APRIL Hatch a long ......Anyone?

[Orps]

I have Ameracana or EE chicks.
I didn't get a good hatching rate. 4 out of 12 eggs

 

[CSWolffe]

Well, only one chick from my second batch of 9 Marans hatched. Sigh. No more mail order eggs for me, I fear.
On the plus side I did find a local hatcher(not a breeder, she buys the eggs, hatches them, sexes them, and then sells them) where I was able to get to more guaranteed Marans pullets. One promptly died the day after her 4 day health guarantee. >.<
So out of 24 total mail ordered eggs and a trip to the hatcher, I have a six week old possible pullet Lavender Americana, one likely pullet one unknown FBCM week-old chicks. These are some **** expensive hens, I tell you what! Good thing they are pets and not a money making investment!

 

[Sterl18]

My situation was nearly the exact same. 22 eggs, 13 made it to day 18, 5 hatched, 3 live!

I'm not sure I want to continue.
However, I have an idea for next time that may yield better results.

But 3 live! Don't give up! Did you post pics? The four I hatched are all doing great, but four weeks later it looks like I only have one pullet in the batch...maybe two, but I think I'm fooling myself with the possible second one. I thought I was done for the year, but I have a hen that is broody so I'm getting eggs for her this weekend. Worst case scenario is I'll have more than three roosters for the freezer or stock pot later this summer. (I say that like it's no big deal to dispatch them...sigh.)

I'm sorry about the little guy that hatched but did not make it...it sure doesn't take much interaction to get attached to the little guys. : (

 

[Sterl18]

Well, only one chick from my second batch of 9 Marans hatched. Sigh. No more mail order eggs for me, I fear.
On the plus side I did find a local hatcher(not a breeder, she buys the eggs, hatches them, sexes them, and then sells them) where I was able to get to more guaranteed Marans pullets. One promptly died the day after her 4 day health guarantee. >.<
So out of 24 total mail ordered eggs and a trip to the hatcher, I have a six week old possible pullet Lavender Americana, one likely pullet one unknown FBCM week-old chicks. These are some **** expensive hens, I tell you what! Good thing they are pets and not a money making investment!

Well that settles it...I am going to spend a very long day driving round trip to pick up some hatching eggs. And I only feel slightly crazy for rationalizing the trip. : )

 

[Sterl18]

I have Ameracana or EE chicks.
I didn't get a good hatching rate. 4 out of 12 eggs

Ah, but Orps, they sure are four super cute EE's!

 

[goodb]

But 3 live! Don't give up! Did you post pics? The four I hatched are all doing great, but four weeks later it looks like I only have one pullet in the batch...maybe two, but I think I'm fooling myself with the possible second one. I thought I was done for the year, but I have a hen that is broody so I'm getting eggs for her this weekend. Worst case scenario is I'll have more than three roosters for the freezer or stock pot later this summer. (I say that like it's no big deal to dispatch them...sigh.)

I'm sorry about the little guy that hatched but did not make it...it sure doesn't take much interaction to get attached to the little guys. : (

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I have dug a little and I was one of those who closed the vents to raise the humidity. In so doing, I might have suffocated the ones who didn't pip. Also, my pips didn't start until day 23 so that would further instigate. An eggtopsy showed that all were fully developed. The last one was a pure BA and it could not use it's left leg though it could move it. I was going to tape the two legs together (like in splayed-leg treatment) which might have worked. But I didn't get the opportunity. I have a couple pictures but this video you may enjoy more.

 

[Sterl18]

Quote: OMGosh, a tub full of chicks!! So cute!!

I think I did the exact opposite, too many vents because I was so paranoid about suffocating them, especially the one that did hatch out on his own. Too many vents combined with the fan that was running at full voltage and I just couldn't keep the humidity high enough. I've looked halfheartedly for air opening area vs incubator volume so I can modify my bator...haven't found that data yet.

 

[NuggetsNuggets]

I'm a newbie chicken mom as of this morning... I think I made your hatch-a-long for April just in time. Still have 34 unhatched eggs as I'm typing this, but 7 babies this morning!

 

[Shellz]

Sorry to hear the sad stories/low hatch rates. There's quite a learning curve. Don't beat yourselves up! Try again when you're ready. It gets better the more you learn. That being said, I had my limit with the LG incubator & tossed it to the curb! Enter the Brinsea. 90% hatch rate first time running. I wish everyone could have one of these!

Those Ameraucanas/EEs are adorable!

Wish I could post pics, but Internet is so slow right now. Will post May 1st when it'll be better.

 

[bantambury]

I have Ameracana or EE chicks.
I didn't get a good hatching rate. 4 out of 12 eggs

awe! im sorry!

I only set 3 eggs and all were healthy until day 15 when one died. I was so sad and bummed. now my broody only has 2 chicks, but shes as happy as can be!