April 2021 Hatch - A - Long

[SegiDream]

Hatched 10/10 Swedish Flower hen eggs, 100 percent hatch rate.
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I'm bragging only because it's a great feeling, lol.

For sure that would be a great feeling, worth bragging about too lol. Congrats!

I'm hoping for a 100% hatch rate too, though I know everyone does. It's just that I built this particular incubator and I have been hand turning, plus built a separate pen and "coop" and separated the hen and rooster for a month before collecting eggs so I've put a lot of time and effort into these eggs to say the least lol. All 7 are viable showing movement and the air cells seem to be good, lockdown starts in a few days.

My timing was a little off cause I was aiming for a weekend hatch. I didn't realize the counting starts the day after you place them in the incubator. So hatch day is Sunday and I'll be working that night *nail biting*. I'm hoping if they do hatch they'll be fine in there for a little while. The 'egg tray' is a wire box with rubber shelf liner so they're unlikely to fall or get trapped in the meantime, I just hope they hatch when I can be there and monitor progress.

At least I'll have the weekend to get the brooder ready. I was planning to use a heat lamp again but I was browsing the river and found a heating pad that I would like to try. They spent their whole egg life with a heat lamp, I'd like to offer them a more natural day/night cycle if possible. But the heat lamp will be on standby lol.

 

[FortCluck]

I have another broody. Going to give her 2 eggs. I’ll swap the eggs for chicks (in 13 days) then I’ll put those eggs in the incubator. Then I’ll have chicks for the next broodies. I’d like at least 1-2 chicks per broody.

 

[Honora]

Is your Swedish Flower hen brooding?

No, 2 buff Orpingtons. One of my Swedish Flower hens sometimes acts like she is going broody but the longest she ever sat for was 2 days. Maybe she will someday?
Hatch day for my broodies today but no sign of chicks yet. I’ll check later.

 

[BDutch]

I have another broody. Going to give her 2 eggs. I’ll swap the eggs for chicks (in 13 days) then I’ll put those eggs in the incubator. Then I’ll have chicks for the next broodies. I’d like at least 1-2 chicks per broody.

I like the use of an incubator idea for a next time I want chicks with bought fertilised eggs. I can go to pick up eggs of my choice with or even without a broody. And when I do have a steady broody in the exact place where I want her I can give her eggs that have been 7-17 days in the incubator. This way I can toss the bad eggs. And the broody only gets the eggs with life in them to sit on. If it doesn’t work out with a broody there is enough time to buy / build all the chick stuff I need.

 

[FortCluck]

I like the use of an incubator idea for a next time I want chicks with bought fertilised eggs. I can go to pick up eggs of my choice with or even without a broody. And when I do have a steady broody in the exact place where I want her I can give her eggs that have been 7-17 days in the incubator. This way I can toss the bad eggs. And the broody only gets the eggs with life in them to sit on. If it doesn’t work out with a broody there is enough time to buy / build all the chick stuff I need.

Incubators come in handy when you have broodies. My incubator is usually used for quail eggs because coturnix usually don’t hatch their own eggs.

 

[spryng]

Day 20 and I have my first pips! First time incubating so I'm beyond excited! Here is a pic of a couple of them, is that normally the spot pips begin at?

 

[Erba]

Whoopie we got chicks. They pipped yesterday and now I've got four out and dang incubator, cause I can't see how many are also pipping. Today is their hatch date, so temperature must of been good...thought it might be running too cool. Not so. Anyway, it never gets old for me or my dog, we're both very excited!!

 

[ChickBro]

Today is April 13th.......BABY CHICKS ARE HATCHING!!! I got up this morning and one is already out of the shell(I wish I could have recorded it ). Sorry, the picture is blurry.


Chick Number #1: He is an RIR Rooster x California White Hen.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Day 20 and I have my first pips! First time incubating so I'm beyond excited! Here is a pic of a couple of them, is that normally the spot pips begin at?

Looks good! Easier to tell if you mark the aircells (I just outline with pencil). Next time.
Good luck with the hatch!

 

[spryng]

Looks good! Easier to tell if you mark the aircells (I just outline with pencil). Next time.
Good luck with the hatch!

Thank you! This will be the first of many hatches this year so that is good to know, thanks! They are chirping away in there now and I see 7 eggs total with external pips, I'm excited!