EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Cynthia12]

Manda...there is an Easter Hatch A Long! Quite fun...lots of folks love helping newbies.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well, PART of my money got here. Not nearly enough for my chick order. So now I'm trying to decide what eggs to order. I can't decide. There's too many breeds to choose from!

So, so true. I'm fond of these breed selection charts to help one decide. As you said, there are so many great breeds, I urge people to avoid the overly common things like Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Speckled Sussex. Not that there is anything wrong with those but one should broaden their horizons if only to choose another variety of those breeds like Light or Red Sussex instead of Speckled. White, Partridge, Silver Penciled or Columbian Rocks instead of Barred. How about Black or Blue Orpingtons.
Some of the breeds I've had that were my favorites are Jaerhons, Anconas, JGs in White, Blue and Black, Welsummers and my all time favorite, Black Penedesencas.
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.htmlhttp://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

 

[MandaRae]

Manda...there is an Easter Hatch A Long! Quite fun...lots of folks love helping newbies.

Yes I saw it!! I wish I had eggs in time to hatch for Easter. That would be so fun! Maybe next year

I'll be reading along fire sure

 

[MandaRae]

Just tilt. No spinning. You need something to keep them tilted for a while under the bator. Maybe it has something on it to use? I like to turn three times a day, so tilt it three times a day. I do 9 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and 9 at night. Good luck!

So like at 9am have them slightly tilting left then 3pm slightly tilt right?


I did see someone put them on a cheese
Cloth then lay them down for days 18-21 so hatching was easier. I might try that.

 

[Razadia]

I haven't hatched in 2 years since my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Also, only had chickens for the spring, early summer last year. Now, we have our son that moved in to help with things. He and his wife said they would help with chicken chores. I'm excited to have them again. Doing the Easter Hatch A Long, but only 2 are viable. After 2 years ... I'm sad. But...got more eggs...and why not?! The second order is doing much better!

I think this time I'm getting chicks and hatching more in a month or so. It's been a little over a year since I sold my last flock.

So, so true. I'm fond of these breed selection charts to help one decide. As you said, there are so many great breeds, I urge people to avoid the overly common things like Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Speckled Sussex. Not that there is anything wrong with those but one should broaden their horizons if only to choose another variety of those breeds like Light or Red Sussex instead of Speckled. White, Partridge, Silver Penciled or Columbian Rocks instead of Barred. How about Black or Blue Orpingtons.
Some of the breeds I've had that were my favorites are Jaerhons, Anconas, JGs in White, Blue and Black, Welsummers and my all time favorite, Black Penedesencas.
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.htmlhttp://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

I ended up deciding to go with a surprise box. The last time I did setting like this I ended up Andalusians and they're one of my favorite breeds now.

 

[BullChick]

So like at 9am have them slightly tilting left then 3pm slightly tilt right?


I did see someone put them on a cheese
Cloth then lay them down for days 18-21 so hatching was easier. I might try that.

I used a canning ring to elevate the sides. A coaster works too.

I only used that incubator when I was checking fertility of eggs, and they were duds. I do agree with laying eggs down at lockdown. The freedom to move seems too important for the chick’s well being. Especially in the case of chicks popping out the wrong end. They wouldn’t make it if the eggs were upright.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think this time I'm getting chicks and hatching more in a month or so. It's been a little over a year since I sold my last flock.

I ended up deciding to go with a surprise box. The last time I did setting like this I ended up Andalusians and they're one of my favorite breeds now.

I once ordered something similar. It was an October assortment of 53 chicks from Sandhill Preservation and I got 17 different breeds/varieties. I'm glad I did it. I discovered some great breeds and some I would never own again.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I used a canning ring to elevate the sides. A coaster works too.

I was checking fertility of eggs, and they were duds. I do agree with laying eggs down at lockdown. The freedom to move seems too important for the chick’s well being. Especially in the case of chicks popping out the wrong end. They wouldn’t make it if the eggs were upright.

I believe commercial hatcheries lay the eggs down for hatching.
https://www.pasreform.com/en/knowledge/123/optimising-hatcher-conditions

 

[Razadia]

I once ordered something similar. It was an October assortment of 53 chicks from Sandhill Preservation and I got 17 different breeds/varieties. I'm glad I did it. I discovered some great breeds and some I would never own again.

I was going to order from them, but I mostly want their La Fletche. They've had some predator problems for last couple of years so I haven't been able to order.

 

[Razadia]

Well, my chick order has officially been placed. I'll be getting them closer to the end of the month and they're sending at least 27. I ordered from Cackle, so they give you a slight idea of what you're getting. 13 pullets, 13 str, and one unknown that could be a turkey or a duck. I'm hoping for a turkey, but I'm planning ordering some later regardless. I may end doing a split order for those since Bug wants blue slate and I want burbon red.