4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[mstricer]

Hey everyone don't forget to get your guess in for how many the chairs will hatch, you can do so here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/733003/web-site-prize-contest-thread



Also the best broody hen is still going on vote here..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...einz77s-nyd-best-broody-picture#post_10139497


I will be back in a few, I have to lock up my birds.

 

[cmfarm]

I just took a look inside and the eggs don't look so good. Those that where trying to pip and zip are all dried and the rest doen't seem to be pipping or anything. Tomorrow I will help those that need it and see if anyone else desides to hatch. I still can't get the humidity above 35%. I just put in another tray of water and some more sponges to hopefully that will help.

 

[champer]

SHORT STORY CONTEST ENTRY (1,068 word count)

The Love-child Egg; a chicken romance

While you’re all waiting to see who makes it out, I’m gonna tell you about how Egg W came to be, because I’m the proud Papa of that there hatchin egg, at it saved my life!





I hatched a couple years ago in a giant box filled with hundreds of other chicks, then before I even knew what was what I was in a small dark place tumbling along with a couple dozen other boys and girls. Then there was this bright light and my first Thumb, pulled me out and clued me in to food and water, which was quite a relief. Well that first Thumb, he was an Urban Guy so he couldn’t even tell us cockerels from the little ladies and on account of that those Urban turf wars got pretty rough. See my eye, that's the good one, the other eye it only opens half way since the big fight with LeeRoy, and that is when first Thumb started calling me Popeye. I’ve been told chicks dig scars but after LeeRoy busted my chop none of them little ladies ever asked me the time of day. LeeRoy they’d ask, and oh he’d Crow about it practically 24/7, and that is when the trouble started for my Thumb the Urban Guy. Long story short we was all in violation, so again with the box and next thing we know we are all in some way wild place not at all like the city.


At the new place there were some new laws, and a 3 strikes rule, the new Thumb she made it real clear. But that LeeRoy he just couldn’t help himself, next thing we know he’s all over that tiny little Thumb and she’s pulling some mixed martial arts moves just to get away. That's how my bud Cogburn came to be top Roo in the coop, and that was good for a while until it went to his head and I ended up having to roost ruff. I’m not whining, I’m bragging – see none of them silly hens paid me any never mind anyway and half of them feed themselves to the predators in broad daylight. If they’d had the smarts they’d of stuck with me, Popeye, I’d have watched out for ‘em with my one good eye. Ah well life wasn’t so bad, the small Thumb gave me feed every day and I just minded my own business free-ranging all around the barnyard; I was cool.




When summer came a new coop went up and next I know it’s all filled with Spring Chickens and the Bourbon Gals. Them Bourbon Gals was the biggest ugliest birds I’d ever seen but they told me to watch out for Bob, the new cockerel on the block cause he was way protective over his 4 stepsisters. So me, I just minded my own business a little further over in the pasture. It was a pretty good summer but then Cogburn disappeared and rumors started flying about big changes in the barnyard. I need to know more about this freezer camp and them Spring Chickens had grown up down by the Thumb’s coop so I figured I’d cozy up to one of them gals and see what she could tell me.





Well that is how I met Her, Olive Oil, wow was she the perky pullet! She kept asking me for the time, you know, real flirty like an all. We’d sneak out behind the barn for a little grub scratchin but next thing I know Bob would show up and feather would fly. That would get our little Thumb real upset, and I warned Olive Oil, cause she was young and me I’d been around the block and knew about these things. So me, I says Olive Oil, you’re a real pretty pullet, and I’d be mighty happy to keep you company but your step-brother Bob he don’t approve a none of me, and if he keeps upsetting our Thumb the ax is gonna fall if you know what I mean little lady. And that is when it happened, she looked at me with her beautiful eyes and said, “but Popeye your such a swell guy, I’m in love with you and we are gonna have to elope!”. So we made plans and that night she didn’t show for the coop closing and we hid out all night in the barn with Donkey HoeDee and Geni the Jenny, and they didn’t say a word to nobody, which is real cool for equines.





