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

[chicken pickin]

Okay now that this hatch is over I'm ready to go again. Think I might try to get Turkey eggs for Easter hatch a long.

Ron, you have done awesome organizing this hatch a long! Are you going to be in charge of Easter too?

Don't forget that there is also a cinco de mayo turkey hatch a long

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think those are great hatch numbers! Do you think it strung out because it started late, and do you attribute that to slightly low temps?

I have one that shrink wrapped that was one of the first two pipped when I moved eggs to the hatcher for today's hatch (26 Production Reds and 2 Silkies). I still think the temp in my Brinsea is a hair high, and will adjust down a tick again. At bedtime I had 5 hatched, this morning at 4 I had 8 hatched and 3 pipped, now 3 more have pipped. Since they are not due until today I think they incubated a little high. Silkies hatching early never surprises me but these egg layers laid within 30 miles and maybe a few hundred feet elevation should have been right on time, or at least I thought so, but then again it might be the low air pressure too. If I go lower to get them to hatch later, do I run the risk of letting the chicks get too large before they try to hatch and decrease the possibility of live hatch?

The main reason it strung out is because (like a big dummy) I set eggs on 3 consecutive days. And yes, I do think the temps were low because even fresh eggs hatched slightly late. I'm still trying to understand exactly how my incubator functions even though I designed it. I keep taking notes and will eventually write up my owners manual.
It's a unique design but it has had lots of tweaks, redesigns and remodels after each attempt. Accurate thermometers really did the trick this time around.
Perhaps it would have been better if I was better about egg collection and storage techniques. I carry eggs in thinking I may set them and then don't separate, date and mark their pedigree.

I'm pretty pleased with the fertility of untested roosters, especially this time of year. I keep them confined till after 8 AM to give the neighbors a break. I can't even hear the roosters if they're outside when I'm in the house. My 2 closest neighbors told me they didn't even know I had chickens, much less roosters.

I was going to suggest that your temps were probably a little high.

I would think there are two primary issues, pressure and lower ambient oxygen.
I'm not an expert at high elevation incubation but hope to become one.

I'm not sure I could take the stress! There seems like a lot to it. How in the world does a hen EVER hatch a single egg. LOL. It seems like a great science project for the kids though. My sister has an incubator, so I could give it a whir I guess. Again, it was very interesting to see the progress/results of everyone hatches. Thanks!

The stress is WAAAY lower with a hen.
I think they do it well because they've been doing it for thousands of years - it's just nature. We just started in the last couple hundred years so we humans are still trying to learn.

 

[Cynthia12]

she ripped the yoke open with her claws! this is terrible! is she going to be okay?

Oh sorry, I didn't notice your baby was early, read it wrong.. and it hadn't absorbed yolk all the way. Or I wouldn't have said, enjoy! Hope all is going well with the baby. Catching up here..so maybe I'll see as I go along..hoping it's good news!

 

[Cynthia12]

Don't forget that there is also a cinco de mayo turkey hatch a long

Oh yes..I don't hatch turkey, but it's fun to follow along at times. I did hatch a few turkeys once..they are sooo funny when they hatch, and make the cutest noises.

 

[coopsbyty]

So all this talk about the Easter Hatch has me wanting to join along and hatch some ducks (my mom is a duck maniac, and had planned on getting some ducks in the spring anyway, so I figure why not hatch some?). Anyone here have duck eggs to sell or trade for chicken eggs when it gets closer? Or should I ask in the buy/sell trade part of the forum??

I have a pair my drake is a blue Swedish over a mallard hen, so not a pure breed but if you want I be happy to send a couple closer to march.

 

[mstricer]

My hatch is over also. I have 1 wheaten OE and 3 Mille Fleur d'Uccles. All the rest are still in incubator awaiting one last candle. Mine were either pullet eggs or they got frozen

 

[Cynthia12]

Thank you again Ron. It was a lot of fun. And so very helpful.

Just to let you know, I did post pictures of my three that hatched, knowing you, you have it. That's my final. Not sure I made it clear that the one lonely egg I have in lock down was not entered. So, three is my final count.

 

[Penny Hen]

The stress is WAAAY lower with a hen.
I think they do it well because they've been doing it for thousands of years - it's just nature. We just started in the last couple hundred years so we humans are still trying to learn.

Actually the ancient Egyptians built hatcheries read here: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/contents/ceva/OnlineBulletins/ob_2005/Article-No2-Sept05.pdf

 

[Myfourladies]

Well, I broke down and bought me some chicks. LOL Meyer is only in Ohio and had a pretty good price on a feather legged assortment.

I am just so worried about introducing something that will kill Hawke.

I also found out something that REALLY bothered me (when she gave me directions to come get the chick)..... the lady that offered me a sizzle chick was involved in a ASPCA animal case 2 years ago. Her farm was cleared out of over 200 goats and other animals that had been mistreated. She is a hoarder, when I found out that it was the same farm I just didn't want to take chances. *sigh* My luck just sucks lately. AM I just being to picky?

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Just finished posting some pics of my babies in the photo contest thread, but wanted to post some here too for those of you who aren't following that thread. I am also including updated feather pictures...and if the feather sexing works for my chicks (two different sized rows being girls, same size being boys), then ALL my babies are GIRLS!!! That's only if the speed of the growth is not a factor, because some chicks had feathers that grew slower than chicks born afterwards. Let me know what your guesses are for the feathers! The red lines are the top row, green lines are the bottom row

First to hatch, claimed by my youngest son:




2nd baby born shortly after her sister...they are almost twins when it comes to head spots:




Hubby claimed this girl because I had written the number 2 on the egg, and #2 was his baseball number and favorite Nascar driver's number. She is the only girl with so much yellow...all over her face, chest, shanks, butt, and tips of her wings:




Chick born 4th who has the fastest growing feathers:




Chick born with curled toes and feet...but I fixed them! Here feathers are still small:




And finally, we have "Miracle"...the one I had to help. She is now with her sisters in the brooder, and doing well!

Reminder photo:


Now:




Her feathers, AMAZINGLY, are already coming in!!:





Those are my babies!!!