BYC's 2025 Spooktacular Halloween Hatch-Along

[ella2025]

Those are washable rugs. I got them after my first batch of chicks got shaving everywhere. I ended up clogging my dishwasher cleaning feeders and waterers when I was half asleep one night and not paying attention.

I have two sets and wash them every 3-4 days. They're low pile so, most of the poop flakes off when its dry, I hose off the rest and then toss them in the washer.

That's so smart. Hey, I have some rugs in my house! They are washable too, except those are only washable once before i have to throw them out in disgust, haha.

 

[redinator]

Thank you SO MUCH!

Just paying it forward

 

[ella2025]

LOCKDOWN IS TOMORROW!!!! YAYY

I have a feeling my silkie chicks might hatch just on Wednesday! I'm so excited! I think most of my chicks will end up bluish, like these 2. Once I introduce them I might have to rehome saffron the little roo but I'll keep him for as long as I can.

 

[redinator]

That's so smart. Hey, I have some rugs in my house! They are washable too, except those are only washable once before i have to throw them out in disgust, haha.

https://a.co/d/3aLsgYj Here's the link to the ones I have. I'm very surprised how well they've held up for the price. I must've washed them at least 10 times. The color has faded a bit since I wash them on hot to sterilize them, but otherwise they're fine.

 

[redinator]

Day 17, 1 day to lockdown and last candling, 4 days to hatch.
I gave the eggs a once over to check for early pips and nothing so far.

 

[ella2025]

https://a.co/d/3aLsgYj Here's the link to the ones I have. I'm very surprised how well they've held up for the price. I must've washed them at least 10 times. The color has faded a bit since I wash them on hot to sterilize them, but otherwise they're fine.

Wow! Its so cheap! I expected it to be like 20 dollars lol. I might make a similar setup since I'll have a lot of chicks!

 

[ella2025]

I might put the eggs in lockdown today (the candle too). I'm busy tomorrow.

 

[ella2025]

I just finished candling and it is NOT LOOKING GOOD whatsoever. Looks like we have 5 quitters, not including the blue eggs I can't see thru. We have, 3,4,6,7,13 that look like the size of a yolk and that wiggle when I shake them, with some dark spots on them that look like blood. I really badly need confirmation on those eggs I think are dead. They just don't look like they were developing for the past 10 days.

How bad is my incubator that over half of these eggs are dying despite being fertile? Does dipping humidity just do that? I thought humidity only determines the size of the air cell. Also temperature was stable the entire time and would go back to normal after opening within 3 minutes or so.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have 6 eggs out of 12. On day 19 for me. No action yet, but I have the brooder ready. The brooder is a sink cabinet, (I found on side of road.) I brood on second hand place mats and roll up and toss when soiled. I use material scraps for the beds on cracker boxes. Small stictches. Egg carton for food. Start off with food on floor. I get a few waters to rotate and keep clean. Put a pie plate under for splashes.

below wire basket no handles if you have a weak or pecked chick. Hand warmers on hand for power outs.

I am clamping and tying and taping down heat lamp, but if you use one, chain it, screw in place, indoors don't use a heat lamp, no LED have heat, indoors if you get a bug light it is yellow it is like a 60 watt.

 

[redinator]

I just finished candling and it is NOT LOOKING GOOD whatsoever. Looks like we have 5 quitters, not including the blue eggs I can't see thru. We have, 3,4,6,7,13 that look like the size of a yolk and that wiggle when I shake them, with some dark spots on them that look like blood. I really badly need confirmation on those eggs I think are dead. They just don't look like they were developing for the past 10 days.

How bad is my incubator that over half of these eggs are dying despite being fertile? Does dipping humidity just do that? I thought humidity only determines the size of the air cell. Also temperature was stable the entire time and would go back to normal after opening within 3 minutes or so.

Here's what I'm seeing in the video:
3 and 4 look like quitters

5 seems to be developing

6, unsure

7 quitter . . . it shouldn't slosh around at this point

8 dark shelled (?) or full of chick

the one after 8, dark shelled . . I missed the number (10 I think)

11 seems to be developing . . I see an air cell and the rest of the egg is dark (developing embryo)

12 dark shelled (?) or full of chick

13 unsure

14 seems to be developing . . I see an air cell and the rest of the egg is dark (developing embryo)

15 seems to be developing . . I see an air cell and the rest of the egg is dark (developing embryo)

17 seems to be developing . . I see an air cell and the rest of the egg is dark (developing embryo)

18 seems to be developing . . I see an air cell and the rest of the egg is dark (developing embryo)

I'm working on fixing similar issues. It could be that my pullets are too young to produce a good quantity of healthy chicks, issues with the incubator, infertile cockerels/pullets.

It could also be that I handle my eggs too often during incubation (making progress there), neglect to clean the eggs (opinions differ on that), improper storage/handling before incubation.

It's all a learning process and the outcomes aren't always good, but I learn something new or try something different with each hatch.