3rd Annual New Year's Day Hatch!!

[craz e laid e]

Quote:
I have heard putting an ice pack under their bums.

The only problem with that is they keep moving to whichever nest boxes have eggs. If I put ice packs in all of the nest boxes, where are all of the laying hens going to lay?

I don't really care at this point if they are broody, I just don't want them to get sick and I don't want them hatching any eggs at this time.

 

[wolftracks]

I've been so busy I forgot to lockdown some eggs. I came home yesterday to a chick and 2 pips. Tonight I have 5 out and maybe another 2 viable eggs left. Not touching that bator. I did a dry hatch and didn't add water even after the first chick was out and they're hatching. Might have to forget more often, cause they're hatching and healthy.

 

[craz e laid e]

Quote:
So sorry about your eggs. I could send you 4 broody hens if you like, but that won't replace all of the eggs you lost.

 

[GreenGoddess]

And then there were 22... I came home from the part time job and again when I turned the eggs, I started to smell "IT"....

I pretty much knew which one it was but went ahead and candled all of them to make sure I didn't miss any... I had 1 rotting egg, 2 definite blood rings, 2 definite clears and one viable that I dropped!

There are 22 left and of those 22, 19 look great!! There are 3 that I am unsure about so I went ahead and kept them in there.. I *think* they are clears but we shall see...

Goddess

 

[Dingo]

I'm down to 11 chicken eggs, of which I still believe only one is developing. The 12th egg was bumped during candling and cracked, I did an eggtopsy and it wasn't developing anyway so no real loss.
The quail all look good, even the ones that came from the fridge look like they have veins.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Quote:
I'll do my best to answer:
I had a broody EE that finally hatched out 15 weeks later. She was disgustingly skeletal and each night I'd bring her into the garage where she got 1-2 scrambled eggs, some 22% protein feed and some BOSS for calories. Now THAT made for some fantastic broody poops.

You could put chicks under your broodies if they've been broody at least 2 weeks or so. Most will accept young chicks if you put them under them at night when it's dark. Some won't, though. I would have a separate pen for them, I made that mistake before. Some of those cages you saw in my coop had wire holes big enough for chicks to escape. I had chicks running out of their cages, seeing a new mom and hanging out with them. That caused all kinds of broody discontent. If they don't have separate pens I've found the moms fight, too and try to kill the others chicks.

My Patent-Pending method for chick integration? I wait until they're about 6 weeks old, then one night I throw them into the coop on the roost. Because there's usually so many of them, not one in particular gets picked on. I also let everyone out as early as sunup every day, so they're not cooped up. My run is big, so the new chicks have plenty of room to get away from the old meanies.

As far as free ranging, I wait a bit, a few days to a week before doing that. My chicks can hardly figure out how to get back INTO the coop let alone back into the run and then into the coop. In fact I still have seasoned veteran hens that fly out of the run and then spend all day running circles around the run trying to figure out how to get in.

That's my pre-6 AM, pre-caffeine $0.02

 

[superchemicalgirl]

If you're running a contest and need to clarify your contest or have me add/remove/edit something about it... PM me! Thanks.

Mahonri's 3rd Annual BYC New Years Day Hatch Contests:

1. Guess the Number of Total Eggs Set:
For this contest, participants will be guessing the total number of eggs set by all participants (according to the spreadsheet). Your guess must be in the spreadsheet by 10 December 2011. Eggs set will be calculated by Laree on 12 December 2012, and winner will be announced.
Prize: 6 month GFM sponsored by BYC/Nifty!
WINNER: dadsdeercamp was closest to the answer: 3416 (HOLY MOLY!)

2.How many of Mahonri's eggs will Laree, Meg & Mahonri Hatch?
Mahonri is up to starting with 93 eggs. Laree has 36. Meg will get that many tomorrow!
Guess the number that will hatch out of those eggs and the first three breeds out.
The Eggs
30 Icelandics
6 FBCMs
8 Olive eggers
10 Polish
7 Swedish Flower Hens
14 Bargain EEs w/ Lavendar Am roo!
20 W/BW Ams
Prize: 6 month GFM courtesy of Mahonri

Fill out the form with your answer here :

See responses here.

