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

[chiqita]

Do you mind telling us why you like the sponge better for incubation?  This will be our first hatch.  My husband bought me an incubator for my birthday.  We are so excited to do this at home with our kids.     Reading everything cause we want it go as well as possible!  We are not using any shipped eggs.  Might be meeting someone with a mix from Papabrooder.  Hunted down some Cream Legbar's locally (with-in a 2hr dr) and doing our own MF Leghorns.  A friend is offering her Light Brahma's to the experiment.  This will be great fun!  Previously we've hired our incubation done so my husband has never seen a chick hatch.  The children & I got to by chance once.  The miracle is really new to us!    We are all excited! 

Really want it to go well 

It's cleaner and I can control the Humidity more. I use 2 sponges and a old top of my detergent bottle for water. Depending on how much humidity you need I'll use all or one sponge and top or just the top. The top is deep enough it should last at least a week.
Plus if you stagger hatch the bottom tray can get mold. Mold bad...

 

[chicken pickin]

I like that one!
Yes!



There is a list of BYC abbreviations but it does not have CCL, just cl.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/acronym-list-for-byc

I don't call them CCL, I just call them CL for Cream Legbar.

 

[Penny Hen]

Well, I thought that there were several breeds that allow splash but I looked through my standard and I didn't see a single one. However, I know that I have seen splash birds at shows... cochin bantams are definitely one I remember seeing. I'm trying to think of other breeds I've seen. Old English game bantams?

I think they should be allowed too, I have some exceptionally pretty splashed Andalusians.

I have seen pictures of them at shows. What I think it is that they are allowed to show as a non-standard color but they are barred from taking Best of Show. Still it seems that they are being made to wait an inordinate amount of time before being officially approved. In the old days, when a lot of genetics was theory and many many birds had to be bred to prove the gene inheritance of the color this long proving period made sense. Now that the DNA codes can be looked at directly it is not so relevant. It seems to me if they can track the inheritance of the color by DNA then they should fast track the acceptance of it. Now not all of the color patterns are completely understood yet as to what genes change the appearance of the feather colors. So I understand if a color doesn't have the science figured out that they would keep to the old method. But the Black/Blue/Splash genes are no mystery.

 

[BoereMeisie]

I am designing a new incubator, but need help with where to place light bulbs, fans and ventilation holes. If anyone thinks they'd be able to help me with advice, I will appreciate it very much! Here is the link to the thread, with specs and a design:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-input-and-advice-will-be-greatly-appreciated

 

[Gardeningmama]

​

 

[BoereMeisie]

Who else is collecting chicken eggs for hatching from today? I got 1 from my Blue Orpingtons, 1 from my Rhode Island Red, and 1 good one from my Silkies The Red sex links who are in with the Silkies laid 3 eggs today, but I will be collecting theirs towards the end to fill up a 30-egg tray... Got to keep some for eating!

 

[Myfourladies]

Is anyone else hatching a bantam breed?? I love my tiny chickens.

Hoping to find some bantam EEs for my spring hatching.

 

[tadpole98]

we are processing chickens today. a little over 100. oh gosh, i hate this

 

[tadpole98]

Is anyone else hatching a bantam breed?? I love my tiny chickens.

Hoping to find some bantam EEs for my spring hatching.

thats all i hatch LOL i like tiny things

 

[tadpole98]

I laughed so hard at this. The chickens faces just stay in the same place lol