4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[Sally Sunshine]

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I so hope I can donate some prizes!!! COME ON CHICKENS and Breeder PENS!!! Easter may be too soon though

Is there a summer Freedom hatchalong at all??

BTW I can help do something if you need me next time instead of posting everyone out?
Lord Knows I have the time!! Well I do now anyway LOL

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

 

[LoneStarHen]

I didn't get my incubator loaded until the 15th, my kiddo had the flu

Peeping started last night and I see a couple of pips! I love hatching day!

 

[RavenWood]

Raven..that baby does look like a maran doesn't it? I know my friend has one rooster left after a dog attack, an Australorp, with a lot of red sex link hens. I think..he has a barred rock hen too.
I was thinking that it looked like a marans, and thought I need to ask him if he has one, or had one before the attack. I got the eggs before 10 days were up since the attack. So, what ever he had..I just don't recall a Marans.
Cute baby.

You never know eh! They could look entirely different when their true plumage comes in.

You could always put tile on the bottom so everything just wipes out. That also makes it so you can mop or spray it out if need be.

That is a great idea. I had considered it earlier on, then reconsidered when I saw the tin pan idea, but now that I think about it, the peel/stick tiles could go higher up the sides making it much better for cleaning. I just might do that after all. Might still do the tin pan though!

I am cleaning the coop and run today...got the hen house done yesterday! Looking forward to a nice upper 60's day and sunshine here in AZ.

Hmm, are you reading my today's to do list? LOL No sunshine or warmth here though - Vanderhoof, BC is sporting overcast, snowy and -13 celcius.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Bad post

 

[Feike]

I haven't been able to keep up with this thread, my computer has been down for 2 weeks and over 6000! unread messages...so what did I miss? who won the contests ....finally yesterday I had two hatch, wondering how many more hatched since I have some days off and the incubator is @ the nursing home I've to give them a call to find out...

 

[Bettacreek]

People are nuts. The sad thing is that PETA wastes donation money on this type of antic, instead of actually saving animals.

 

[RavenWood]

My two chicks spent their first night in the brooder and are doing great this am : )
Excellent news!

My TOP TEN take aways from this hatch for me are:

1)Don't expect maran or maran x eggs until day 22 or 23, just don't even think about it and certainly don't worry prior to that.
(my only 100% natural hatched chick was pure maran out at 9pm day 23! NEVER peeped, piped to hatched in under 2 hrs.
I would fully concur on this in addition to saying (as you did earlier) these are probably not the best breed to hatch for the first timer.

2)For colored eggs - it is essential to put them in lockdown (unless smelly or oozing) no mater how dead you think they are via candle
(my only 100% naturally hatched chick, the surviving pure maran was from an egg I wrote down as dead on day 17 candle!)
Another very good point.

8) In addition to everything you need for the eggs & chicks, when incubating one needs also : Tissues, fav. adult beverage or personal equivalent, ice cream, chocolate; failure to have these on hand will certainly lead to needing them!
Indeed. I cried over my lost unlucky #13. To have it come all the way to hatch state and then not make it out all because I was overzealous about taking out chicks, and egg shells, or to candle it ... well, it's just sad. I was glad to have chocolate and a lot of Bailey's in my coffee yesterday.

& MOST IMPORTANT
10) Never incubate alone, (esp. your first time) you MUST for your own sanity be on BYC, nothing else will help as much or make the inevitable worry, confusion and questions tolerable like being in a hatch-along on BYC
I also had all my Facebook friends hatching along with me as I gave regular reports and ran a hatch-cam that everyone seemed to love! This is definitely most important!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS A PART OF THIS NYD Hatchalong, even if you never posted, THANKS for being one of the 250 or so that I knew were in this with me, and to all those who read my saga, and esp. those who interacted w/ me
I wish you excellent chicken karma and great hatches in 2013 !
Same to you my new friend, same to you! I've got a line on some Pekin ducks for spring! Whoot!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

People are nuts. The sad thing is that PETA wastes donation money on this type of antic, instead of actually saving animals.

I just dont understand that way of thinking! it frustrates me thinking about it I would love to see where all that money does go!! ugggg

 

[farmerChef]