3. RareBreedFancier's First Chick Hatched After Midnight on New Years Local Time
So, the plan is for most or all of us to put the eggs in at NOON (Local time) on Sunday 11 December 2011. Obviously this is an honor system contest. We are using the atomic clocks for our own LOCAL TIME. When your first chick is completely out of the shell AFTER MIDNIGHT, *12:00:00AM on the 1st of January, 2012 you take a pic of it IN THE BATOR if possible and then you go to your computer and take a pic of the time on the Atomic Clock, posted below, of the time where you are. We are setting at noon our time in each time zones because there will be early hatchers... there always are one or two in a hatch that pop out early. We hope by starting at NOON that gives us a better chance of not having too many hatch on the 31st thus putting them out of the 1st chick hatched for 2012 contest.
Here is the web clock we all need to use to syncronize our computers: http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java - it's close to within 2 seconds AND you will probably have to change the time zone, but it's easy.
Prize: 6 month GFM courtesy of RareBreedFAncier!

4. Guess the Total Number of Chicks Hatched:
For this contest, participants will be guessing the total number of chicks hatched from all the eggs set by the participants (according to the spreadsheet). Your guess must be in the spreadsheet by 12 December 2012. Total number of chicks hatched will be calculated by Laree on 7 January 2012. The person with the closest guess wins! Make sure to update the spreadsheet with your total number of chicks hatched for an accurate count!
Prize: 6 month GFM sponsored by BYC/Nifty!

5. Best Overall Hatch Participant
PM your one vote for the overall best hatch participant to Mahonri by 11:59:59 MST 5 January 2012. He will tally up the votes and announce the winner.
Prize: 6 month GFM sponsored by Mahonri!

6. Sumatra503's Cutest Chick Hatched Photo Contest
Entries will be accepted between 1/1/12 and 1/10/12, one entrant per hatcher. Chicks in the picture submission must be chicks hatched during the 3rd Annual NYD Hatch. The Contest Winner will be decided via poll so that everyone can help decide the winner. The winner is the chick that has the most votes from the users and is deemed the Cutest New Chick.
Prize: An adorable chick plush toy

7. Tazcat70's Best Hatch Rate Contest
To be eligible for this contest you must set at least 36 eggs as referenced in the original Laree spreadsheet and added to that spreadsheet by you (Mr or Mrs [or Miss or Dr] Hatch Participant) by 15 December 2011. You will self report your hatch rate on Laree's end of contest spreadsheet by 3 January 2012. You may be asked for a confirmation chick picture.
Prize: Coupon for 2$ off any Manna Pro Product, expires 1 April 2012 (because you're going to need all the help you can get on feed costs!)

8. Worst Hatch Rate
To be eligible, you must set at least 20 eggs. You also MUST post a picture of your set incubator on this thread by 11:59:59 EST Monday 12 December 2012 with the number shown matching what's on the Laree spreadsheet on the 1st post. Laree will be adding a column to the spreadsheet for what you've tossed after candling. You will also need to post a picture of your incubator with eggs set minus eggs tossed at candling (per spreadsheet) and a picture of the chicks you hatched, if any. Contest ends 3 January 2012, 11:59:59 EST. Sorry, we know it's a lot of hoops but we want to make sure it does truly go to the person most deserving.
Prize: A dozen eggs, shipping included from The Garry Farm (Bargain).

