6th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2015 Hatch-A-Long

[Peep_Show]

To all folks setting eggs today (12/11), don't forget to let Ron know via PM how many! You definitely want to be included in the "How Many Eggs Set" contest.

And if you want to enter the "Farthest Shipped Egg Hatched' contest, PM Ron with your city/state and your egg shipper's city/state.


Good luck Everyone!

 

[bantambury]

Ron i was sondering who donated the brooder last year for cutest chick hatched?

 

[ronott1]

@ronott1 will it be cool if im 24 hours late on setting my eggs? They will be traveling 7.2 miles to my incubator. BTW stay safe bro..storms and all.

Yes, it is fine.

I will be later but I do not count for the prizes...

I get to go home and check on the chickens soon. We were not hit as bad as some were in the State.

 

[Peep_Show]

BTW.... I am more than impressed with the Brinsea Octogon 20 Advanced with the additional humidity pump. Fairly easy to set up and an hour after plugging in it was dead-on accurate with the calibration. Cool unit!
Now, if the USPS would only acknowledge and deliver the eggs to go therein. (Yes, I join all those folks awaiting egg arrival and have a late batch, too! If the USPS delivers tomorrow, it looks like a Saturday set for the BLRW and Blue Copper Marans.)

The 25 y.o. styrofoam Miller incubator (the one with the rat gnaw marks on it from storage under Mom's house) is once again pulling yeoman's duty and putting some farmers market eggs into the contest. Oh.... I hope those egg vendors were telling the truth that they were fertile. Hadn't thought that maaaaybe they said so just to unload their last eggs. Hmmmmm....

Well, we'll know in a couple of days. I will say that upon candling them before setting they had some of the smallest air cells I've ever seen.... like the size of a dime on a good-sized egg. BUT they were nice solid air cells, so unlike the shipped slop I'm used to.

 

[Peep_Show]

LOL! Looks like a whole mess of us are going to extend this Hatch-Along well past the New Year with our late eggs!

 

[hockeydad6791]

Well my eggs are not set yet :-(
I had it all planed out. Go home sick from work at 11am. 11:30 candle and mark eggs for turning. 12:00 set eggs. 12:15 open first beer. 12:16 thru the 12 pack stare. But here's what really happened. Left work at 10:45 made it about a mile car broke down. Called a buddy to take me to the parts store. 12:30 arrived at parts store. 1:00 the employee says that's a dealer part we can't get it. A hour ride later arrive at dealer. Sure we have it in stock he claims. 2:45 he comes back and says we can't find it but we can order it. 3:00 he claims he can't find one in the USA. 3:15 finds one in Canada. All seemed to be looking up. On the way back my buddy decides it's a good idea to rear-end a truck. 4:45 back on the road. 5:30 stopped at the liquor store baught some whisky (needed something to wash my day down with) got home at 6. Marked eggs and checked temps in the bator. 107 wait check again I'm seeing things 107. I can't post my thoughts or words for the next few minutes cuz they were not appropriate. 6:30 wife tells me her friend stopped by today and her kids were around the bator but they did not tuch it. It's 7:30 now and waiting for it to regulate 102.

 

[Peep_Show]

Well my eggs are not set yet :-(
I had it all planed out. Go home sick from work at 11am. 11:30 candle and mark eggs for turning. 12:00 set eggs. 12:15 open first beer. 12:16 thru the 12 pack stare. But here's what really happened. Left work at 10:45 made it about a mile car broke down. Called a buddy to take me to the parts store. 12:30 arrived at parts store. 1:00 the employee says that's a dealer part we can't get it. A hour ride later arrive at dealer. Sure we have it in stock he claims. 2:45 he comes back and says we can't find it but we can order it. 3:00 he claims he can't find one in the USA. 3:15 finds one in Canada. All seemed to be looking up. On the way back my buddy decides it's a good idea to rear-end a truck. 4:45 back on the road. 5:30 stopped at the liquor store baught some whisky (needed something to wash my day down with) got home at 6. Marked eggs and checked temps in the bator. 107 wait check again I'm seeing things 107. I can't post my thoughts or words for the next few minutes cuz they were not appropriate. 6:30 wife tells me her friend stopped by today and her kids were around the bator but they did not tuch it. It's 7:30 now and waiting for it to regulate 102.

Yeah. Right. Uh-huh. That's the ticket.

So sorry your day was so trying. Your whiskey sounds well-deserved.

 

[FeyRaine]

Just wanted to officially say I DID SET TODAY 12:23 pm Eastern time.
I'll pm Ron w/ a photo & egg count

I've got Barn Yard Mixes from 3 flocks, including my own.

-- Side note, I candled last night, the eggs I set Dec 4 (half the eggs I got from other ppl, plus some of my own)
of 64 set, 12 got pulled , 4 duds & the rest bloodrings but none of those were from my own flock. A few of the eggs were too dark to tell so I left them in.
But this is promising that even though they are now a week older, I still could get a decent hatch from the eggs I set today!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! & the waiting begins....

 

[blackgoat]

LOL! Looks like a whole mess of us are going to extend this Hatch-Along well past the New Year with our late eggs!

I ordered some silkie crosses that haven't shipped yet. But that means....Birthday Chicks!

 

[Roan]

Any bright ideas for candling bantam eggs... You see I use a TP roll attached to a flash light... It's way to big ( yes I love TP rolls apparently )

ROFL Any bright ideas for candling... no pun intended? lol

I've been told to use nail polish before... Never tried it though. I've read about using paraffin wax to seal the hole after you make the little hole to color your chicks... Anybody ever done that at day 19 or earlier you poke a little hole and then inject some food colouring to dye the chicks feathers...

I've read also that there clear nail polish works. But I personally would think that the chemicals would soak through the shell and contaminate the egg inside.

I think different TSC's get them from different places. Ours uses Privett. Your RIR are lighter because they haven't been bred to the standard. Commercial hatcheries pretty much breed for quantity not quality. I am sure yours are delightful though. If you like the breed I suggest getting them from a heritage breeder next time. You will be thrilled with those.

Still no word on my eggs

Thanks. I do like the breed but I am definitely going Australorp...and the eggs sent when I win this contest.

Well it is unclear if I am going to be able to participate...my eggs are MIA. USPS has no clue where they are. They shipped on Monday from Arkansas and have not updated since.

I'm so bummed. I guess my first time hatching will be postponed to a later date.

Aww, well hopefully you can still participate, just a day or two late.

.......... Gee, thanks. -_- Gotta love roosting layers!

A quick buff and a shine, and it goes in with the rest this evening!

I am BESIDE myself.

MrsB

LOL so I'm not the only one!

Quote:

I just saw what you said about letting the hen hatch them. I asked a forum earlier today if the hatch along was just for incubator hatching but didn't get a reply. I have 2 broody hens (a Silkie and an Orpington) and I was going to set them under the hens. Oh well I guess I will wait for the next hatch along.

Yes, you can use a broody hen for the HAL!!! A lot of people are doing that!


A farmer and his eight year old son were placing eggs in the incubator. "Dad," the son said as the last egg was placed.
"Yes son," his father asked.
"How long have you been using a 'bator?"
"Well, it's been about twenty years now. I got my first 'bator when I was your age. I guess you could call me a master with the 'bator," the farmer replied.
His son was silent for a moment then said, "dad?"
"Yes son?"
"When I grow up I want to be a Master 'Bator just like you."
The farmer walked away.