APRIL HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[scarlsens]

Who ever said they hatch like "popcorn" was right!!!! It was so fun to watch them, they were so quick to hatch

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Day22-
8 chicks Hatched

2 yellow chicks in the incubator (not quite Dry)
5 black & 1 yellow chicks into the Brooder.

1 pips visible
15 eggs to go.
I start work tomorrow, so I was hoping they would all be here this morning.....but they are not.

ETA:

 

[arbucklemurphy]

Keep your hopes up PandoraTaylor I had a few egg's I had lost hopes on there hatch date was wednesday and I left them in there but didn't really think they would hatch and sure enough I went over there this morning and two were zipped. sending good hatching vibes your way

 

[PandoraTaylor]

I have not given up hope.....
I will leave them for a few more days as the temperature was lower than normal for the first few days of this setting, (thermometer bad & had to replace).
When I candled on Day 14 there were several development stages present.
It will just be a long, long hatch.
I will not be here to monitor them during the day starting tomorrow.....but will check them AM & PM, and make any additions to water and remove hatchlings as I can.

ETA:
Having more than one incubator helps......

I have another 30 eggs set for the April 29th date.....so they have time.

 

[beckymom3]

I'm so glad I logged in today. I've been staring at my last few Brahma eggs and wondering when, when, when?

\\ and reading these posts gives me the courage to wait for them.

After a long and arduous experience with my Dorkings, having to help out 4 that had shrink wrapped despite my obsessive efforts not to open the incubator, and 2 others dying in the shell, I've been sooo worried. Most of these were in my LG still air and had many temp fluctuations and humidity issues early on, but 23 of the original 35 made it to lockdown alive and kicking.

So far, 7 hatched on their own, 2 had zipped for over 48 hours! so I helped them and had to peel away membranes that had stuck onto their faces and necks keeping them from turning and continuing the zip. Another just popped out after only a few hours and was nice and wet so I'm hoping my bumping humidity to the low 80's will help those who have yet to pip keep wet enough to make it out. Today is day 23 and I'd like to give them until the 25th day before giving up....

I have 1 zipping slowly as I write, another pip with movement visible.

So, the following have successfully made it out alive and well:

8 Dorkings (4 natural, 4 helped, 2 died in the shell)--total eggs started, 13
12 Australorps (all fast hatches within about 15 hrs, no issues at all, same incubation conditions as the Dorkings, same hatch conditions as the Brahmas)
10 Brahmas (8 natural, 2 helped)

That leaves 13 for me to chew my fingernails over as I head off to work!

The interesting thing in all this is those darn cute Australorps: they were shipped eggs like the Brahmas, incubated with the Dorkings (not shipped, local), then hatched with the Brahmas. And all the ones who made it to lockdown hatched! I lost 3 of them overall as quitters, that's it. What do you think that means? How can I improve my chances for this next hatch coming up?

Come on, babies, come on!!!!

 

[arbucklemurphy]

I'm no expert but some breeds seem easier to hatch than others. I've heard this from others as well some of the breeds are a little heartier that others? I don't really know why but it just seems to be that way.

 

[chickenmeadow]

Quote:
That's great, the Coturnix are hatching out! They have the most interesting colored eggs. Have fun with them!

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Sad news Egg #4 pipped through the yolk, so I don't know if it will make it or not, I removed the part that was stuck in it's beak, and wrapped in a warm wet papertowel and placed it back into the incubator on it's side with the beak pointed up.
we now have 8 in the brooder.
15 eggs to go.....

 

[CaliBlueChicken]

Quote:
Oh how cute! I hope that your little one is okay that piped through the yolk... just do the best you can

 

[krstms]

Final count:

Out of 9 b/b Ameraucanas
1 blue out and fluffy
3 black out and fluffy
1 blue out but yolk not absorbed yet(may not make it)
2-pipped through yolk sac and died in shell
2-never pipped and died shortly before hatch time


Out of 8 mixes-ameraucana/white rock(a few turned out to be BO/white rock)

5 out and fluffy
3 died in shell shortly before hatch day


So a total of 9 possibly 10 live chicks from 17 viable eggs that developed all the way to hatch.
Not the best hatch rate but definitely my best. I am satisfied with it. I will be moving my chick with the unabsorbed yolk sac(she's wrapped in a warm wet rag) to a spot with a heat lamp on her to keep her warm. I have to clean the incubator as I need to put in my 23 shipped eggs I just recieved within the last 2 days. 11 BCM and 12 blue andalusian plus any of my extras I can get.
I will post some pictures of my chickies tomorrow. I have class tonight and wont have time.

I sure hope your chick makes it pandora.

for you!!!!!