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

[Aphrael]

Oh my gosh, I love this thread! All the OT information has been wonderful. I decided to switch my laying hens to grower, and offer oyster shells. But here's a question: if suddenly commercial stuff like that wasn't available, how would our girls get their calcium - from eggs shells?

Egg shells would be a part of it but would not likely supply their entire calcium needs alone. (I have read it takes 2 1/2 egg shells to give a chicken enough calcium to make 1 egg.) In addition to the egg shells, it would be good to provide forage that would make up for the rest of their calcium needs. Most people don't think of veggies providing calcium, but there are some that are very rich in it. Some calcium rich veggies are okra, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens, watercress, beet greens etc.

I heard little uno chirping in his shell!!!! So cute! No pip yet, but I'm so excited!!!!

He'll be out to meet you soon!

They are decent sized eggs. Sometimes. LOL. Sometimes I get small ones...but they are usually large eggs. I have one Commercial Black girl that lays gigantic eggs...not every day, usually every 3 days...those whoppers are usually double yolkers. Once I got a triple yolker!

My son holding a double on the left, triple on the right:


The triple yolker


Double yolker on left, triple on right:


Normal egg on left, triple on right:

Those are HUGE!!

 

[Wunjo]

Oh poop!
How did I miss this.
I set my eggs on the 12/12/13 so they will hatch on the 2nd day of New Years ( Aus time )

.

Some of the members started early and some started late.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
So I can still be a member?!?!

 

[Aphrael]

So I can still be a member?!?!

Yep! Welcome aboard! Ron will be along sooner or later and add you to the list on the first page. You should also read the first post. It has some GREAT info and lists the contests for the hatchalong.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Oh WICKED!
I shal, thanks heaps

.

 

[Cynthia12]

They are decent sized eggs. Sometimes. LOL. Sometimes I get small ones...but they are usually large eggs. I have one Commercial Black girl that lays gigantic eggs...not every day, usually every 3 days...those whoppers are usually double yolkers. Once I got a triple yolker!

My son holding a double on the left, triple on the right:


The triple yolker


Double yolker on left, triple on right:


Normal egg on left, triple on right:

 

[ronott1]

Oh poop!
How did I miss this.
I set my eggs on the 12/12/13 so they will hatch on the 2nd day of New Years ( Aus time )

.

Are you joining?

Read the first post in this thread and let me know!

Lovely to have you join us!

 

[chicken pickin]

At noon on December 11, 2013 (local time), people all over the world will be setting eggs with the goal to hatch out hundreds of cute little fuzz-butts all on the same day: New Year's Day 2014!

We'll be updating this post and thread with more information, but we wanted to start the thread early since now's the time to star preparing!

So, subscribe to this thread, add it to your bookmarks, and check back for more details!!

We'll also be listing some contests & prizes soon!

Click here to fill out Member Survey

Hatch Participants:

@abmaddox1981
@acemario
@AK FLOCK SWAP
@All Henned Up
@Aphrael
@Avlana
@Bama1
@bantambury
@billyb
@Blarneyeggs
@Bluetick340
@brahmabreeder
@briansnarr
@Brookhavens
@bugglesmommy
@CackleJoy
@Canieldonrad
@carriebain
@champer
@Chase Family
@chickee
@Chickencame1st
@ChickenCanoe
@ChickenDoodleMI
@chickengirl1193
@chickengirlsTN
@Chicken Happy
@chicken farmer
@chickenlover28
@chickenman80
@chickensnewtome
@chicken pickin
@ckkat
@ClareD
@ctfeathers
@chickydee64
@ClucksnDucksMI
@ChristaK
@Cynthia12
@DMyers764
@draye
@EggieRowe
@Elliemae 77
@ESofVA
@Esti
@fallenangel79
@FeyRaine
@FinaC
@fosterson
@Frost Homestead
@GAGE
@gander007
@Gardeningmama
@GerbilsOnToast
@gryeyes
@Henry wwf
@highaltitudehen
@insanity
@itsbob
@JDchicks
@JLaw
@jlynnet
@Kalalyn21
@kara1015
@KimberlyK0509
@knightie
@lizzybaxter
@Lynn Landeau
@Lrkel
@mamahomestead
@michaelf
@midwayfarms

@mlongworth
@MMGerlinger
@mmorgan79936
@MontanaDolphin
@msladyhawke
@mspj
@mstricer
@Myfourladies
@Nancy Jones
@Nicky-the-witch
@Nonyah Biz
@Nuclear Chickens

@Penny Hen
@omaeve
@OrpObsessed
@pamygh
@Pozees
@Pyxis
@Quail lover 100
@rochelle1021
@ronniewayne
@roostercluck
@roostereggs
@Rogue
@sandman221
@seventreesfarm
@silly4buttons
@scotter
@ShayBaby
@SilkieSensation
@SoManyHats
@Summerlove
@SunnySkies
@supermom1185
@tadpole98
@TCchickengirl
@Threedog
@TMNfarm
@WindDancer
@Wisher1000
@Whoops
@Wunjo

Place to find hatching eggs:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/754060/the-new-crazy-24hr-auction-thread

Set Dates for Poultry:

Muscovy (35 days) - 11/27/12
Goose (31 days) - 12/1/12
Duck, Turkey, Pheasant (28 days) - 12/4/12
Guinea Fowl (26 days) - 12/6/12
Chicken (21 days) - 12/11/12
Coturnix Quail (18 days) - 12/14/12

Some dates are getting close!

