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

[MrsBrooke]

Just realized (someone) failed to plug in the auto turner. We set on the 12th, and candled once.

Ooooh, noooooo!!!!

Here's to hoping for some hatching luck!!!

MrsB

 

[Amberjem]

I went out to collect eggs and found a speckled egg today with a few feathers from my Barred cross I dunno if she has started laying or what but the egg is slightly different in color and has brown speckles in it..so not sure if violet just laid a diff egg today or my pullet started laying will have to wait n see if I get two at a time, I noticed her comb started pinkening up about two weeks ago so mayyyyyyyyybe dotty is about 18ish weeks now barred rock, java/faverollie mix

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I tossed a few more today. Some were clears that i had marked before, 3 were not though. These 3 had a tiny sized started chick in them but the chick was stuck or glued to the air sac lining. Strangest thing for me so far. I have had quitters but not really at this stage. Typically for me if it starts and quits it is a blood ring or during the hatching.

 

[ccnbuck]

I hatched some "ameraucanas" (pure breed but mixed colors, so technically Easter eggers) and australorps together last year. The lorps grew so much faster! My BA rooster is enormous. His daughter is only 4 months old now and already towers over all of my full grown EEs...

So, what's the better option? Should I give my broody some golf balls and swap them with a couple day old chicks later? Or would it be better to try to give her already developing eggs?

This is only my third hatch and they are all from a bator so hopefully some of the folks here can answer that question. I doubt that there would be any problem with giving her eggs but I don't know.

Let's see the consensus from the group.

In related news, my LA hen went broody herself on the 12th and is setting on what will be F1 EE eggs from the mixed flock. The silkie hen went broody on Friday and my white rock hen decided to join the party yesterday.

 

[ronott1]

I hatched some "ameraucanas" (pure breed but mixed colors, so technically Easter eggers) and australorps together last year. The lorps grew so much faster! My BA rooster is enormous. His daughter is only 4 months old now and already towers over all of my full grown EEs...

So, what's the better option? Should I give my broody some golf balls and swap them with a couple day old chicks later? Or would it be better to try to give her already developing eggs?

Either way works fine. Brood hens do not have a clock so they will stop being broody and start taking care of the chicks a couple of days after they hatch.

Watch her though. A lot of hens will not take good care of the chicks.

 

[darkbluespace]

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?

It just occurred to me that I will have my own Serama, duck and turkey eggs by then... so exciting!! Planning ahead is good!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I have a hen that has decided to go broody. So far she has stolen 3 eggs from her pen mates. I've marked them. Now I just need to come up with a good place to move her. she is in a breeding pen and I need the other hens to keep laying and her not to sit on them.

 

[ronott1]

Just realized (someone) failed to plug in the auto turner. We set on the 12th, and candled once.

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?

 

[darkbluespace]

I can share in the frustration. I ordered 12 Welsummer and 12 Black Copper Maran eggs. I could only see development in about five of the Welsummer eggs... and NONE in the Black Copper Maran eggs. I'm REALLY hoping its just because the shells are darker. I'm going to be seriously bummed out if they end up being clears. The other eggs in my incubator are all going strong, through.

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!

 

[jbenson]

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.

black cochin chicks are not solid black. They are quite similar to mottled when hatched. Do you have photos? My fav black cochin roos looked very much like mottled when they were just days old.