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

[valleychicks]

So, now I'm wondering. The hen gets off the nest for ~2 hours per day. But, does she stay on the nest during "lock down?" If so, how does she know when it's time to do "lock down?" Could it be when she hears the first internal peep?

I noticed during the duration of the hatch a long, our BO hen would get up to eat, relieve herself, stretch and sometimes get a dirt bath. She would stay away from the nest for at least 30 minutes sometimes. She didn't do all of this every day but she did eat and relieve herself at least twice a day everyday up until I saw the first egg with a pip. The Silkie hen I believe would rather sit and starve herself to keep those eggs warm. I would wait until the BO was back in the nest and make the Silkie hen get up and eat and relieve herself. She would only stay gone about 5 to 10 minutes. Like the BO I could not coax her from the nest once the first pip happened. Once I saw that they would go hungry because the chicks were starting to pip and hatch, I kept food and water almost in the nest so they didn't have to get up. At this time a couple of times the Silkie relieved herself in the nest and I had to clean it up. She never did this on the eggs just on the outer side of the nest. The BO would jump out of the nest box and relieve herself then jump back in.

 

[Roan]

Cool, so there is (as expected) a breed and/or hen personality differential. But there could also be a seasonal differential as well. Since it's winter, I don't suspect they would get off the nest for a full 2 hours unless they are kept in a climate controlled environment. However, the main point to my question was about the "lock down" and both showed a definite determination not to leave the nest once the first peep was heard.

Therefore, I think it would be safe to conclude (until more data can be collected) that if there were an early pip, then the broody would begin "lock down" immediately. For instance, if a chick pipped on day 17, the broody's "lock down" time would start from that very day and time and would likely not end until either the hatched chicks start to roam too far from the nest or all of the eggs have hatched.

On a different note (and to re-re-hash this since shipped hatching eggs are so fragile)
Eggs collected for shipment, should be collected 5 days prior to ship date. Then, there is 1 to 2 days of shipment and 1 day for the eggs to settle before setting.

So eggs should not be ordered less than 8 days before scheduled set date, correct?

5 collection days
2 travel days*
1 settling day
8 days prior to set day.

Whereas collection should begin for local eggs 10 days prior to set day. Which means that there is only a 2 day difference for collection vs ordering.

*Seasonal delays can be expected.

 

[blackgoat]

Okay, when I saw that first picture, I thought you were showcasing some porcelain chick figurines you'd purchased somewhere! They are so gorgeous! That specular coloring on the wings! Wow! Just Wow!

Thanks XD! I was trying to make it look like they came out of a gift-box! lol!

 

[MrsBrooke]

Very nice chart. If you don't mind, I'd like to use it in the Chicken Farm Worksheet Super Suite. (lol that's such a mouth full!)

I would be honored.

MrsB

 

[casportpony]

Congrats on all the cute chicks!

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Okay, so I saw lots of chicken chick and some quail, but no ducklings? Did anyone hatch any waterfowl?

-Kathy

 

[hennible]

JW12 hatched ducks

 

[Amberjem]

JW12 hatched ducks

arent they due soon?

 

[casportpony]

JW12 hatched ducks

Did they post pictures?

-Kathy

 

[hennible]

They hatched... Think he got 6...