, rocking, wriggles, wiggles, cheeps, peeps, zips, lurking, popping lids, leaping outs & hatchings." Here we go again!

Sorry it took me so long to get this started, I had a flu virus for a couple of weeks, but almost gone now. Wheeuu!

My chickens are finally pleased to be able to enjoy some early bounty from the Spring garden. It's still May right now & the weather here in Oregon is still showing occasional frosty mornings & some hail; an unusual year so far. Surley, June will start to bring on the sun for a great gardening season. I've tripled the number of raised planter beds, plan to do a lot more canning this year & enjoy lots more organic produce on the dinner table. Oh yeah, & more to share with the chickens.

This is a great thread to get your "chick fix" while waiting for your next hatch. The hatch reports & pictures are fantastic, all those little fuzzy ones are so adorable. Last month brought lots of chicks, goslings & poults; there was even a report & pics of a foul that was born. There are always new "hatchers" joining in, along with many of those that have enjoyed the hatch-a-longs before.

I'm still hanging out on the 'MAY HATCH-A-LONG come join in' until the hatch posts are done for the month https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=331817&p=1 & will be checking in here to see what's happening til June comes along. I have some eggs due to hatch on May 28th, can hardly wait. It's always exciting, no matter how many times you set eggs.

Just try & relax everyone, enjoy the process & let Nature take it's course. Candle when necessary, open the incubator as little as possible & don't open in "lockdown." It all gets easier with experience. Such a miracle!

If you're hatching or not, come on & join in for another month's hatch-a-long for JUNE, we all enjoy the support! Happy hatching everyone!! You can't help but smile when you see those little 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--
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*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, 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

Have hatches set so far for June 1st and 6th with more eggs coming.

I know I signed up on another hatch-along for June, too.

I love that you have all this info on the first post. Makes it so easy to find help.

May hatches were not so good, but June is going to be my comeback month!

I'm in the other June as well but what he heck. Have buff orps due June 5th and today my banty salmon fav eggs are being shipped so some time toward the end of June on those!!

I have 18 turkeys due 6/19 and 7 Silver Penciled Rocks, 5 Golden Cuckoo Marans, 16 BCMs and 6 BCM/BLCMs so 32 total in one incubator and I'm waiting for a shipment of GCMs and Ameraucaunas this is my last hatch until fall.... as I have way too many though I'm raising some to eat and out of all the hatches there will be some roos that I will not use and I have some hens sold but still chicken math or not it adds up to over 100....and I want to cull down to 50 I only have 6 pens...and to think when I started this I didn't want more than 30 there are too many beautiful birds on this site. I'm always wanting to try something new

I would like to join. I have 8 blue Orpingtons in my brinsea. This is my second hatch. I candled on day 8 and all seemed to be developing. These are shipped eggs from a fellow byc member. Nothing out of the ordinary just waiting. They should hatch June 3rd. I hope to get some nice blues. I plan on ordering more eggs right after my hatch. Good luck to all the

Can I join? I have 6 of my Buff Brahma eggs in the incubator that are due june 11th!!

I set 10 Barred Rock and 1 BBS Orpington in the incubator on May 22 Due to hatch June 12th (I hope). these are the shipped eggs.
I have also seperated my Hens so I will have Light Brahma and Light Brahma x Barred Rocks going into bator #2 later in the week.

I will join in here as well. I have 11 BRxEE and 1 Black-Tailed White Japanese under my BR broody due June 4th and 15 Black-Tailed White Japanese under my BTWJ broody due June 12th.

I have 16 silkie and 12 sl polish eggs that will be due June 14th if all goes well. It's my first time incubating chicken eggs so keep your fingers crossed for me.

for mlove! Good luck on the eggs! These two broody girls are my first ever and I have never incubated so I am beyond nervous.

I just candled my eggs this evening from both broody girls and have found that my BR broody is still in the game with all of her eggs and my Bantams have lost one due to a blood ring, one questionable which is still in the nest and 13 developing!