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

[ronott1]

Started with 32. Lost 17 at day 10. We just candles for the last time and we lost 2 more possibly 3. Hopefully the last 13 will hatch in the next couple of days.

I hope so too!

 

[AK FLOCK SWAP]

Holding temps and humidity spot on... I have two humidity gauges and 3 temperature,,all reading right where it suppose to be. I am real pleased with my hatcher much better that the this guy,,But learned with this one. In 3 days,,, 32 out or 34 set,,I think,,Right Ron?

 

[Aphrael]

okie dokie! so lockdown tomorrow at noon for me then! sounds perfect!


I CANT WAIT!!!

LOCKDOWN...

So do we RAISE HUMDITY for this?



What different stuff do we need to do for lockdown that is different from regular 18 day incubation?

Officially, lockdown should begin tomorrow at noon for those who set at noon on the 11th. This means you stop turning, place eggs into hatching position and raise the humidity. I set mine at 12:30pm on the 11th, but I have decided to delay my lockdown a bit. I will stop turning and get them settled into position tomorrow afternoon, but not kick up humidity until Monday morning. Unless it seems likely that I have some early birds coming.

Started with 32. Lost 17 at day 10. We just candles for the last time and we lost 2 more possibly 3. Hopefully the last 13 will hatch in the next couple of days.

So sorry you lost so many.

I hope the rest hatch out all bouncy and healthy!

 

[Gardeningmama]

So, hands down, most stressful hatch I've had in years. They are pipping in dribs and drabs, we are now up to 5 hatched. One is in pretty bad shape. I took Ron's advice and put him in a cup, slathered him in antibiotic ointment and gave him some liquid baby vitamins (no iron) for good measure. I just got him out to check him over again and it appears as if the cord attached and dried to his leg, so every time he straightened his leg he would pull his intestines? out again. (sorry to be so graphic). This lil one is a fighter, chirping away, so I again slathered in ointment and back in the cup he went. Am I just prolonging his misery? Here is a pic:



I feel terrible that none of the D'Uccle eggs from MsLadyHawke as a gift to my youngest daughter hatched. They were progressing fine so I know they were fertile and it was an error on my part that they didn't hatch.

The good news is…I have 4 happy healthy chicks in the brooder. Another egg just pipped so if the guy pictured above makes it, he'll have someone to go in the brooder with.

So sorry the D'Uccles didn't make it, and for the tough hatch. After the Cinco de Mayo Hatch-A-Long I swore I would never hatch again, but I guess just like childbirth, you get over the trauma and do it all over again, lol. The chick on the right is my favorite, maybe it's the lighting, but it's adorable. AND I totally think that chick in the back is a splash. Looks just like my splash cochins, and splash marans did at hatch.

SOOOOO.....for everyone who had set their eggs on the 11th,

LOCKDOWN IS TOMORROW AT NOON or MONDAY MORNING correct?



I DONT want to go on lockdown too soon! just checking to make sure!



if any of you could reassure for me that would be GREAT!!!!

Yeah, I'm going to put them in position tomorrow night, up the humidity, and hands off...

I promise. I then will become an obsessive fanatic and spend the next 3 days running to my room to check for pips. Also a good chance I will have my ear pressed to the window listening for chirps for long periods of time. It will be a loooong 3 days...

 

[Aphrael]

So sorry the D'Uccles didn't make it, and for the tough hatch. After the Cinco de Mayo Hatch-A-Long I swore I would never hatch again, but I guess just like childbirth, you get over the trauma and do it all over again, lol. The chick on the right is my favorite, maybe it's the lighting, but it's adorable. AND I totally think that chick in the back is a splash. Looks just like my splash cochins, and splash marans did at hatch.
Yeah, I'm going to put them in position tomorrow night, up the humidity, and hands off...

I promise. I then will become an obsessive fanatic and spend the next 3 days running to my room to check for pips. Also a good chance I will have my ear pressed to the window listening for chirps for long periods of time. It will be a loooong 3 days...

Oh yeah... That sounds WAY too familiar.

 

[FeyRaine]

So great to hear…thank you. He's still peeping away in his cup.

I've had 2 in the past year look worse that that who made it fine, & I didn't do cup or antibiotic for either, I did keep them apart from more active chicks until the chick was walking well & there was not a bright red target for the others to pick at.

Do be sure that your one in the cup is not too hot or too cold since she can not move around to self regulate (constant peeping can = too cold). Also be sure that somewhere in 24-36 hrs she gets lessons in drink water eat food, I've noticed that if they learn early they tend to get the hang of it faster, (it maybe just the more vigorous ones start eating sooner).

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I'm a day behind most of you...no lockdown until Monday at 1:30 p.m. for me because hatch day is January 2nd. I'm on pins and needles...I didn't expect the eggs to make it this far, since this incubator was a thrift store buy years ago, and it's old. I started with 10 eggs from my flock...two were clears and one was a quitter around day six or seven. The 7 I have left are still wiggling around in there, so I'm pleased. I just hope they make it through lockdown!! I can't wait to read all your experiences, since you will be a day ahead of me...it will help me prepare for what's to come!

Nervous mama here!!!

 

[abmaddox1981]

Okay guys I have a question and it may have already been asked so I apologize in advance. Should my eggs be laying in the bottom of the bator for hatch or sitting big end up in an egg carton? And if in the carton do I need to cut holes in the bottom or leave it whole?

 

[ronott1]

Holding temps and humidity spot on... I have two humidity gauges and 3 temperature,,all reading right where it suppose to be. I am real pleased with my hatcher much better that the this guy,,But learned with this one. In 3 days,,, 32 out or 34 set,,I think,,Right Ron?

The Spread sheet says you started 32!

 

[ronott1]

Okay guys I have a question and it may have already been asked so I apologize in advance. Should my eggs be laying in the bottom of the bator for hatch or sitting big end up in an egg carton? And if in the carton do I need to cut holes in the bottom or leave it whole?

It is up to you!

I hatch in cartons or plastic flats with the big end up

If you hatch on the side, line the incubator with rubber shelf liner, the one with holes in it.