9. Kathyinmo's Calendar Photo Contest
Best calendar quality HOLIDAY photo. Judges will be BYC folks who are not in the NYD hatch. No names will be submitted with the photos; just numbers. *OPEN TO HATCHERS AND NON-HATCHERS ALIKE*
Rules are:
1. Photo must contain poultry; either adult or chicks. (Prefer photos without humans.)
2. Photo must be your own, not from someone or somewhere else.
3. Photo must be holiday related..... ANY holiday.... Christmas, Mother's Day, Halloween, Easter, Valentines Day, etc....
4. Please note which month your calendar quality photo should be published on.
5. Limit 3 entries per person; though each must be for a different holiday.
6. PM Kathyinmo with your entry "HOLIDAY calendar contest," in the subject line, as well as post it on this thread.
7. Open NOW through 3 January 2012, 11:59:59 EST.
See entries here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=31282-holiday-calendar-contest
Prize: $20 BYC store gift certificate

10. SuperChemicalGirl's Caption That Photo Contest WEEK ONE CONTEST
SCG will post a photo on this thread for you to use your wit/humor to caption, add thought bubbles or an explanation of the situation (like a "Far Side" cartoon). You may photoshop the picture but the original content of the photo must remain the same. Keep it PG, folks, but make us laugh! Submissions similar to previously submitted entries will not be accepted. Photo (with an example that is not used for the contest) was posted on 11 December 2011 - see post 1225. Your submissions must be posted on this thread by 11:59:59 PM EST 18 December 2011 to allow time for judging.
View submissions here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=46869-caption-that-photo-contest-nyd
Prize: One Dozen Eggs (assortment) courtesy of Hot2Pot. Shipping included.

11. Chooks Chick Flapper Contest: WEEK TWO CONTEST
This contest will begin 18 December 2011, and run until 25 December 2011. Post a picture of your flapping chicken or chickens! Get an action shot! Submissions from last years Easter Flapper Contest are not accepted. Entrants will be posted on a poll on BYC and voted on by BYC members.
View submissions here:
Prize: TBD

12. Karimw's Most Colorful Rooster Contest WEEK THREE CONTEST
I'm going to pirate a class from the Paint Horse and Appaloosa shows and go with "Most Colorful Rooster" - it is entirely subjective of course big_smile
Rules:
1. The picture must be a rooster in his natural plumage (no photoshop or dye job lol )
2. The subject does not have to be yours, but the photo must have been taken by you.
3. You may enter only 1 rooster but may include up to 3 pictures of the same bird in order show all his features.
4. Post the picture(s) on this thread and send it to Karimw in a PM
5. The contest will run from December 25 - December 31.
6. I will announce the winner on New Years Day
Prize: 6 month GFM courtesy of Karimw.

13. Tazcat70's New Years Hatch New Years Photo Contest WEEK THREE-ISH CONTEST
Post a picture on the thread of a new years themed picture that deals with anything poultry... confetti, champagne glasses, hats, noise makers - just add poultry... you get the picture. You must take the picture to be eligible. Contest opens 25 December 2011 and closes on 3 January 2012, 11:59:59 EST. Post pictures on the thread. *OPEN TO HATCHERS AND NON-HATCHERS ALIKE* Any volunteers to collect the photos off the thread and make a poll?
Prize: BYC 2012 Calendar courtesy of Tazcat70!

**A special thank you to everyone who is running a contest and/or offered a prize**

If you want to run a contest or have a great idea for one, let me know. We've had multiple contests going on each week or contests that run throughout the entire hatch. If you did not see our Easter Hatch Contests, you may view them at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=447147&p=416 (post 4156)

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Today is the last day to get your CAPTION THAT PHOTO CONTEST entry in.

The Flapper Contest begins today.

Always open: Holiday Calendar Photo. I'm going to dig up some decorations in the basement on my day off this week for that one... Hopefully around that time I have ducks! (Wednesday/Thursday).

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Mclevinson: sorry to hear of your incubator fail!

craz e laid e: That would be something, to hatch more than you set. Chicken math, right?

My humidity dropped to 29 overnight, I've been trying to keep it at 45, it's not dropped that low before. I had trouble with it being too high the first day or so and kept adding tin foil until I got it to 45. I'm using a Hovabator. 45 is correct, right?

 

[champer]

Quote:
I'm so sorry, that must be so frustrating! Are thermostats replacable or do you need a new incubator?