December Hatch-A-Long 2014

[Purpletie3]

Phew crisis averted. Checked in with the breeder today. He had planned to start gathering eggs for us last Wednesday but apparently the hens were laying so well he didn't have to start until yesterday so the eggs will be fresher than I originally thought. He said he hasn't collected a blue egg yet but he still has today, tomorrow, and early Friday morning as I asked to pick them up Friday morning instead of tomorrow. And he said that I can choose the eggs I want when I get there, yay!!

So anyway I msg'd my neighbor to let her know our eggs are being collected and she informed me that her boyfriend now has the incubator we are borrowing. Yay!! I can't wait to get my hands on it and get it figured out and set up. I still can't believe this is all happening.... wait I still can't believe I even have chickens and I've had them since April.

So I originally planned to set them Friday night but then I thought if they start hatching at night, we will all miss it. So then I thought maybe I'd set them on Friday morning but then again if they start hatching on time all the kids will be at school and miss it. So my next thought was to set them mid day Friday because our kids get out at noon on Fridays and that way hopefully no one will miss the exciting event!! But it will make for a weird schedule I guess. I just don't want anyone to miss it, I really want the kids to experience it and we chose to set them this weekend because my neighbor has her kids the weekend they will hatch otherwise they may have been with their dad and miss it altogether.

Ahhhhh decisions, decisions. And I have plenty more to make still because I'm still a bit unsure of how it's all going to come together!!

Since the eggs are local I wouldn't think I'd need to let them sit too long before setting them right? I guess I have to see what kind of incubator I'm dealing with to determine if I will have to hand turn them or not. And if I have to hand turn them then I will have to decide whether I will leave them laying on their sides of it I will use the egg cartons at an angle. Oh boy, I'm gonna be nuts the next 3 weeks... if having all my college classes ending around the same time isn't enough stress!! I am one crazy lady.

You better start studying for your finals now because you won't be able to take your eyes off your incubator...it's too riveting!

 

[Purpletie3]

I am anxiously waiting on my splash and sizzle eggs from a BYC member. She shipped them out last Saturday. The estimated arrival date was Monday but I am hoping I get them before Friday! Would love to have been able to set mine the same day as yours and compared notes!

Mine shipped Thursday and got to me on Monday. She wrapped well and all were in good shape! I think our birds will be bro/sis ! LOL I set mine yesterday tho. so I am a little ahead of you timewise.

 

[Purpletie3]

There are some really good candling threads on here to look at. I relied on them pretty heavily. A good light and a dark room and an extra set of eyes helps. I had a hard time booting eggs....the ones I wasn't sure and my bf convinced me to keep were nasty rotten smelly eggs by the end. He won't be doing that again..and I am lucky it didn't blow in the bator.

 

[Renee572]

You better start studying for your finals now because you won't be able to take your eyes off your incubator...it's too riveting!

I know right? It's a good thing 1 of my finals is due the week before hatch date, 1 of mine I can take whenever I'm ready for it and the last is the day before hatch date and that class is pretty easy for me so it should be no problem.

 

[Renee572]

There are some really good candling threads on here to look at. I relied on them pretty heavily. A good light and a dark room and an extra set of eyes helps. I had a hard time booting eggs....the ones I wasn't sure and my bf convinced me to keep were nasty rotten smelly eggs by the end. He won't be doing that again..and I am lucky it didn't blow in the bator.

I've watched some you tube videos and I've looked through some pictures but I will probably take some more looks around before the actual candling date. My neighbor is getting the incubator tonight so I should have it in my hands by tomorrow morning wood woot!

 

[Rainier]

I'm joining in. Hopefully this hatch will be much better. First time zero hatch out of six. Second time two hatched out of 18 and the last time two hatched out of 13 but one died. For this hatch I have 21 eggs and on day four (today) all are showing veining and most of them look really good for day four. Day 21 is December 7th.

 

[Rainier]

I've watched some you tube videos and I've looked through some pictures but I will probably take some more looks around before the actual candling date. My neighbor is getting the incubator tonight so I should have it in my hands by tomorrow morning wood woot!

I got some decent candling photo's and video's using my cell phone (Samsung S5). I downloaded a flashlight app and use that while my DD takes pictures/films with her cell phone. Here is a picture and video from previous batch.

foot

 

[Iko127]

I'm joining in. Hopefully this hatch will be much better. First time zero hatch out of six. Second time two hatched out of 18 and the last time two hatched out of 13 but one died. For this hatch I have 21 eggs and on day four (today) all are showing veining and most of them look really good for day four. Day 21 is December 7th.

Good luck!! I have the same hatch day! Have no idea how many will be fertile but I have 66 eggs to candle ...lol I looked at some today and a lot looked good. I figure I would wait till day 7 to really get a count Happy hatching!

 

[Rainier]

Good luck!! I have the same hatch day! Have no idea how many will be fertile but I have 66 eggs to candle ...lol I looked at some today and a lot looked good. I figure I would wait till day 7 to really get a count Happy hatching!

Good luck to you too! 66 eggs a lot to do. I can barely manage with 21. We rarely have infertile eggs just not good hatch rates. They are pullet eggs though. This time the eggs are bigger so

it will make a difference this time. The very first eggs we got were fertile.

 

[Iko127]

Good luck to you too! 66 eggs a lot to do. I can barely manage with 21. We rarely have infertile eggs just not good hatch rates. They are pullet eggs though. This time the eggs are bigger so

it will make a difference this time. The very first eggs we got were fertile.

That is great!! I was so happy my pullet egg on my last hatch actually made it!! These are from a local auction and you never know what the eggs have been through and what they are. I have 48 that I believe are mixed breeds some pure, and the other 18 are suppose to be light brahmas. I'm not sure I was thinking clearly when I got them all but it will be fun!!! Hard to pass up cheap local eggs