Bay Area BYCers!

[wolftracks]

I'm doing my very first hatch. I'm almost at the end of day 20 and no sign of anything happening. I turned off the egg turner a couple of days ago and upped the humidity - currently running at 60% humidity and 99.5 degrees. Does that sound OK? Should I have taken the eggs out of the turner or is it ok to just leave them in it? Also, is it too late to candle? I haven't done it as yet but I don't want to ruin the chicks chances by doing it now if it's dangerous for them.
I'll be really disappointed if I don't get a single chick, but worse, I have 20 kindergartners coming over tomorrow (at the end of day 21) and it'll be tragic if they don't see any action.

I always say that chicks are like any other baby. They come when they're ready. You probably won;t see anything happening till tonight or tomorrow morning.


I don't now if I'm bummed or not. I have really nice Silver Phoenix. Two hens co-brooding and so far 7 chicks hatched, one died and more eggs to be hatched. I didn't set at once, they laid them as they went. Yesterday I was so excited, because the first 3 to feather in looked like pullets and the 4th like a cockerel. I don't know how I saw cockerel. So far all pullets. I wanted some pullets and I'm going to sell the extras, but this time around I need at least one great cockerel. I've hatched out so many roos every year and wait to see if I get girls, but this time, I'm hovering to watch those pretty colors coming in and nuttin! Guess if I get none this time or on the next few hatches, I'll at least have a couple of extra girls to try and hatch one from. I just really want a nice show roo.

 

[18Peeps]

I'm doing my very first hatch. I'm almost at the end of day 20 and no sign of anything happening. I turned off the egg turner a couple of days ago and upped the humidity - currently running at 60% humidity and 99.5 degrees. Does that sound OK? Should I have taken the eggs out of the turner or is it ok to just leave them in it? Also, is it too late to candle? I haven't done it as yet but I don't want to ruin the chicks chances by doing it now if it's dangerous for them.
I'll be really disappointed if I don't get a single chick, but worse, I have 20 kindergartners coming over tomorrow (at the end of day 21) and it'll be tragic if they don't see any action.

I'm crossing my fingers for you that those kindergarteners will get to see something . Could you google a hatch on youtube just in case for them? If they do not hatch by day 25, have you heard of the float test? I'm VERY new to incubating and do not pretend to be very knowledgable at all, but if by day 25 or so you are worried nobody's alive in there, one way to check is to float them in still warm water. If they wiggle, they are alive. If they do not, they are not. I'm certain day 20-21 is too early for this drastic of a measure though...again, crossing my fingers for you! Waiting is so hard.

 

[18Peeps]

I'm doing my very first hatch. I'm almost at the end of day 20 and no sign of anything happening. I turned off the egg turner a couple of days ago and upped the humidity - currently running at 60% humidity and 99.5 degrees. Does that sound OK? Should I have taken the eggs out of the turner or is it ok to just leave them in it? Also, is it too late to candle? I haven't done it as yet but I don't want to ruin the chicks chances by doing it now if it's dangerous for them.
I'll be really disappointed if I don't get a single chick, but worse, I have 20 kindergartners coming over tomorrow (at the end of day 21) and it'll be tragic if they don't see any action.

I really enjoyed this one minute clip of float testing. It doesn't say anything much, but you can see how they move if they are alive. Of course if they have pipped or if there is any sort of crack in the egg, you would not want to do it, but here is the link:

 

[khoe]

I am in Fremont! And a new chick parent. I'd love to meet other Bay Area chicken people, so when is the chicken meet? I just got two chicks from close feed in Hayward. Close feed is my favorite store, but my chicks seem to like mikes feed better for food.

 

[jeremy]

I think it's time to start planning a summer chickenstock/meet up...

Anyone wanna help out?

 

[khoe]

What help would be needed? I've never participated in one.

 

[wolftracks]

I am in Fremont! And a new chick parent. I'd love to meet other Bay Area chicken people, so when is the chicken meet? I just got two chicks from close feed in Hayward. Close feed is my favorite store, but my chicks seem to like mikes feed better for food.

I think it's time to start planning a summer chickenstock/meet up...

Anyone wanna help out?

I have been going to ask. I've also wanted to bring it up on the California thread. Karen gave a great one last summer, but no sure if she planned anything this year. Still we need one out by me too, but the Bay ain't that far! Can we setup to have a barista???

BTW, there's a page now on the thread, if you'd like to put your details on it. It's an open page for now, so you're welcome to use it.

 

[lualshannon]

I always say that chicks are like any other baby. They come when they're ready. You probably won;t see anything happening till tonight or tomorrow morning.


I don't now if I'm bummed or not. I have really nice Silver Phoenix. Two hens co-brooding and so far 7 chicks hatched, one died and more eggs to be hatched. I didn't set at once, they laid them as they went. Yesterday I was so excited, because the first 3 to feather in looked like pullets and the 4th like a cockerel. I don't know how I saw cockerel. So far all pullets. I wanted some pullets and I'm going to sell the extras, but this time around I need at least one great cockerel. I've hatched out so many roos every year and wait to see if I get girls, but this time, I'm hovering to watch those pretty colors coming in and nuttin! Guess if I get none this time or on the next few hatches, I'll at least have a couple of extra girls to try and hatch one from. I just really want a nice show roo.

I really hope that, one of your babies end up being an exceptionally handsome boy.

 

[wolftracks]

I really hope that, one of your babies end up being an exceptionally handsome boy.

Me too. Dad is very nice, my hens were show birds, but I want to breed my own exceptional roo.

 

[jeremy]

I have been going to ask. I've also wanted to bring it up on the California thread. Karen gave a great one last summer, but no sure if she planned anything this year. Still we need one out by me too, but the Bay ain't that far! Can we setup to have a barista???

BTW, there's a page now on the thread, if you'd like to put your details on it. It's an open page for now, so you're welcome to use it.

I'd like to do a (somewhat) local Bay Area one like we've done in the past, I know I've been out of touch with a lot of the old guard that used to frequent this thread and it would be nice to reconnect. I'd love to have you help Kim!

What help would be needed? I've never participated in one.

The biggest issue is almost always location... location, location, location! We have to find a relatively inexpensive site that can accommodate at least I'd say 30 people that also allows chickens... LOL.

Any ideas anyone?