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

[Whoops]

Hatcher already 2 work,,,,,

Do the hatching eggs just sit on the rails? When they hatch, do the chicks fall through? I guess I am confused, but it's probably because I am ignorant. I am very new to this hatching stuff.

 

[Wunjo]

All right everyone. Time for my final present wrapping session of the season. Thank God! Catch you all in the morning, and as much as I love you all I hope I don't wake up to 200 posts to catch up on, lol!

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All this posting by us crazy chicken lovers, makes me think it would be awesome to have a live chat room on here!

 

[insanity]

I keep rats in a tub. We use a baking rack to cover the 6x9 hole in the top and secure it with bolts and large washers at each corner.

 

[bantambury]

No these are all my mutt eggs. The brown eggs are from Golden Star/Redstar/Production red hens. The white as I said earlier are from my brown and white leghorns.

oh! ok! awesome rate though!
keep it up chickies!

Hatcher already 2 work,,,,,

is today your hatch day?

also, is your hatcher out of a fridge?!?!? if so.... GENIUS!

All right everyone. Time for my final present wrapping session of the season. Thank God! Catch you all in the morning, and as much as I love you all I hope I don't wake up to 200 posts to catch up on, lol!

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nite! lol 200 posts later, and you comment......watch you win the random post contest! lol

All this posting by us crazy chicken lovers, makes me think it would be awesome to have a live chat room on here!

AGREED! or a major phone call session! LOL

 

[ronott1]

Question: My incubator (old as dirt) has a metal screen insert...the eggs roll around and don't like to stay put...taking extra time for me to get them in the right position when I turn, which is 5 times a day.

Would it be ok if I put paper towel or a washcloth or something in there on top of the metal, then put the eggs on top of the washcloth/paper towel so they sit still better?

Also, I saw a couple posts about putting the eggs fat end up in egg cartons at lockdown to cut down on the mess that comes along with hatching. Is this a good idea to do? How much mess does hatching chicks make in an incubator?

Finally, I also read that it's ok to keep the first hatched chicks in the bator while the rest are hatching...but no longer than three days because of the yolk. My incubator has a disc that is hot as crap, as well as the metal rods that come out of it. Won't the baby chicks burn their heads on it if they jump????

Cut down egg cartons. They hatch better in them. Hatcheries hatch up right in plastic hatching trays because research has shown that it is the best way.

Candled (yes day11, can't help it massive storms last night so had to wait but HAD to do it today to mark air cells, it is my only humidity info!)

So, of my 49 originally set on Dec11 for NYDH I have _13_which appear alive atm, of those there are some seriously sloshy wonky air cells, which made marking them for humidity way less clear cut than I expected based on prior experience : / , humm so this is interesting...

I have also discovered that the new CL Good King Henry had not fully introduced himself to his green egg laying ladies as of 12/15,
but he has since then as the eggs I set dated later than that have some veins forming, or at least I imagined I saw something in there.
While my original CL Prince continues 100% w/ his ladies, but oddly one of the excellent large brown eggs is an early quit bloodring which is a puzzler <shrug>.

So this candling has raised as many questions as it answered.

Also, I find the bator looking almost half empty, those unwashed eggs by the kitchen sink sure do make me wonder, do I really need an omelet this week? Several girls should start into laying any day/week/month now, so should I wait to test eggs then when I have plenty more or...??

& Finally, so glad the broody hen in OZ has beat the heat (w/ lots of extra care from her human) and we shall be enjoying pics of flufies in that cutest coop of all times soon :>

13 is still good! My Rooster was not working it right away either. Still, it will be nice having Baby chicks again!

Grocery store eggs???
What just store bought eggs?!?!

Cool!
You know they mostly all come out white with maybe a few splash markings. But they are still cute!
How many are you hatching?

The Trader Joes Leghorns are pure white leghorns. The Whole Foods eggs hatch chicks that look like Austra Whites. They have spots on them.

im doing that too. im letting mine hatch in my farmers innovator, and taking all out to the brooder once fluffy.


im with you on the dark, uncandleable eggs. I have OEs......so green. I think I may have only one clear I know of...its a bit lighter, and doesn't have a huge blob like my others have (I think these blobs are chicks!)

ok! thanks!


I agree! thank you everyone! you all are very helpful!

AND a BIG thanks to Ron too for helping organize this for us!!!!

All of you are great!

So wait a second! You can get eggs from the store and they will hatch? And I didn't know some said fertile on them that's sweet I might have to try that Thats real awesome

Yes! There is a thread for it on here. Trader Joes sells fertile leghorn eggs. I hatched two out of a dozen. The dozes cost me less than 4 dollars. It was fun!

 

[bantambury]

I keep rats in a tub. We use a baking rack to cover the 6x9 hole in the top and secure it with bolts and large washers at each corner.

uuuhhhhh.....like......legit rats?

 

[bantambury]

All of you are great!

NP Ron! your the Bomb Diggidy of chickens! lol

 

[ronott1]

I am jumping to the end to announce the winning post for the random post contest. It was post number 4623. If the winner does not want the prize there is a second chance post number. I am waiting to see if Blarney Eggs wants the prize!

 

[AK FLOCK SWAP]

Is there a how to conversion thread for making your hatcher above or did you buy it?

I started right here on this site...https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-egg-incubator-designs-pictures

 

[bantambury]

I am jumping to the end to announce the winning post for the random post contest. It was post number 4623. If the winner does not want the prize there is a second chance post number. I am waiting to see if Blarney Eggs wants the prize!

WOW! congrats Blarney!

I was post 4622......well, that's ok.

those eggs would be great to have though! haha

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great job to everyone once again!