APRIL Hatch-A-Long 2015: PLEASE READ FIRST POST

[Kendrain]

Ok now that some have had successful hatches. How do you sex your chicks and how accurate have you been?

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

I am so excited. I just found this page yesterday. I set more eggs after I set for the 6th annual HAL. I tried to make a known mother go broody but it didn't work. So I placed her eggs in the bator I tried to have her sit on. They are hatching! One is fully hatched. One is externally pipped. 2 are internally pipped and 2 are making knocking noises in the shells. They are ALL alive! In the HAL I set 17 eggs. One hatched and it died the next day due to a feeder mistake. So my little heart is racing! Loving to hear my hatching babies.

 

[LBKS]

Ok now that some have had successful hatches. How do you sex your chicks and how accurate have you been?

Since I raise them out a far ways to select from, I don't bother sexing until it is obvious. So I'm no help here!

Update: up to 19 out, 2 in process, and a couple moving when candled. Looking at a close to 50% hatch rate right now at day 23 ending.

 

[jenntucker2000]

I have one on it's way few others are moving like crazy

 

[jenntucker2000]

I have one on it's way few others are moving like crazy

 

[Purpletie3]

Day 15 today...7 little eggs in the brinsea mini. I thought it was foolproof and came back to find that my bf had both the wells full of water. Apparently, not boyfriend proof. Since the eggs are such a deep green I can not even see into them. We will know this weekend if my eggs are dead or not.

We have a nice collection of 18 eggs to incubate. Hoping to collect 24 to start!

I hope everyone else is doing well with their hatches! Time for me to get building some hutches!

 

[jenntucker2000]

I have 2 now lol

 

[Purpletie3]

I have 2 now lol

Sounds like you are going to have a fun and busy day! Enjoy!

 

[scflock]

Ok now that some have had successful hatches. How do you sex your chicks and how accurate have you been?

Some breeds are easier than others. My cuckoo marans I can guess with about 90% accuracy by the color of the down feathers. My last batch of EEs is my first try at guessing going by wing length in the first few days, and I think that is going to be 100%. My Polish, d'uccle, and silkies are much harder, for me anyway. Everytime I think I have it figured out, one surprises me. I have sold silkie "pullets" at 8 weeks that I had to exchange when they started crowing. I don't even try to sell them any more until I am absolutely certain, which is usually 3-4 months.

Speaking of silkies, my broody hatched 7 of nine for her HAL. I candled 24 cuckoo marans at day13, and I think I have 20 developers, 2 questionable, and 2 infertiles. Those eggs are just so hard the see through that I just have to go by the silhouette

 

[SoProlix]

Candled the turkeys at day 14 and chickens day 7. Looks like 9/12 BRs and 10/12 EEs are developing. Pretty happy with that for my first time.