April 2023 Hatch-A-Long

[junior67]

I’ve had good luck breaking newish broodies by moving them to the pearch after dark. Like they’re confused enough by it being nighttime that it overrides their broody nest homing program.

I spoke too soon........ She was off for 90% of the day...... then when they went in to roost, well actually I think she went in like 1-2 hrs before, she went back to the box...... And we were out at a wedding and didn't get home till 1am so I wasn't going out to move her...... UGH! was so hoping she broke that easy. guess tomorrow I will kick her off as much as I can and hopefully put her on the roost tomorrow night but we are out again but hopefully not too late.

 

[junior67]

woohoo. it is April so hatch month!!!!!!!!!

 

[Honora]

Lockdown tomorrow! Would you leave one row of turners in for the staggered eggs or put them in the open incubator?

I would remove all turners in case the hatched chicks get caught in them. Maybe you could hand turn the eggs as fast as possible and then close up the incubator again for lockdown? Sorry I have no experience with staggered hatches but that’s what I would do.

 

[Dinoroar]

I though my march hatch was wrapped up last night but While clearing out the remaining eggs I found an April fools surprise

 

[junior67]

Lockdown tomorrow! Would you leave one row of turners in for the staggered eggs or put them in the open incubator?

what day are the others on? That would make a difference in what I would do.

 

[Honora]

My daughter was able to get 2 eggs away from the broody hen for a quick candle (day 8). One of the eggs looked good & we saw some movement. The other egg had a very wobbly air cell so I think there have probably been other hens going in the box and bothering her. Did not see any movement in the bad air cell egg. But at least one egg is developing well so that’s a good sign.

 

[Cluckatar]

I worried way too early. Hatching continued from my early Thursday chick right through to this morning when I found a very full incubator with 14 chicks. 4 of my Mosaic x Cream Legbars and 10 Splash Marans from 14 shipped eggs. I actually disposed of two eggs the first day when I dropped the incubator lid on them, so it's really 10 from 12 that went through incubation. Super pleased. Where will I put these chickens???

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Last candling done last night, and lockdown has begun! Hatch date is Tuesday, April 4th. I pitched out one quitter. Looks like it was maybe day 10-14, it was the one egg in which I watched a bubble float up from the air sac when I candled them a week ago, and which had lost far more weight than it should have already.

I have three more which are in question, but not enough evidence to toss them out - so I'll just wait and see (and sniff) what happens.

33 others looking good! Getting brooder ready tomorrow.

 

[Kikilu]

Got an email from where I’m getting my shipped eggs and once they get one more of my wheaten Ameraucana eggs they are ready to go!
So I imagine I’ll be setting eggs by next weekend for my third and final hatch (I think ha) this year!
I still have seven 6 week olds and nine 2 week olds in the house ahaha

 

[MiddleAmerican]

I set 22 Dominique eggs today for a hatch date of April 22nd.