8th-annual-byc-new-years-day-2017-hatch-a-long

[FreedomFarm13]

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it finally happened. I FINALLY, after 9 long months of waiting, got my very first blue egg from my blue ameraucana girl, Cora. I actually predicted yesterday to my mom that she was gonna lay today, and lo and behold, there it was, nestled in the nesting box all cozy and still warm from being laid

I've never been so proud! Valentine's Day puffy cheeked babies, here I come!!! She will have been laying for about a month by the time I start gathering eggs for that, so hopefully my little cockerel is doing his job

I'm sooooo excited that I might have my own Am babies very soon!!! Pics:
Proud Cora:

Her beautiful egg:

 

[pennyJo1960]

@FreedomFarm13 Congratulations always exciting when our new ones get old enough to lay

 

[teaton]

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it finally happened. I FINALLY, after 9 long months of waiting, got my very first blue egg from my blue ameraucana girl, Cora. I actually predicted yesterday to my mom that she was gonna lay today, and lo and behold, there it was, nestled in the nesting box all cozy and still warm from being laid

I've never been so proud! Valentine's Day puffy cheeked babies, here I come!!! She will have been laying for about a month by the time I start gathering eggs for that, so hopefully my little cockerel is doing his job

I'm sooooo excited that I might have my own Am babies very soon!!! Pics:
Proud Cora:

Her beautiful egg:

Nice! Love the color!!

 

[lpyrbby]

Man, getting those colored eggs sure is exciting! What a great color too!

Another noob question. Lockdown is supposed to be Thursday, the 29th. I still have to work that day, so I won't be ready to lockdown until probably 7PM that night. Should I consider removing the turner the night before, say at like 11PM on the 28th, or just hedge my bets and wait until the evening of the 29th?

 

[ronott1]

Man, getting those colored eggs sure is exciting! What a great color too!

Another noob question. Lockdown is supposed to be Thursday, the 29th. I still have to work that day, so I won't be ready to lockdown until probably 7PM that night. Should I consider removing the turner the night before, say at like 11PM on the 28th, or just hedge my bets and wait until the evening of the 29th?

You can do whatever works for you. Turning is not necessary at that time. The important thing is to get humidity up and keep it up for hatching.

 

[lpyrbby]

You can do whatever works for you. Turning is not necessary at that time. The important thing is to get humidity up and keep it up for hatching.

That could work, actually. I can take the turner out the night of the 28th and then have husband load the tray with water on the 29th while I'm at work to get things going Thank you!

 

[orrpeople]

That could work, actually. I can take the turner out the night of the 28th and then have husband load the tray with water on the 29th while I'm at work to get things going Thank you! 

In my experience, it takes a bit of "add water, wait and see what the humidity does" and repeat until I've got it where I want it. My hygrometer is very slow to respond (like an hour!)

 

[lpyrbby]

In my experience, it takes a bit of "add water, wait and see what the humidity does" and repeat until I've got it where I want it. My hygrometer is very slow to respond (like an hour!)

Point noted. Mine seems to respond pretty quickly, but does take a bit longer to stabilize. My husband is out on Workman's Comp though, so he'll be home to monitor it. It won't be difficult to get it to the 60s, I know that much. My bigger concern is waiting until the evening of the 29th and having *early* pips. I don't want to compromise any of the eggs if possible. In a perfect world, I won't have any pips that early LOL I'd rather they at least wait until Friday night when I'm home for the weekend to do their thing.

 

[orrpeople]

Point noted. Mine seems to respond pretty quickly, but does take a bit longer to stabilize. My husband is out on Workman's Comp though, so he'll be home to monitor it. It won't be difficult to get it to the 60s, I know that much. My bigger concern is waiting until the evening of the 29th and having *early* pips. I don't want to compromise any of the eggs if possible. In a perfect world, I won't have any pips that early LOL I'd rather they at least wait until Friday night when I'm home for the weekend to do their thing. 

You are so right - a little early is better than too late! I hope those babieswill show some courtesy and wait for their mama to get home to see them hatch!!

 

[Cynthia12]

I love seeing all these pictures everyone! Makes me want to hatch out a bunch of chick babys...

But ahh...im having terrible luck with hatching! The beautiful little lone chick i hatched out died today......the cat has somehow figured to open the incubator and i figured he did something to the baby....heartbroken...

I thought i secured the incubator, but i went to it at least 30 mins ago and the lid was completely off and ALL the eggs were ice cold...all are dead expect one which is due to hatch soon...but that has a massive crack along the side, the cat learnt how to roll eggs...looks like i wont be having a new years hatch...darn cat.

So sorry!