BYC's 2026 Valentine's Day Hatch-Along

[Slothinc]

2 hatched, both magpie! One of the non-pipped was a malpositioned that managed to break the shell. Good! Things are looking up this time.

Since I can't get any good pic's of the new ones yet, here's the "old" gang out for a stroll. Here you can see the magpie-pattern I'm rambling about too. The one to the right is magpie, the other is pied. They look the same as adults. When I first found out muscovies came in this pattern, I immediately fell in love with it. I drove across the country to acquire some. haha!
View attachment 4297141
"Magpie" isn't one gene, but a recessive pattern combination. The one to the right underneath is interesting, it has a sort of in-between pattern. Fun! This hatch has given me some valuable genetics experience.
View attachment 4297142

Thank you for the genetics lesson! Your chicks are sooo cute!! I didn’t realize that pied and magpie look the same as adults! So do you have to see them as chicks to know which ones are actually magpie?

 

[Slothinc]

Through the course of today, all 8 of the eggs on lockdown hatched! Ended up with 1 paint, and the rest black (one carrying mottle.) No naked necks until the last three hatched, and then they were all NN! I have 4 more eggs due to hatch on Tuesday and that will be the end of my Valentines hatch!

 

[Debbie292d]

2 hatched, both magpie! One of the non-pipped was a malpositioned that managed to break the shell. Good! Things are looking up this time.

Since I can't get any good pic's of the new ones yet, here's the "old" gang out for a stroll. Here you can see the magpie-pattern I'm rambling about too. The one to the right is magpie, the other is pied. They look the same as adults. When I first found out muscovies came in this pattern, I immediately fell in love with it. I drove across the country to acquire some. haha!
View attachment 4297141
"Magpie" isn't one gene, but a recessive pattern combination. The one to the right underneath is interesting, it has a sort of in-between pattern. Fun! This hatch has given me some valuable genetics experience.
View attachment 4297142

Oh my goodness! I never heard of a Pie or Magpie, but so adorable!

 

[Debbie292d]

Through the course of today, all 8 of the eggs on lockdown hatched! Ended up with 1 paint, and the rest black (one carrying mottle.) No naked necks until the last three hatched, and then they were all NN! I have 4 more eggs due to hatch on Tuesday and that will be the end of my Valentines hatch!

Awe, look at all those cuties! Beautiful!!

 

[gullinkambe]

Thank you for the genetics lesson! Your chicks are sooo cute!! I didn’t realize that pied and magpie look the same as adults! So do you have to see them as chicks to know which ones are actually magpie?

Oh sorry, badly formulated from my side! What I should have said was that "plain" muscovies (there are exceptions, like barred) are born with the color and pattern they'll have as an adult. Well, the yellow turns white, obviously...
As opposed to many chickens, who have one pattern/color as chicks, and grow into a whole different pattern/color as an adult. Quite useful, as you can see what they'll look like right away!

This is an adult magpie, in front.

I just realized, this is the grandmother (Unas in the back) and great grandmother (Duckinea in front) of my ducklings! Duckinea was one of a pair I went across the country to get. Unas is my most beloved pet duck, the first duckling I ever hatched, she'll turn 10 this year.

 

[AinaWGSD]

We have our first baby! Blue barred easter egger.

 

[Slothinc]

Oh sorry, badly formulated from my side! What I should have said was that "plain" muscovies (there are exceptions, like barred) are born with the color and pattern they'll have as an adult. Well, the yellow turns white, obviously...
As opposed to many chickens, who have one pattern/color as chicks, and grow into a whole different pattern/color as an adult. Quite useful, as you can see what they'll look like right away!

This is an adult magpie, in front.
View attachment 4297889
I just realized, this is the grandmother (Unas in the back) and great grandmother (Duckinea in front) of my ducklings! Duckinea was one of a pair I went across the country to get. Unas is my most beloved pet duck, the first duckling I ever hatched, she'll turn 10 this year.

Oh goodness, duh!! Sorry I totally didn’t think that through, it makes a lot more sense that they will look the same as adults that they do as chicks. That is so unique, and I did not know that about muscovies! Your older girls are absolutely gorgeous

 

[redinator]

Ok, I moved the 2 week olds out yesterday, but I swear I hear peeps coming from the incubator. I put the eggs up to my ear and didn't hear anything.

The bantam eggs are at 16 days, but I might go ahead and candle them and turn up the humidity and remove two the turners today to be safe.

 

[redinator]

I candled the eggs in the larger incubator. Day 16 for the bantam eggs, day 6 for the larger eggs.

I removed two of the turners and added water for humidity. I decided to leave the tuner plugged in for the larger eggs until I see movement or piping of the bantam eggs. There's also one questionable large egg sitting loose since it wouldn't fit in the turners so it won't be getting turned until the bantams hatch.

 

[Debbie292d]