Duck Hatching Tips!

http://www.duckhealth.com/hatcduck.html

Still Air Incubator Tips!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chookschicks-incubation-cheat-sheet

Hatching tips from Sally Sunshine and chickencanoe!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

http://www.brinsea.com/customerservice/technote.html

http://www.natureform.com/kb/newArticles/12.html

http://www.natureform.com/kb/newArticles/4.html

http://www.natureform.com/kb/newArticles/8.html

Air Cell Charts:

Duck


Chicken:

Incubation time explanation:

Originally Posted by Brookhavens


Whatever day of the week you set your eggs on is the same day you can expect them to start hatching. (Sometimes earlier. Sometimes later.) We will set our chicken eggs at 12:00pm on Wednesday, Dec. 11th so our hatch day (Day 21) is Wednesday, Jan 1st. Another way to look at it is in hours. Wednesday, 12/11 at 12pm(noon) is 0 hours. 12/12 at 12am is 12 hours and 12pm (noon) on 12/12 is 24 hours. 24 hours = 1 day or Day 1 of incubation. When you read or hear "lock down or stop turning" on Day 18 it means after the full 24 hours of Day 18 has gone by you stop turning. So that would mean that Day 18 ends on Sunday 12/29 @11:59am. Day 19 starts @ 12:00pm (noon) Sunday and lockdown begins. Day 20 starts @ 12pm(noon) on Monday and Day 21 starts @ 12pm(noon) on Tuesday and ends on Wednesday @11:59am. So on Wednesday at 11:59am you have had 21 days (each consisting of 24 hours) of full development.

How to clean your incubator:
Originally Posted by ChickenCanoe


If it is new, you can just use some liquid detergent. But DO NOT get any water on the thermostat or any other electronics.

If it's used, I would use Lysol or spray a dilute chlorox solution.

Whatever you use, rinse it well and some people put it in the sun to dry. That might not be an option this time of year.
Again, Keep the electronics dry.

Someone in this thread recommends using peroxide.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/138943/disinfecting-an-incubator

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/331442/how-do-you-clean-your-styrofoam-incubator
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/359793/best-way-to-clean-styrofoam-incubator

Contests:

1. Best Hatch Rate
First Prize: English BBS Orpington Hatching eggs(Courtesy of @chickydee64 )
Second Prize: BYC 2014 Calendar

For this contest during this hatch,​

​

participants will need to be setting a minimum of 6 eggs, with confirmation picture posted to this thread on set day​

.​

​

These can be under broodies or in your incubators. Tell us how many you will have cooking and then don't go back and edit your post where you tell us how many eggs you start with. We'll need that info​

​

by the 3rd of Jan at the latest​

​

to be included in the contest. When the hatch is over,​

​

you'll take a pic and post it to show us how many​

​

you actually hatched. The picture must be of sufficient quality to count all the chicks.​

​

In the event of a tie, the one who hatches the most chicks wins.​

2. Best Hatch a Long Participant
Prize: BYC Calendar

Open to hatch a long members except Hatch a long administrators. Send a PM to @ronott1 after the hatch is over with the name and reason for the nomination. Winner will be announced during the first week after the hatch.

3. Cutest Chick Hatched
First Prize: Golden Feather Membership
Second Prize: BYC Calendar

Open to all hatch a long members except Hatch a long Administrators. Post baby pictures in thread and we will vote on them.

4. Random Post Contest Closed
Prize: 12 mystery eggs donated by @msladyhawke Winner announced for post 2314 @tadpole98

Open to hatch a long members except Hatch a long administrators. A post number has been selected. The first hatch a long member to post on or after the number is the winner! A backup post number has been selected to be awarded if the winner declines the prize.

5. Number of egg set for Hatch a Long Closed
Prize: 9 Black Penedesenca Hatching eggs donated by @ChickenCanoe

Click on the link and post your guess for the total number of eggs set. The contest is open from now until Midnight Tuesday the 10th. Winner will be announced by Friday. Open to all BYC Members.

Eggs Set as reported: 1637
Winner: Chickenboy190 with a guess of 1594

6. Random Post contest II
Prize: 1 dozen Mystery eggs donated by @Chicken Picken

Open to hatch a long members except Hatch a long administrators. A post number has been selected. The first hatch a long member to post on or after the number is the winner! A backup post number has been selected to be awarded if the winner declines the prize.

Good Luck!

I just noticed at the bottom of post one for contest 6 I am donating the eggs, my user name is chicken pickin, not chicken picken I just wanted to point it out incase someone clicks on it. It brings you to someone elses profile.

 

[Cynthia12]

So I can still be a member?!?!

I started a day earlier.

 

[ronott1]

Egg shells would be a part of it but would not likely supply their entire calcium needs alone. (I have read it takes 2 1/2 egg shells to give a chicken enough calcium to make 1 egg.) In addition to the egg shells, it would be good to provide forage that would make up for the rest of their calcium needs. Most people don't think of veggies providing calcium, but there are some that are very rich in it. Some calcium rich veggies are okra, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens, watercress, beet greens etc.

Thanks!

I would still give them free choice Oyster shell calciuim. It is very in expensive and comes in large bags. I go through one a year about.