4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[coldupnorth]

Look what Mother Nature brought us. It was only 4-5 inches so it was very workable, but it sure made everything pretty. It wasn't that cold today either; I think we got into the upper 20s.

*I've got most of my eggs ready to set on Tuesday. Mostly my mixes because most of my pures are not laying or in the case of my Orps, my roo is still too young to manage his girls. I've got some Appenzeller Spitzhauben over a Frizzle, AS mix and another mutt hen. Some eggs from my frizzled EE hen (she's with a Gold Brabanter). My splash Araucana has a bunch of different girls to choose from (all together for winter) and my mixed color pen of Silkies. I figured if I can get some pullets out of the chicks, I will be in good shape in the spring. Maybe a little crazy to over-winter them - but aren't we all!

 

[cochins1088]

Look what Mother Nature brought us. It was only 4-5 inches so it was very workable, but it sure made everything pretty. It wasn't that cold today either; I think we got into the upper 20s.

We ended up with about 12 inches of snow! It was a great day for snowmobiling, but the county roads never got plowed so we were snowed in and I unable to preform my flute solo...

For eggs, I may only be setting the buff barred cochin bantam eggs. I was supposed to get a bunch of eggs from a friend, but I'm only able to contact her through facebook (I don't have her phone number) and she hasn't contacted me saying they are available, or responded to any of my messages for the past week. Still hoping, but something tells me it's just not going to happen.

 

[coldupnorth]

We ended up with about 12 inches of snow! It was a great day for snowmobiling, but the county roads never got plowed so we were snowed in and I unable to preform my flute solo...

For eggs, I may only be setting the buff barred cochin bantam eggs. I was supposed to get a bunch of eggs from a friend, but I'm only able to contact her through facebook (I don't have her phone number) and she hasn't contacted me saying they are available, or responded to any of my messages for the past week. Still hoping, but something tells me it's just not going to happen.

Snowmobiling would have been fun today. I spent the day working on Christmas stuff in the house, but the snow certainly got me in the mood.

- Sorry you had to miss your flute solo. I was very surprised that they plowed our road this afternoon, it usually take them a long time.

 

[cochins1088]

Snowmobiling would have been fun today. I spent the day working on Christmas stuff in the house, but the snow certainly got me in the mood.

- Sorry you had to miss your flute solo. I was very surprised that they plowed our road this afternoon, it usually take them a long time.

Snowmobiling was great, especially since we were unable to last year. The only snow we had lasted 2 days, so the snowmobiles remained in the shed all last winter. It was great to get them going again. We got all of our christmas stuff up last week, it's amazing how it changes the mood of the house. I hardly thought about christmas at all until we got the decorations up, and now it's all thats on my mind (next to the hatch along of course), hahaha.

 

[Feike]

need help....what is the ideal humidity in and around the incubator in a high elevation mainly dry area?
Have had trouble hatching, except in the spring time...

 

[cochins1088]

need help....what is the ideal humidity in and around the incubator in a high elevation mainly dry area?
Have had trouble hatching, except in the spring time...

Ok, there are no perfect ideal percentages that everyone should follow. To figure out the ideal humidity in your area during the current season, you need to compare air cell sizes. I'll attach a reference photo of air cell development. If on day 7, air cells are too large, increase your humidity levels. If the air cells are too small, decrease your humidity levels. If they are correct, then continue on with your current percentage level. Do the same on the 14th and 18th day. If air cells are too small at the time of hatching, the humidity was too high and the chicks may drown. If air cells are too large at the time of hatching, the humidity was too low and they may be unable to get into hatching position causing them to suffocate so it's important you get it right. Good Luck!

The following pictrue was found on google images.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We have White Orpington and some homemade Easter Eggers set to start hatching December 27. Not New Years day, but close!

 

[Pele]

Well, I'm torn. We just had a terrible, heartbreaking hatch where my cheap Hovabator spiked temp and all the chicks died save one. The one that did hatch had a horrific injury that made us put her down out of mercy. I'm so discouraged, and feel responsible for her misery/condition.

My husband says that he got me a Brinsea for Xmas, which I'm sure will yield a much better hatch, but I don't know if I want to even incubate for a while.

 

[SilkieSensation]

YIKES! I leave town for the weekend & come back to 31 pages of posts. I didn't even try to catch up.

 

[coldupnorth]

Well, I'm torn. We just had a terrible, heartbreaking hatch where my cheap Hovabator spiked temp and all the chicks died save one. The one that did hatch had a horrific injury that made us put her down out of mercy. I'm so discouraged, and feel responsible for her misery/condition.

My husband says that he got me a Brinsea for Xmas, which I'm sure will yield a much better hatch, but I don't know if I want to even incubate for a while.

I'm so sorry that this happened. It can be so disheartening for sure but don't give up hope in hatching. Even people who have the best equipment and hatch all the time have some bad/sad hatches when something unexpected comes up. The Brinsea should give you a good amount of little fuzzy-butts.