August Hatch-A-Long

[yeye5]

@Wytchcat Thank you for starting this hatch-along!
I've been MIA for a couple of months (just lots going on in life) but I came on to ask a question about something unrelated to hatching and I couldn't help but check the hatch-alongs. Once I see one, I am totally Hooked!
In "The Silkie House" (I nickname my coops) I have 2 nests going. Mima started on 10 eggs. But, as is their habit, the other hens have no problem climbing in a laying on top of her...so I've lost count by now. Antonia (Mima's daughter) has her nest next door (which is about 6 inches away). She had a very difficult run at her 1st brood in early spring. This time she seems to be doing great!
Both of these ladies started 2 weeks ago today.
In "The Condo" the only silkie in that coop, Zuza, is also on eggs. I discovered today that the reason it seemed those hens had stopped laying (I thought it was the heat) was bcs they've started doing the same...laying eggs into the nest that's occupied. And they have 3 other places they could lay and have laid in recently! Silly chickens.
Zuza is 2 weeks in tomorrow.
So I'll be an early hatcher in August...then I can sit back (hopefully) and enjoy reading everyone else's adventures

 

[yeye5]

I have a bit of a hatch-along update...One of Mima's daughters--Chula who's a blue/partridge silkie--has joined the brooding nest and is now squeezed in beside Mima in the nest! (She just couldn't help it!)
This actually seems like a very good plan as there are eggs that will hatch this coming friday and others that will hatch for a week after that!
I always have the weirdest hatches...

 

[Finge]

I have some mixed breed polish and RIR eggs in the incubator that are going on their 13th day. I believe all but one are developing, but that one is cracked because I tried to move it with the eggs still inside and lost 3 eggs, now counting 4.

This is my very first hatch using little giant incubator, which I know is very unreliable so I have another thermometer and hygrometer in there. I'm hand turning these suckers, so this will be my only batch of the year unless I buy an automated turner so I don't have to worry while i'm at school about turning the eggs.

Though i'm a bit concerned since I have 4 week old chicks that occupying my brooder coop, and will be about 6 weeks when the new chicks hatch, and i'd hate to put the new chicks in the garage in fall.

 

[ChickenMama6RIR]

My chicks should hatch on Friday...

 

[holly83]

We have four black Cochin bantam eggs currently in the incubator two of which were set last week and are fertile. Two more we set over the weekend and then yesterday we added 14 shipped Brahma eggs and blue Partridge and buff laced. I waited six hours to set the shipped eggs but I'm wondering now if I should've waited longer. Their air cells we're not completely detached but some of them were a bit loose. We are hatching them up right in a carton with the pointy end down.

 

[yeye5]

The 3rd hen (another of Mima's daughters) has piled into the brooding nest! I can't believe they all fit!
So as of now, the 3 broodies will (hopefully) start their hatch this friday morning.
Antoniaa--in the nest beside theirs--will also start (hopefully) her hatch omn friday!
And, next coop over, Zuza will start her hatch this coming saturday!
I have fingers crossed that it all goes well!

 

[aliciaplus3]

Went into lockdown with 12 shipped bielefelder eggs last night. Started with 17 and pulled 5 clears. As I understand it that's not bad for shipped eggs.

 

[ChickenMama6RIR]

Lock down is 3 days right?

 

[aliciaplus3]

Yes day 18 so the last 3 days lol

 

[aliciaplus3]

I guess I don't technically "lockdown" as I still open the bator to check on them and adjust humidity.