🍃August Hatch-a-Long🍃

[Colleen556]

Soooo I don't plan it but I have eggs with 2 different hatch dates in the Bator. They're all shipped eggs. The Phoenix's go into lockdown on the 18th and the Deathlayers go into lockdown on the 23rd. The story with the Phoenix's is the seller sent a few replacements because the first set arrived scrambled and of the eight replacements I have three that are developing great but with wobbly air cells. I'll candle the Deathlayers tomorrow but I believe they'll do better there are wobbly air cells but they were packed really well and look much better than the Phoenix's did when I received them.

 

[FortCluck]

3 quail hatched last night while I was making jerky. I’m going to check in a few hours if there are any more.

 

[Melontine]

10 Buff Orpington eggs set late last night with broody hen, due to hatch ~August 30th.


So I've got a persistent broody hen now. She's wanting to try her luck with hatching some eggs and I kind of want to let her. My concern, however, is that summer is nearing its end and we live in Maine.
I gave in to my desire to see more chicks hatch, our last batch with our rooster Stew (he's being culled this winter). I gave the hen 10 eggs to sit on from what I've collected these past few days and they'll be due to hatch around August 30th. Weather should be fine until then at least. But snow can start at almost any time once it's fall. Usually, we have until October or November before winter really hits, but we'll see.

Our Buff Orpingtons have done great in the winters so far, but it'll be a first with chickens so young. It feels kind of risky, like maybe this isn't the best start for young chickens. Now, we do have space indoors to put chickens if needed and we also have a heated coop for our silkies. But we may be cutting it a bit close this time.

This year it feels like I'm trying lots of new things for my flock and I'm really enjoying the experience. First online order, first incubation, first broody, first butchering, so many new skills I've got to practice and I'm getting more and more confident.

 

[Climax]

I am looking to buy an incubator for hatching chicken eggs, pheasant eggs, and duck eggs.
Preferably:
Automatic egg Turner
Accurate thermometer
Forced air
Under 300$
Reasonably good hatch rate

I hope I can join you all for the hatch along next spring

 

[FortCluck]

I am looking to buy an incubator for hatching chicken eggs, pheasant eggs, and duck eggs.
Preferably:
Automatic egg Turner
Accurate thermometer
Forced air
Under 300$
Reasonably good hatch rate

I hope I can join you all for the hatch along next spring

My Farm innovator 4250 was $119 at Tractor Supply. I’ve hatched chickens, ducks, and quail. Hatch rate is usually 90%+ with my homegrown and 80% with shipped eggs which I rarely get unless I’m adding new quail colors.

 

[Climax]

My Farm innovator 4250 was $119 at Tractor Supply. I’ve hatched chickens, ducks, and quail. Hatch rate is usually 90%+ with my homegrown and 80% with shipped eggs which I rarely get unless I’m adding new quail colors.

My Farm innovator 4250 was $119 at Tractor Supply. I’ve hatched chickens, ducks, and quail. Hatch rate is usually 90%+ with my homegrown and 80% with shipped eggs which I rarely get unless I’m adding new quail colors.

Thank you, it sounds like a great incubator. I have a tractor supply near me so I will look into it. Do you also mind sharing how you usually go about hatching eggs; humidity, temperature, etc, and any special actions you take with them to get that high of hatch rate?

 

[FortCluck]

Thank you, it sounds like a great incubator. I have a tractor supply near me so I will look into it. Do you also mind sharing how you usually go about hatching eggs; humidity, temperature, etc, and any special actions you take with them to get that high of hatch rate?

I dry hatch... so I use no water because I’m in a humid area. I just make sure I put it at the right temp and plug in the turner. Then the day of lockdown I candle to see how many make it to lockdown.

I take a laid back approach.

 

[chickiebaby1]

Been terrible sick this week so I didn’t get a chance to update on my babies! I had all 7 of my silky showgirls hatch. First time for 100% hatch rate. I think the reason was because I didn’t mess with them hardly at all. Just kinda let them do their own thing.
I did check my Skywalker Beilefelders Friday (day14) and still had a hat looked like 7 out of 11 still going. So Tuesday should be lockdown for them. I’m just really hoping for at least 2 or 3 girls at this point to add to the 2 girls I hatched last month. Hope everyone else is doing well!

 

[Mvan42]

10 out of 12 for my broody.... one needed a little assist this am. It had a small hole but couldn't get zipped...

 

[Mvan42]

I have a 3 year old hen going broody... never before... anyone have a hen wait so long before going broody?