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

[Myfourladies]

I have never lost a chick that has pipped wrong end, and never had to assist one (I know some have, just my experience). Don't get me wrong..it makes me nervous, but they are amazing little buggers. If you believe in the power of prayer..now is the time. I kid you not, I pray constantly through the whole hatch! One night I was assisting a chick in my bedroom in the middle of the night, and DH likes to tell the story that he woke up to the lights blaring and it sounded like a tent revival going on in our bedroom, lol! I get a little worked up over hatching!

I am praying! And he is wiggling. The more he wiggles the more shell falls off, but the membrane is still intact. I am watching him.....and trying to busy myself.

Might make a run to Tractor Farm Supply.

 

[ronott1]

How do I calibrate a digital hygrometer?

I like the way Chickencanoe does it. He puts it outside and then check the humidity for his area. That should be fairly close.

 

[GerbilsOnToast]

So I take it you didn't process all of your freedom rangers? A friend of mine took two of my FR pullets for egg layers and to be company for a lone hen.
I'm curious if they breed true.

Actually, didn't plan to... my curiosity is legendary as well

.

After having these, and if they are reproducible - were I to ever need to reduce to one strain, it would be them! Their egg laying is phenomenal for a large bird; in mid-winter, still five days on, one off. The eggs are low-end large, running 58 grams on average, and while they're not cuddly like my BPRs, they're a *lot* more personable than the WL - And they are SO darn cute when they're little! IF they can reproduce themselves, it will make up for the extra winter feed, and the summer feed is no more than the other breeds. Since we're a farm, I have to be mindful of the return, else husband objects. Otherwise, I'd have the place full of silkies & frizzles & CP's

Hopefully, we'll have the answer here in a month or so! From what I've read, the color depth/pattern is the major variable, and I really don't care if the color varies - it did on all the batches I've seen, anyway!

 

[FeyRaine]

I don't calibrate either. I can feel through the holes, how humid it feels coming up through there. I know, sounds wrong. When I am turning eggs, I just go by how they feel and watch what the thermometer is saying, then go from there. I know how I like them to feel for incubation.
No one try this at home until you have incubated for a few years..lol...

I'm w/ you on feeling the eggs for temp. , in fact I've been making a point of it after all the bad thermometer readings last winter/spring I started really focusing on what do the eggs feel like. I can reach in my LG w/o opening it much at all & touch several eggs (I have very small hands & extreamly temp. sensitive fingers, which is a pain for any other thing but testing incubating egg temps.) I now trust my temp touch of the eggs more than anything else, same for feel of humidity in the bator. I would say most ppl would not want to try that, but if you have annoyingly sensitive skin then it might be your super power too ;>

-----
SO I'm trying to get to LOCKDOWN,
but
Our weather has gone way cold today & the hatcher is taking forever to be ready
I pulled the plug on the turner w/ the eggs at a level point when I caught them that way this am, (I have other eggs in there that need the turner b/f much longer but I'm favoring my NYDH shipped eggs over the barnyard test eggs right now).

I set Dec11, 6pm local -- so far no wabbles or peeping which given the delay in moving to the hatcher is good atm,
& I'm trying really hard not to take it as bad news re: those crazy shipped air cells...

AGAIN, GOOD LUCK , esp. to the folks w/ the wrong egg pipped eggs, !! & for everyone waiting for signs of life, I'm feelin' it w/ you...

 

[champer]

6 of 8 Marans in the bator have hatched. I checked the broody who has 3 and 1 has hatched. These were set on the 9th. Eggs set on the 11th are just sitting quietly so far.

 

[bantambury]

I GOT A PIP!!!!!!!!

 

[ronott1]

6 of 8 Marans in the bator have hatched. I checked the broody who has 3 and 1 has hatched. These were set on the 9th. Eggs set on the 11th are just sitting quietly so far.

That is great!

 

[chicken pickin]

I GOT A PIP!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Way. I am SO excited for you!!!

 

[bantambury]

EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No Way. I am SO excited for you!!!

it was my silkies FIRST egg and it was placed 4 hour after all others! today is ONLY DAY 19!

 

[Myfourladies]

it was my silkies FIRST egg and it was placed 4 hour after all others! today is ONLY DAY 19!

That's Bantams for ya! Go chickie!