5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[bugglesmommy]

Woohoo

36 of 36. All eggs have veins. I'm excited that I currently have 100% hatch rate but if all do hatch I will be shocked. This is only my 3rd hatch and it seems I always run into problems when it comes to day 21. If this hatch goes all well I will definitely have enough laying hens to supply our egg buying customers again.

That's great!!

That all stays well!

 

[JDchicks]

Congrads!

 

[JDchicks]

Get a Brahma if you want a nice rooster. Mine NEVER attack me.

I totally agree. And mine is a great babysitter for the baby chicks. He will chases off other chickens so the baby chicks can eat.

He is also alot more gentle when breeding, no missing feathers on the hens.

 

[Aphrael]

Lol, figures. Hope they'll turn out purdy.

How long until Zeus' sperm is outta the girl's systems after he is replaced by the EE roo? I wanna know when I'm going to hatch next!!!

I read somewhere recently that it is typically gone in 2 weeks, but could last for up to 4 weeks.

Oh, automatic doors, that would be heavenly LOL - then again, I would miss saying goodnight to them all. So silly, I know.

I have that same issue..

I think that auto doors would be nice, but then I think that I wouldn't get in my nightly head count and health check. So I figure even if I had an auto door I'd be out there every night anyway. Not to mention constantly worrying that someone would get locked out.

I culled my 60 eggs last night, official count is 5 that took. I guess I am out of the running for best hatch rate. O well at least a friend gave me a dozen eggs from his mixed flock and I'll set them tonight.

I asked Santa for a auto door but he told me it was silly and not a "fun" present. He obviously doesn't understand the meaning of fun.

5? Out of 60?!? Ouch.

So sorry. Glad you've got some more to go in.

CC totally understand not being home by dusk, especially this time of year. Last year when DH was still working, the flock was confined to their chain link run unless we were home. This year, he is retired, so I have been very fortunate the nights I get home late that he's been there to check on everyone, collect treat dishes, make sure the waterers are plugged in and the doors are closed and latched. I opted to change my hours instead of my clock when we "fell back" to standard time, so I leave for work at 5:15. I used to go out and open everything up, and one morning he asked why. I told him it was so he didn't have to do it, and he said, "Well you're letting all the cold air into their nice warm coops! I'll open the doors when the sun comes up, you just go to work." LOL I guess I'll keep him

Definitely sounds like a keeper to me!

Just wanted to share my new baby. Going to be growing up with the chicks that hatch

What an adorable little doll!

Woohoo

36 of 36. All eggs have veins. I'm excited that I currently have 100% hatch rate but if all do hatch I will be shocked. This is only my 3rd hatch and it seems I always run into problems when it comes to day 21. If this hatch goes all well I will definitely have enough laying hens to supply our egg buying customers again.

Nice! Grats!

 

[chixmix]

Just happened across this thread, I have a few Black Orps in for New Years, only 3, but 2 are still going. I am new to hatching so I don't do 50 at a time yet haha.

 

[chicken pickin]

I need some great breeding mix ideas for my CL roo. He is just over 10 weeks so it will be at least another 2-3 months before I can use him. But since I lost his mate last night, I want to make the most of the opportunity and get some cool mixed chicks for a layer flock.
Females I have available for a mix are:
Barred Rock,
Dominiques,
Leghorns,
Red Star,
one white EE,
one blue EE.

My first thought was to pair him with the leghorns and second the EEs.

I love CLs, I have 1 roo and 2 pullets. I crossed my roo to SLW and SLC, they make such pretty offspring that are sexlink. The 2 CL x SLC hybrids I kept are GOURGEOUS and nearing point of lay!!!!!! You should check out the Cream Legbar hybrid thread it might give you a few ideas on how to cross your CL roo.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I had visited that thread a while back, but at that time it moved so fast. I'll go back and scan the photos

 

[ronott1]

Just happened across this thread, I have a few Black Orps in for New Years, only 3, but 2 are still going. I am new to hatching so I don't do 50 at a time yet haha.

It is great to have you hatching with us!

Read the first post--great tips and links there.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
also i asked my feed store to order a bag of grower crumbles (because this was the last chance until a week after new years) I believe it is an 18% or 20% feed. Can i feed this to my chicks as well as my 6 month old pullets? I only have 4 pullets right now and i provide calcium for them free choice and i even have to give them extra protein because the 16% feed isnt enough for them. I just didnt want to buy a 50lb bag of starter and have no chicks hatch so i decided that the grower would be better for my pullets just in case.

You can feed grower crumbles to any age bird. If your pullets aren't laying yet they shouldn't be on layer feed.

..

I have that same issue..

I think that auto doors would be nice, but then I think that I wouldn't get in my nightly head count and health check. So I figure even if I had an auto door I'd be out there every night anyway. Not to mention constantly worrying that someone would get locked out.

...

Having the timer set accurately is critical.
You can always do a headcount when they're safe.

 

[chixmix]

You can feed grower crumbles to any age bird. If your pullets aren't laying yet they shouldn't be on layer feed.
Having the timer set accurately is critical.
You can always do a headcount when they're safe.

Wow, ty for the great still air hatching information, it was very helpful. My gf has a cabinet incubator and she does our hatching, I just started trying it so I'm a noob haha.