December hatch along

[Matieus27]

I seen some aircell movement in my next up to hatch so I put them in lockdown a day early they are due to hatch Monday 10th

 

[mitziworm]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-needed-1st-time-incubating-silkie-eggs.961045/ I found this thread, haven't read it yet but if there was something special that is needed for silkies someone would address it in this thread.

Thanks for sharing that would be the best description of humidity requirements I have seen and very easy to understand.

 

[mandelyn]

@Compost King

I manage a Garden Center for a big box store, between that and our little farm I'm pretty dang busy. This winter's project is revamping the website, too cluttered/wordy. I'd love to be a grower of plants, I've been on the retail side for 7 years now and it hurts the heart. Between what gets thrown away (contractually not allowed to donate/gift/rescue), the invasive species that come through (I damage out what I can before it hits the sales area) and the way they label plants as vague as possible to increase sales... thankfully I'm too busy to dwell on that stuff. Plants that love/need acidic soil should totally be sent to high clay content areas, right? With no mention of soil needs on the tag? Zone 7 labeled as a perennial sent to zone 5/6? I look over people's plant selections in their cart to see if they need a customer service intervention. Lot's of beginners out there! One couple came in to complain about their Hydrangea plants doing poorly. Turns out, they had "planted" them on top of the landscape fabric and hadn't dug holes, just pushed garden soil around the root ball and mulched over that. I sent them home with instructions, soil acidifier... and a shovel.

If the hatching eggs weren't leaving the state they came from, I don't think NPIP would be required. Advised, but not required. Lot numbers would need to be assigned to the eggs, a method of keeping track of where they came from would be needed. For our area, the food bank has to have eggs from USDA certified farms. Might be able to utilize churches. Might have to have a central location where they're washed/packaged/cooled to meet the state requirements. I'm not convinced there would be a whole lot of participation from egg makers in our area. Hhhmmm

I really like the concept, it would just be logistically complicated. The hardest part would be getting the eggs where they need to go in a timely fashion and storing them appropriately.

 

[CacklingRanch]

As of this morning over half of the eggs due tomorrow are pipping.

None of the eggs due yesterday are showing signs of pipping.

I should have several Black Australorp chicks out within the next hour or so based on the zip lines.

 

[Matieus27]

As of this morning over half of the eggs due tomorrow are pipping.

None of the eggs due yesterday are showing signs of pipping.

I should have several Black Australorp chicks out within the next hour or so based on the zip lines.

Awesome we are gonna need pics

 

[BlueBaby]

@Compost King Have you checked with your local Farmer's Co-Op about your egg pool idea?

 

[Compost King]

@BlueBaby I plan to do that this spring. I have issues with speaking with people due to being hearing impaired so I must have the right situation where I can communicate with people.

 

[CacklingRanch]

We have two Australorps out. Both within minutes of each other.

Serama are finally pipping.

Silkies are talking and rocking.

Gonna be glued to the incubator today.

I might add that I myself am due any day now and the sounds of the baby chicks has my hormones going crazy.

As it usually does, the hatching chicks has dropped the temp in the incubator.

How’s everyone else doing?

 

[Mosey2003]

The temp drop is fine, it's because temperature and humidity are related. Many resources recommend hatching at a slightly lower temperature than incubating.

 

[CacklingRanch]

The temp drop is fine, it's because temperature and humidity are related. Many resources recommend hatching at a slightly lower temperature than incubating.

Yes. Well aware. But thank you.

Not a stranger to hatching or the reasons why. Over 20 years in poultry.

I was simply stating.

Hatching at slightly lower temperatures and higher humidity creates a better hatch ratio for several reasons. Mother Nature aka Mama hen would be shuffling and adjusting and talking to her chicks, creating drafts and temperature drops, during hatch time.

Regardless - we have two more zipping. The first two BA were out within minutes of zipping. The others are taking their time. When I pull those two to band them I’m going to bet they sex out as roosters. Roosters in this line tend to hatch quicker and have more white.