Well the next evening Olive Oil got rounded up by the Thumb at dusk, but she and I managed to slip out a few nights over the fall. Meanwhile I had my ear to the ground and found out from the goats that all us mutt Roos our days were numbered. Bob, and some gals got shipped out in the late fall and the Thumb invited me into the coop with Olive Oil and the Bourbon sisters. Olive Oil was beside herself with joy so I had to break it to her gently that any day now was likely the last meal for this here old bird. And that is when she surprised me again, she is such a smart gal my Olive Oil. She looked me dead in my good eye and she says Popeye, it’s gonna be ok, ‘cause I got a plan to show that Thumb what a great Roo you are. I heard from FarmDog that she is setting some eggs and has come up short so you and me we’re gonna make her an egg and save your life. So we got busy and first thing on the morning of Dec 11, 2012 that Olive Oil love of my life she gave our Thumb an egg. That thumb she was a dancing and singing holding that egg telling Olive Oil how happy she was to have an egg that day. Sure enough not long after she packed Olive Oil and I up in a box and sent us on a honeymoon. We never have heard if our little Love-child has hatched, but we’ve moved into our new place in Alabama where I’m king of the Roost and our new Thumb says me and Olive Oil we get to make lots more chicks to fill up the coop, so isn’t that grand!

Good story, now I want to see what hatches out!

 

[Cynthia12]

Raven, will be watching off and on!

Congrats on all that have babies! Waiting to see more pics. Tomorrow is the day, for most it sounds like. I hope a lot of folks post pictures.

Loving the NN's of course..those babies are cute!

 

[TMNfarm]

I moved my bator upstairs on the kitchen table...

 

[gabrielle1976]

I dont know whats going on with Ustream it wont let me log in or broadcast so I cant put the hatch cam back up till I figure it out hopefully befor the hatch but I have been trying all day and no luck so far.

 

[JulieNKC]

No lake or pond? oh

Mine have kiddie pools too. I wish I had a pond for them, but they are thrilled with even a puddle, lol. My little blue magpie call hen was "bathing" in the snow today even.

I really wish it'd get dark. I need to check air cell sizes and yes, I know I should have done this thorughout incubation. I usually know the correct size, but seeing all of that space left in the eggs last night makes me so nervous. I'll try to take a picture tonight to see what you guys think. Temperatures were spot on, and half of the eggs should have hatched at noon today but I still don't have any pips. (I set some a day early because the eggs were getting old, I set others on the correct date and those are marked so I know which are which)

I am waiting for dark to get a better look at mine too. And patiently sitting on my hands until then, luckily it gets dark early.

I had thought about trying a guinea or two. Are they friendly? Do they make for good eating?

Same here. I want a few, but don't know if they would be too loud. Guess I could always eat them if they don't work out, I need to get some guinea eggs in a few months to hatch I guess.

I just took a look inside and the eggs don't look so good. Those that where trying to pip and zip are all dried and the rest doen't seem to be pipping or anything. Tomorrow I will help those that need it and see if anyone else desides to hatch. I still can't get the humidity above 35%. I just put in another tray of water and some more sponges to hopefully that will help.

It's hard to get humidity up in winter I think. I've been adding and adding water and still can't get mine to where I want it. I ended up plugging in a humidifier in the room where my incubator is so I guess I will see if that helps any.

 

[TMNfarm]

I just looked agian, and I thought I saw one egg move!! Of course, it could be wishful thinking... I also see a dark spot on one of the EE that I don't recall being there before?? Working on pipping??? Maybe????

 

[crissycriss]

YAY Update!!!

S/he has finally got a hole and the egg is cracked about 1 inch.But i dont think shes zipping yet.

 

[crissycriss]

I can hear her in there just a chirping away. Lol