April 2021 Hatch - A - Long

[The Cave]

Yay, even more silkies!

Team Silkie!!!

 

[Kholts]

I’m jumping into this thread. Hope you guys aren’t opposed to Ducklings in this thread! (Couldn’t find a duck specific April hatch a long). It will be my 1st ever duck hatch! My March chicken hatch went sooo good (20 of 24 hatched)& now I’m hoping the same for my duck eggs.

I set them on the 20th so hatch day is April 17th-19th as I added eggs on day 1 & 2 as my girls were laying them. I marked each so I know while candling. I won’t be candling until day 10 (perhaps 14 if I can make it).

 

[LowcoMatt]

Team Silkie!!!

@LadiesAndJane

any input for a first time hatcher of silkie eggs? Maybe peculiarities? Or commonly need to assist hatching. Anything like that? I’m going to try and be more hands off than I was last time.

last go around I had all 9 develop but only 5 make it to hatch and I think that may in part be because I was frequently inspecting.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

@LadiesAndJane

any input for a first time hatcher of silkie eggs? Maybe peculiarities? Or commonly need to assist hatching. Anything like that? I’m going to try and be more hands off than I was last time.

last go around I had all 9 develop but only 5 make it to hatch and I think that may in part be because I was frequently inspecting.

I totally get it. I have a hard time leaving things be as well.
Candling daily does not hurt anything. Remember a broody hen will get off the nest 1-2 times day for up to an hour.
I think most important to not open the incubator too much during lockdown, something I am guilty of.
I do not think silkies necessarily need more help than others. Though I have experienced that ones with vaulted skulls tend to have a bit more difficulty getting out of the shell. Silkies come in a vaulted and a non vaulted skull variety. You can have both in the same batch of chicks.
Goes back to when polish were introduced to improve crest size.
I think the real difference is shipped vs non shipped eggs.
I have some shipped eggs on the Easter HAL that I am treating very differently this time, hoping for a better hatch rate than this last go round.
Some say silkie eggs need a bit higher humidity, due to their smaller size, but I had good results with my own eggs with a humidity of 25%.
The shipped eggs though that I am currently incubating are running about 35-40%.
Are the eggs you are getting shipped?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I’m jumping into this thread. Hope you guys aren’t opposed to Ducklings in this thread! (Couldn’t find a duck specific April hatch a long). It will be my 1st ever duck hatch! My March chicken hatch went sooo good (20 of 24 hatched)& now I’m hoping the same for my duck eggs.

I set them on the 20th so hatch day is April 17th-19th as I added eggs on day 1 & 2 as my girls were laying them. I marked each so I know while candling. I won’t be candling until day 10 (perhaps 14 if I can make it).

Ducklings are more than welcome! Can't wait to see photos of what you hatch!
Congrats on the great chick hatch!

 

[abpatchy]

I'm joining!

So, the person I was saving eggs for hasn't replied, and I was stressing out about them dropping in fertility, when the suggestion came: "set them!" So, two minutes later I was in the basement plugging in the 'bator.

I'm using a Hovabator 1588 for the second time. I think the temp was too low last time so I upped it a notch. I think. The temp settings are confusing. Oh well, I did my best!

In a few minutes I'll set over a dozen silkie eggs and maybe some silkie/bantam Orpington mixes. I'll report the exact count soon.

Let the party begin!

I just sold some hatching eggs as well. I told myself if he doesn't show up... no stress, I'll just set them myself... my machine will hold those as well as the ones I am collecting for myself... NO problem!
And wouldn't you know it the guy came and picked them up!!!??

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I have lots of eggs in my incubators, hopefully most of them will be hatching in April.. American Buff Goose eggs, Call Duck eggs, Turkey eggs, Pita Pintas, Bielefelders, Large Cochins, Faverolle, and Blue Maran eggs. Also my White Large Cochin just decided to go broody!

 

[sassychickens76]

I have a black cochin bantam hen that went broody 4 days ago! She's only sitting on 4 or 5 eggs. Was 5, checked today and only 4. If you have any ideas on what happened, please post to my 'broody hen' thread. Due on April 8th.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen.1451733/

 

[LowcoMatt]

I totally get it. I have a hard time leaving things be as well.
Candling daily does not hurt anything. Remember a broody hen will get off the nest 1-2 times day for up to an hour.
I think most important to not open the incubator too much during lockdown, something I am guilty of.
I do not think silkies necessarily need more help than others. Though I have experienced that ones with vaulted skulls tend to have a bit more difficulty getting out of the shell. Silkies come in a vaulted and a non vaulted skull variety. You can have both in the same batch of chicks.
Goes back to when polish were introduced to improve crest size.
I think the real difference is shipped vs non shipped eggs.
I have some shipped eggs on the Easter HAL that I am treating very differently this time, hoping for a better hatch rate than this last go round.
Some say silkie eggs need a bit higher humidity, due to their smaller size, but I had good results with my own eggs with a humidity of 25%.
The shipped eggs though that I am currently incubating are running about 35-40%.
Are the eggs you are getting shipped?

Local pickups. Some shells already have cracks, but are whole, one or two have saddled air sac. But the rest seem fine, maybe I could see the higher humidity recommendation. These seem to be shrinking down a bit more than I expected them too. But you know I’m sooo experienced at this! Been doing it for days!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Local pickups. Some shells already have cracks, but are whole, one or two have saddled air sac. But the rest seem fine, maybe I could see the higher humidity recommendation. These seem to be shrinking down a bit more than I expected them too. But you know I’m soool experienced at this! Been doing it for days!

You learn something every hatch.
Your chances are better, not being shipped. You can put a little nail polish on the cracks to seal them.