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

[valleychicks]

Couple of questions then I will go back to page 374 and try to catch up. When using a broody hen (s), when do you candle? I candled the first time the night of day 6 (after seeing the dented egg) just to make sure all were fertile and developing. Out of all 11 of my eggs, I have 6 Silkie eggs. According to my daughter her's have always started hatching around the 18th day. What would be the next days for me to candle?

 

[Dish chickens]

I cut down egg cartons from the top, fill the water channels and get humidity up to 65%. If the humidity is too low I will and a glass storage dish with a clean kitchen sponge.

I usually wait until day 19. I candle the eggs and look for the side with the biggest part of the air cell and tilt the eggs in the carton so that it is up. The chick usually pips in the middle top third of the air cell. Mark that spot with an X to see how close the chick got to that spot.

I hope this makes sense!

Thank you

 

[FuzzyHens]

I was like, cooking! WTHeck is she talking about, cooking!?

As for deep sea fishing, anyone ever caught Wahoo? My hubby caught one this summer and WOW. I've never had better fish. Ever.

We used to go deep sea fishing a lot, but up north out of New England. Never heard of a Wahoo...is that a southern ocean fish maybe?

I have to say all this talk about fish is causing me to crave sushi...guess I know what I'm having for lunch after work tomorrow...

 

[Dish chickens]

Couple of questions then I will go back to page 374 and try to catch up. When using a broody hen (s), when do you candle? I candled the first time the night of day 6 (after seeing the dented egg) just to make sure all were fertile and developing. Out of all 11 of my eggs, I have 6 Silkie eggs. According to my daughter her's have always started hatching around the 18th day. What would be the next days for me to candle?

I would check on day 14 then look again before lock down, in your case should be day 17

 

[carcar80]

I cut down egg cartons from the top, fill the water channels and get humidity up to 65%. If the humidity is too low I will and a glass storage dish with a clean kitchen sponge.

I usually wait until day 19. I candle the eggs and look for the side with the biggest part of the air cell and tilt the eggs in the carton so that it is up. The chick usually pips in the middle top third of the air cell. Mark that spot with an X to see how close the chick got to that spot.

I hope this makes sense!

Awesome!! I'm gonna do the "x" thing too. I'm excited about not following the "textbook" day 18 lockdown. I have great feelings about my luck this go 'round.

We used to go deep sea fishing a lot, but up north out of New England.  Never heard of a Wahoo...is that a southern ocean fish maybe?

Yes. This was off the (gulf) coast of Miramar, FL

 

[valleychicks]

I would check on day 14 then look again before lock down, in your case should be day 17

Thank you! So lock down with broodys just means leave'm alone?

 

[carcar80]

Thank you! So lock down with broodys just means leave'm alone? 

When my broody got into the last week, I hung a chick feeder and waterer within reach of her, which she really used a lot. She did get up to dust bathe during hatch though, which of course freaked me out (dot they know about temp and humidity!?).. But things went fine.

Once chicks began hatching, The ones who were ready had food right there while Mama kept sitting. It worked out great.

Good luck!!

 

[Dish chickens]

Thank you! So lock down with broodys just means leave'm alone?

Yes and you might just double check on day 15 and then just let her do her thing. When they are done hatching she should be out and about with the little ones and anything left can be discarded.

 

[Aliciahess]

That is what I'm hatching, I have 22 very active eggs from Blue on Blue pens.  I got the blues last year and LOVE them, They are very big but very personable.  I plan on doing two or three hatches this year of just BBS.  All I have is blue and black right now but hoping for a few splash on this hatch.  I like my  buff Brahama's but they are slowly getting thinned out to make room for the orpingtons.

Those sound beautiful! Best of luck.
I need more room!! Every time I read about others' chicks/birds.. I'm telling myself "no,no more birds". Sigh love my birds..and ducks...and dogs...and goats...
Jeez, what's a few more chickens??

 

[valleychicks]

When my broody got into the last week, I hung a chick feeder and waterer within reach of her, which she really used a lot. She did get up to dust bathe during hatch though, which of course freaked me out (dot they know about temp and humidity!?).. But things went fine.

Once chicks began hatching, The ones who were ready had food right there while Mama kept sitting. It worked out great.

Good luck!!

I will putting up some hardware cloth to enclose the broody nest box area so I will put some chick feed and a water bottle in with the two broody girls. If I can get it in the box with them, hmm...I will have to figure that one out. Thanks! Good luck to you too!