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

[Gardeningmama]

​

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I can't narrow it down. This go round though, the temps/humidity/my turning have been so stable it almost surprises me. I did have to lower the temps a notch, going from 20* days to the 60's did spike the bator to 102, but everyone seems fine.

I would then eliminate #1 as a cause and look toward breeder nutrition or genetic cause.

 

[SoManyHats]

Great article on candling. What I found most interesting actually was not about candling, but the part where it talks about eggs touching in the hatcher because vibration from one chick hatching encourages the others to hatch.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Great article on candling. What I found most interesting actually was not about candling, but the part where it talks about eggs touching in the hatcher because vibration from one chick hatching encourages the others to hatch.

I did too. I almost mentioned that as well. Someone asked about there not being enough space in their hatcher, so I guess it would be good to stack them together large end up in that case.
I know there is a lot of communication between siblings and a hen while they are pipping.

 

[Elliemae 77]

Thank You Chicken Canoe for the great info on candling and pulling out clears, I never thought about it affecting the temp but it makes sense. I don't know why but I seem to have better results when I put the eggs back in the same spot after candling.....I have a 1588 that has a circulation fan built in but there must still be a little hot or cold spot here and there. I'm very excited about the cracked egg growing.....I had heard of people sealing cracks, but at the time I couldn't remember for the life of me that it was beeswax. I wanted to seal it immediately to help keep out bacteria and all I could think of was super glue.....the membrane appears to still be intact so we shall see;
Now to stay away from the incubator till Day 14 candle.
To all you daily candlers out there.... When I first started incubating I candled my eggs almost every day and my hatch rates were terrible. Since then I have a more reliable incubator and have learned a lot about temp. and humidity, to help a chick out or not.....just my personal experience has been that the LESS the eggs are handled the better. I now try to candle only on day7,14, and day 18 when they go into lockdown......and VERY importantly DO NOT OPEN INCUBATOR TILL HATCH IS DONE!!(learned that one the hard way too) Hatch rates here are MUCH better here since learning these valuable lessons.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I did my day 10 candle tonight. Of 13 Lav Orps I have 11 going strong, 2 were blood ring lightbulbs. Of the 3 EE from my flock all 3 are going very strong. But out of 12 SFH I only have 1 growing.

So sad. I wanted the SFH so very badly. 3 others just barely started and then died. The rest never started at all.

What is an SFH? I get so confused with the abbreviations of chicken breeds...I wish there was a glossary for them!

 

[Pozees]

What is an SFH? I get so confused with the abbreviations of chicken breeds...I wish there was a glossary for them!

Swedish Flower Hen

 

[bantambury]

What is an SFH? I get so confused with the abbreviations of chicken breeds...I wish there was a glossary for them!

Swedish Flower Hens

 

[msladyhawke]

I set about 12 on the 11th, 4 are developing - Spitzhauben over Bresse mix. Should be cute babies

Wow! What an interesting sounding mix! Can't wait to see pics of your chicks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is an SFH? I get so confused with the abbreviations of chicken breeds...I wish there was a glossary for them!

There is

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/byc-index-of-abbreviations