BYC Valentine's Day Hatch-a-Long

[Debbie292d]

Valentine's Day is Friday, February 14th, 2025.

February is when the chicks start hitting the farm stores. Hatcheries do well in February, as there aren't many of us hatching now. One reason is we aren't getting too many eggs, if any.

This year, I'm going to save up any eggs I get, set them, and see what hatches.

Hatch Date: February 14.

Who's with me?

 

[TesoroSena]

Following along!

 

[Barbours]

Yay, this should be fun!!!

 

[casportpony]

I set some Muscovy eggs on the 10th!

 

[Hannah Jean]

Following!

 

[Noraaaaa]

Exited to see results!

 

[Waightbrandy81]

I'm taking your guys's advice and doing what I can. My girls stopped laying last Spring. I haven't had any eggs last year. Flock is about 3yr... My rooster seems to be getting restless.

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm taking your guys's advice and doing what I can. My girls stopped laying last Spring. I haven't had any eggs last year. Flock is about 3yr... My rooster seems to be getting restless.

You're using a layer feed or all-flock with oyster shell on the side?
That's too long for us to say it's the weather. Some breeds, probably a lot of them, start tapering around three years, but I hear of a lot of folks having five-year-old birds, even older, still laying like usual. It may be a good idea for you to start some chicks this spring, but if you don't want to deal with more roosters, you'd have to buy them from a hatchery or breeder that pre-sexes them, and those run a little higher.

 

[Debbie292d]

I have been saving eggs for weeks. Some might have gotten frozen but didn't crack, some will be a month old, so about 50% hatch rate at best on those. I'll have a few over 3 dozen by the 24th, but, just going to hope for about half of them to hatch. I get about 3 eggs a day so may give the older ones to the hubby since he might be running short.

My neighbor wants me to hatch her some buff orpingtons as she's rebuilding her flock, but is going to be using her incubator for goose eggs, so I might have some of hers. I am not for sure, as they weren't laying so well either a few days ago.

I'll have a total here on the 24th when I set whatever I can get my hands on.

 

[Debbie292d]

For anyone with chicken eggs or any eggs that take 21 days to hatch by Valentine's Day, tomorrow is the day!