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

[bantambury]

9 days left for me...... sat eggs 12/10 at 9 pm. of the 3 Tolbunt Polish, culled one-blood ring. 2 SFH's going strong. 2 Jubilee Orpingtons, 1 is for sure a light bulb, culling tonight, other is a maybe.
My first hatch every. I have hand raised all 14 of my current flock and have not had a loss yet. KNOCK ON WOOD. Preparing myself that the hatch maybe difficult. Had a nightmare last night that my incubator went wonky and temperature raised to 200 degrees. eggs cracked and cooked inside the incubator. HORRIBLE DREAM! The anxiety and anticipation is clearly getting to me. anyone else?

Oh yes...I'm not having the nightmares like you, but I'm so afraid I did something wrong, since this is my first hatch as well. I had issues with humidity in the beginning, and the air cells are still smaller than they should be (I started my eggs 12/12 at 1:30 p.m.) at this stage. I'm also paranoid that they'll start to hatch while I'm sleeping and one will need help, but I'll be oblivious and it will die.

I keep having nightmares.....I had one where my brother threw all eggs down the stairs.

my last hatch attempt was under a broody, and she hurt every chick except for Cadbury. one chick had its entire egg pecked off before it had even pipped. two others had been pecked on the head and bled and my other had its pip crushed in my the hen.


im hoping this hatch will go smoother than I expect......im too paranoid.



im turning 14 in 2 days.....but sill. im a first time hatcher, and these chicks are my very own. my sister has a BYC and doesn't bother with chickens that much. my parents know relly almost nothing about them. everything I have learned are from you all......THANKS!


so.....im on day 9. 7 silkies growing.....6 OEs.....I have 15 still in my bator, but 2 are possible clears. PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS HATCH GO WELL IN 9 DAYS!

hahahahh

my friend thought lightning had done her hair! LOL

 

[msladyhawke]

I just skipped 2 days worth of posts. Went & looked at a house yesterday. Put the deposit on it & will be moving right after New Year's. We are renting for a couple months until JJ's settlement comes then will be buying. If we take all the land available it will be almost 3.5 acres. Most is nice & flat. A lot has been cleared. There are several buildings & shelters that can be converted to coops. Looks like I will be back to hatching very soon too. The girls have decided the strike is over.

What good news. Congrats.

 

[ronott1]

Oh yes...I'm not having the nightmares like you, but I'm so afraid I did something wrong, since this is my first hatch as well. I had issues with humidity in the beginning, and the air cells are still smaller than they should be (I started my eggs 12/12 at 1:30 p.m.) at this stage. I'm also paranoid that they'll start to hatch while I'm sleeping and one will need help, but I'll be oblivious and it will die.

You have plenty of time if you have to help.

Read this

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

You will be fine!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
im hoping this hatch will go smoother than I expect......im too paranoid.



im turning 14 in 2 days.....but sill. im a first time hatcher, and these chicks are my very own. my sister has a BYC and doesn't bother with chickens that much. my parents know relly almost nothing about them. everything I have learned are from you all......THANKS!


so.....im on day 9. 7 silkies growing.....6 OEs.....I have 15 still in my bator, but 2 are possible clears. PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS HATCH GO WELL IN 9 DAYS!


..

Good luck to you.
Take a deep breath, make sure the power is on and they don't get thrown down the steps.
Try to think about something else and before you know it, you'll have more chickens.

 

[JLaw]

thank you for.the info! I think ill try fermenting, would you have to cover the bucket? And is there anything that will promote the fermentation or just the water and feed will ferment? I feel like you would need a lack of oxygen so it ferments and doesnt mold...
also what probiotic do you use? I have a probios powder for my goats, could that be used? or can i use the probiotic from TSC?

You have to let it vent some at least. DO NOT SEAL THE CONTAINER TIGHT!!! Some one tried to make a small batch in a jar and when they opened it up made a nice mess. As the feed breaks down and ferments it produces gasses. I use a paint mixer to mix mine like once a day. Keep water over the top of your feed. It helps keep mold from growing. This is the paint mixer I use and it really mixes the feed up good. Now as for what to add and how to do feed. All I do is add my feed and scratch together and add water with some acv with mother.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You have to let it vent some at least. DO NOT SEAL THE CONTAINER TIGHT!!! Some one tried to make a small batch in a jar and when they opened it up made a nice mess. As the feed breaks down and ferments it produces gasses. I use a paint mixer to mix mine like once a day. Keep water over the top of your feed. It helps keep mold from growing. This is the paint mixer I use and it really mixes the feed up good. Now as for what to add and how to do feed. All I do is add my feed and scratch together and add water with some acv with mother.

Thanks. Good info.
I heard of a sealed glass container exploding.
I once put my lid on tight on the 5 gal. food grade bucket and the lid bulged like a balloon.

 

[bantambury]

Good luck to you.
Take a deep breath, make sure the power is on and they don't get thrown down the steps.
Try to think about something else and before you know it, you'll have more chickens.

ok! thanks! hahaha ill make sure they don't get thrown down the steps!

 

[JLaw]

Thanks. Good info.
I heard of a sealed glass container exploding.
I once put my lid on tight on the 5 gal. food grade bucket and the lid bulged like a balloon.

yeah its just like when you leave apple juice that's been opened and then resealed will ferment and blow out the bottle. I personaly don't cover mine at all but mine is in my kitchen. I'm restarting mine tomorrow I used the last of my pellet feed I had from tsc cause I ran out of my feed mill food and I don't like the smell of the water now so going to restart. You don't want a funky rotten smell or an alcohol smell. It should smell like a sour dough smell.

 

[chickengirl1193]

I doubt it would be necessary to add more protein to that for layers unless the egg production drops. good point

You have to let it vent some at least. DO NOT SEAL THE CONTAINER TIGHT!!! Some one tried to make a small batch in a jar and when they opened it up made a nice mess. As the feed breaks down and ferments it produces gasses. I use a paint mixer to mix mine like once a day. Keep water over the top of your feed. It helps keep mold from growing. This is the paint mixer I use and it really mixes the feed up good. Now as for what to add and how to do feed. All I do is add my feed and scratch together and add water with some acv with mother.

Okay thanks for all these great tips! I'm going to start with getting a pickle bucket from the restaurant my bf works at cuz that's safe to use right? and I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

If yall want true control over your incubation environment ill post the specs to my ultra-bator and some pics once I move it in the house. As for all of you concerned with opening your incubators: hens do get off the nest. Eggs do get cooled down and hatch just fine. We have lost power for 10 hours during incubation more then once and temps fell into the 70s. Still had 90+% hatch rate. Heck some incubators have programmed in cooling cycles