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

[MisfitMarie]

I just realized you are in Portland too! I had some Welsummer and Maran eggs last Summer and after a couple weeks I could finally tell which were clear because they did glow in a way the developing did not... not that you can see any of the development, but I hope all yours are growing!

Thanks! That makes me feel a little better. I've had some tough luck with shipped eggs lately (I guess that's pretty common, though). I always hope for 50% at best. But now I am more hopeful that my Black Copper Maran eggs will surprise me.

I'm technically in Vancouver, WA but attend college in Portland and travel through there frequently. I love Oregon.

I'll have to look out for that particular glow the next time I candle!

 

[FuzzyHens]

I still havent gone to TSC...havent candled in 3 days and lockdown is he 23rd. Still havent taken my clear out...and i still havent finished my brooder...JOY! hahaha but i got some pretty cool pics with one of my NYd boys from last year!


Crossing my fingers my eggies are still well. I feel pretty accomplished....ive only candled my eggs about 5 times for this hatch!

very nice roo!!! I like the gold coloring...what breed is he?

 

[FuzzyHens]

I love that analyzer...lots of useful information.

Sorry to hear about the infertile eggs and sad chick news.

I candled my darker Welsummer and Black Copper Maran eggs tonight but am having a hard time seeing anything, even by now. I'm hoping that there's development taking place.

I spent a little time with a few bantam chicks today and took some pictures that might cheer y'all up.

Happy Holidays, BYC!

OMG, OMG, OMG...they are soo cute!!!! I can't wait to have bantam chicks!!!!

 

[FuzzyHens]

Too many days left to wait. Where is the fast forward button??! We still have Christmas, then my Birthday! Then finally, CHICKS!

But I'm telling myself, next week this time, they will be in lock down. So, yay!

And I gave up on breaking my 2 broody hens in the barn. So I have them a bunch of bantam eggs

I can blame it on 4-H and the kids this time.

yeah, cute bantam chicks...what kind do you have?

 

[1kluckychik]

All is not lost. The most common problem with not turning the eggs for the first week is embryo death on day 7 or 8ish. Blood vessels can form on only one side and get pinched off killing the embryo.

If they are still going, then there is a good chance that they will be perfectly fine. Turning now is important because it helps the chick to develop and eventually absorb the yolk better.

I read an article once that said in the olden days, pre 1950 I think, eggs were not turned. Chicks still hatched but hatch rates were lower.

Feel better?

yes! thank you!

 

[FuzzyHens]

As the egg gets further into incubation, you will no longer see the veins and sometimes will not see the chick move inside. It is all normal and expected.

Good stuff!

Thank you for this info...candling is a double edge sword...it's good to see what is going on, but if you are a newbie it can leave you with more questions than answers! I did find this video on youtube which helped me a lot but it was day 7 only...

 

[FuzzyHens]

I was feeling so calm and relaxed about this hatching thing as the embryo started developing (thats the hard part right) now I am plagued with worrys over everything

I'm feeling the same way...I'm plotting scenarios for what to do if only 1 chick hatches... Ugh! It is much easier doing this as a HAL so we can commiserate with each other!!

 

[FuzzyHens]

Wow, I just noticed all the new contests added!

Also, I've already got some eggs lined up for the Easter HAL. lol! Planning ahead is good, right?

I'm debating on what I want to do for the Easter HAL. I have a couple of scenerios and much depends on how this current HAL goes. But crazy how addicting this is...


What did you decide on for Easter?

 

[Cynthia12]

I have one baby, and one close to hatching. These are little mutskies. Will post photos when more hatch and they are fluffy.. I don't care if they are little mutts..I haven's had a fuzzy butt in my house for a while. This little one has such a soft peep. I'll probably get a loud one, there usually is at least one. I am excited that I have so many silkie/firzzles that are pipped.

 

[FuzzyHens]

I have a black bantum cochin rooster and a black bantum cochin hen that are both just over a year old. They are both solid black, so the mottled color has me thrown. I don't know much about color genetics, but I figured if you put a black with a black, you would get black. I have 3 more that hatched just today and they are the same mottled color. Go figure, they are still soooo cute. I have 2 mottled roos, maybe I can make a paring later.

Please continue to post photos as they grow...I would love to see them!!