The 7th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long!

Am I the only one who sings Happy Birthday to my chicks when they hatch LOL

I keep seeing all the babies pictures and wondering if I am just that crazy person or if other people do too LOL

My new candling light came in today. It'll light up a brown egg in the middle of the day, so I'm happy with it so far. The true test will be after eggs are set.

My hens have decided to be laying machines. I even got an egg from one of my Andalusians and silkies. I'm hoping that a few of the eggs I've collected so far are pure Chantecler. I haven't managed to get an undamaged egg from my FBCM. I want at least one to set. One pen is almost up to 100%, but I'm still waiting for most of my pullets to start laying. If everyone starts laying I'll have eggs coming out my ears.

aplynn said:

Am I the only one who sings

Happy Birthday

to my chicks when they hatch LOL

I keep seeing all the babies pictures and wondering if I am just that crazy person or if other people do too LOL

Click to expand...

I don't sing "happy birthday" (although i might start now....). I say "Welcome to the world Little (hopefully) girl!" to each and every little one

So far my pre easter HOL hatch has been a success one baby on day 19. I've never had one this early!

Ok so i'm really liking my LG incubator( the one i got off the local swap shop). It keeps temps really well and does OK with humidity during the first 18 days. BUT, I don't like the tiny viewing windows and it won't keep humidity for lock down with the plugs out. Had 5 out of 6 of my test hatch make it and NO curled toes which is a first for me. SO, i will be using my own DIY coolerbator for hatching from now on. I think between the two i should do well. Here's hoping anyway. Looks like i will have to set some eggs a little early. I got some BBS Eng Orpington eggs from Lot's A Clucking farms and the oldest were laid on the 16th and i don't want to risk viability by waiting too long. But i have more eggs on order so i will have some for the EHAL. So everything is copasetic at this time. Subject to change at any time of course.

ToddQ said:

Ok I have a broody Australorp who has been sitting on her golfballs for a week now, night and day. I also have 28 eggs in the incubator on day 8. I would like to place a few under my hen doring the last week, but need to figure out how and when to move her nest so it isn't 4 feet off the ground. I have had a lot of suggestions, but would like to hear what and when has worked best for the greatest chicken farmers in the world here at BYC.

Click to expand...

Missed this post, sorry about that.

I've had terrible luck trying to move broodies before they have babies. So I quit trying. I let them sit and hatch babies where ever they choose to sit. Once most of the chicks have hatched, I move the hen and chicks at night to a more private location within view of the flock. They don't freak out when they have babies to take care of.

mallory2013 said:

So far my pre easter HOL hatch has been a success

one baby on day 19. I've never had one this early!

Click to expand...

Congrats!

-Kathy

Happy Chooks said:

Missed this post, sorry about that.

I've had terrible luck trying to move broodies before they have babies. So I quit trying. I let them sit and hatch babies where ever they choose to sit. Once most of the chicks have hatched, I move the hen and chicks at night to a more private location within view of the flock. They don't freak out when they have babies to take care of.

Click to expand...

He says she's nesting about 4 feet off the ground. I'm thinking he's concerned about chicks falling.

mallory2013 said:

So far my pre easter HOL hatch has been a success

one baby on day 19. I've never had one this early!

Click to expand...

Some breeds hatch early--or maybe the temp was a bit high on average.

The important thing is healthy chicks!

chattery41 said:

He says she's nesting about 4 feet off the ground. I'm thinking he's concerned about chicks falling.

Click to expand...

Kelly knows best!

One of the quickest ways to break a broody is to move them to a different nest box. They become fixated on that nest box and really freak out if you move them from it.