BYC's 2026 Valentine's Day Hatch-Along

[2ndTink]

I candled mine yesterday. I started with 54 and have 28 left. A couple of those 28 will also come out, as they were questionable or too dark.

I was hoping for a 70% hatch, but looks like it'll be closer to 50%. I knew fertility and freezing would be issues though, so it's all good! The hatches will improve from now on.

Most of you know we heat our coops to 40°F, but with those subzero temperatures, the outside wall where the nest boxes start are furthest from the heater. Hubby put in a fan to circulate the air better, but still many froze. I finally came up with the idea to put an empty gallon milk jug in to block off the last nest boxes closest to the wall.

I also read a few people use those seedling mats. I haven't looked into them yet, but I will.

The saddest part for me is my mottled eggs weren't fertile. They were the ones I was hoping for most of all. I knew they weren't fertile prior to saving them, but had to cross my fingers and hope. Ah well, next time maybe.

I haven't used seeding mats either, but they sound like a great idea. They should be low energy users too I would think.

 

[redinator]

I haven't used seeding mats either, but they sound like a great idea. They should be low energy users too I would think.

What are seeding mats?

 

[2ndTink]

What are seeding mats?

They are heating pads used under seeding trays to warm the soil or whatever you are trying to germinate seeds in to help them sprout.

 

[redinator]

https://a.co/d/0fKl9WpG
OMG the potential . . . under bedding in various spots in run for chicks to rest on . . . keeping eggs from freezing . . . that's all I got at the moment but . .mind blown

 

[2ndTink]

https://a.co/d/0fKl9WpG
OMG the potential . . . under bedding in various spots in run for chicks to rest on . . . keeping eggs from freezing . . . that's all I got at the moment but . .mind blown

Right now I'm thinking I really would like one of those on my desk so I could warm my fingers up

 

[redinator]

Right now I'm thinking I really would like one of those on my desk so I could warm my fingers up

Foot warmer, I hate wearing socks or slippers all winter

 

[redinator]

Foot warmer, I hate wearing socks or slippers all winter

They also probably pull less power than an incubator. They could be used with a powerbank to keep eggs warm in a power outage . . . I need 50!

 

[2ndTink]

They also probably pull less power than an incubator. They could be used with a powerbank to keep eggs warm in a power outage . . . I need 50!

Good idea, that's better than no heat at all!