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

[ronott1]

Day 17 candling. The last time I candled all 32 of them was day 14 and everyone looked good with detectable movement in most. Tonite I found two that were not filling up the eggs, missing veins, seemed to be loose/floppy when I moved them, and there was floaty debris inside. I finished candling the others and tucked them back in, then tried again to look for movement. Nothin'.

I put them into ziplocks and cracked the shells. They were so tiny! One was 2 inches long, and the other 1.5 inches long. They had cute little beaks and big bulgy dark eyes. Compared to the sizes I saw candling tonite, I think they died days ago. One was a RIR x production red and the other was a RIR x mystery, both from my own flock.

Which is just crazy! I have culled 3 of 12 eggs from my own flock...and NONE of the 21 that DMRippy shipped me from across the country in Tennessee!

My 13yo dd didn't want to see them, then changed her mind and took a quick peek.

Of the 30/33 I have left, most were active movers. It is so cool to see how much space they have taken up in the shells...about 2/3 of the eggs are shadows with cute beaks and feets at the top. The one with the egg cell on the center/side of the egg...I figured out what was wrong. It is in an egg that is shaped the same on top AND bottom, so it has been upside down (I couldn't tell until tonite), and I don't think it will make it. It is moving, but is WAY smaller than the others. I almost culled it just so it wouldn't go thru the hard work of hatching and still not make it, but decided to let nature take it's course. Not for me to decide! I named that one Milagro...because I have said since day 1 it will be a miracle if it survives!

My favorites are my two green eggs...RIR x EEs...already named Birdbrain and Green Bean (I candle them nightly so I can talk to them).

If my family had any doubts before...they don't now. I am the cray-cray chicken lady!

That is great news!

Be careful from here on out--Movement will not be seen any more so do not use that for culling.

 

[Mypeeps2013]

If they were to die, I'd feel so guilty I'd swear I'd never incubate again. Then I'd come to my senses...and just stay up for 72 hours straight so it wouldn't happen again!!

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

 

[JLaw]

Not sure if this is my final count yet - Nell has not abandoned the nest and the final 3 eggs. I cannot believe how well she did with 12 shipped eggs and a day with temps over 44C (112F)!!
My super broody Nell with her new chickies!!!

talking about a momma to keep. take her inside and let her rest in some ac when she's raised them.

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

This is my final count - she has moved them all downstairs now.
So 12 (shipped) eggs set, 8 hatched as shown in the photo - 66.6% hatch rate.

Of the unhatched eggs - one was eaten before day 7. Of the 3 left: - 2 had visible air pockets - when opened seemed to just be yolk with no developed chick - the last one did not seem to have an air pocket and had a small embryo approx day 5-7 quitter.

My favorite has to be the little white one hiding behind Nell - close up below!

They are all absolute miracles given the weather they had to endure. I am over the moon

 

[carriebain]

This is my final count - she has moved them all downstairs now. So 12 (shipped) eggs set, 8 hatched as shown in the photo - 66.6% hatch rate. Of the unhatched eggs - one was eaten before day 7. Of the 3 left: - 2 had visible air pockets - when opened seemed to just be yolk with no developed chick - the last one did not seem to have an air pocket and had a small embryo approx day 5-7 quitter. My favorite has to be the little white one hiding behind Nell - close up below! They are all absolute miracles given the weather they had to endure. I am over the moon e

Very cute! Congrats! I like the white one too!

 

[Penny Hen]

Wow, Penny your DP is amazing!!!
Who painted it? Is it of a French Wheaten Marans?

I don't know. I would credit the artist if I could but I can't remember what site I got the image from. Hazards of chemo-brain. I believe it is a Cochin though. Just seems to round to be a Marans but I may be wrong. I really need to paint my Long John Silver and replace it. I feel a bit guilty using it and not being able to tell anyone who this amazing artist is. So I will just have o paint my own.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Ok so I've crunched numbers. Looks like with rebuilding the flock and still need to raise a new meat flock we will have a slow year and aim to hatch about 900 eggs. Mixed chicken bantam turkey and duck.

 

[BoereMeisie]

This is my final count - she has moved them all downstairs now.
So 12 (shipped) eggs set, 8 hatched as shown in the photo - 66.6% hatch rate.

Of the unhatched eggs - one was eaten before day 7. Of the 3 left: - 2 had visible air pockets - when opened seemed to just be yolk with no developed chick - the last one did not seem to have an air pocket and had a small embryo approx day 5-7 quitter.

My favorite has to be the little white one hiding behind Nell - close up below!

They are all absolute miracles given the weather they had to endure. I am over the moon

Congrats!! They are adorable!!!

 

[carriebain]

Ok so I've crunched numbers. Looks like with rebuilding the flock and still need to raise a new meat flock we will have a slow year and aim to hatch about 900 eggs. Mixed chicken bantam turkey and duck.

900!!!!! I can get maybe 75 in between both bators. It would take me 10 months to fill your chick order! What breed of chickens are you looking for?

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

My bator (its in my sig, ultra-bator) the way its set up now can hold 300 plus. Everything listed in my sig plus ee's, barnevelders, lavender and buff orps, leghorns, silkies. At this point that's just a guideline. Im open to most any breeds