FEB HATCH-ALONG THREAD ...COME JOIN US.... EVERYONE!

[Caitlin_VT]

I got my shipped eggs in the mail this AM! All intact & will candle them tonight. Hopefully not too much scrambling has occurred.

Planning on putting them in the incubator early tomorrow morning - I am excited, first time setting shipped eggs! I have been wanting to try for a while.

 

[Roxannemc]

By 8 days left i am going to have to lock myself away from them!!! LOL!!!

 

[terrapin]

greetings peeps
Im new to BYC and a novice at chicken keeping. I've set my second set of eggs on Monday Feb 4 and would like to hatch along with others. I have a question regarding the incubators, i.e. what is the type of choice among BYC participants? I have a vintage Hova #1604N which has performed well but requires a lot of attention as the temp and humidity seems to fluctuate. I've been wondering if I should use my Quincy Lab model which I use for reptile eggs and maintains temperatures much better. However, to use the Quincy for birds I would need to find an egg turner that would fit. Many thanks for any thoughts.

 

[silkiemelon]

Just had to toss one of my eggs, and it was the last paint silkie egg! Ahh! She only sent two...
I one time ordered a dozen paint silkie hatching eggs from Georgia, and only one hatched, and it was black!

Will I ever have my paint silkie??

 

[Brookhavens]

YEP it seems forever sometimes

Doesnt it? Sigh, I have 8 days ..8 days...8 days Setting your own chickens eggs the first time is like your FIRST hatch ever ...totally nerve wracking

Now you know why I was a wreck yesterday and then so excited when they hatched last night!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

greetings peeps
Im new to BYC and a novice at chicken keeping. I've set my second set of eggs on Monday Feb 4 and would like to hatch along with others. I have a question regarding the incubators, i.e. what is the type of choice among BYC participants? I have a vintage Hova #1604N which has performed well but requires a lot of attention as the temp and humidity seems to fluctuate. I've been wondering if I should use my Quincy Lab model which I use for reptile eggs and maintains temperatures much better. However, to use the Quincy for birds I would need to find an egg turner that would fit. Many thanks for any thoughts.

Here's what we do to new comers. )

 

[Brookhavens]

I got my shipped eggs in the mail this AM! All intact & will candle them tonight. Hopefully not too much scrambling has occurred.

Planning on putting them in the incubator early tomorrow morning - I am excited, first time setting shipped eggs! I have been wanting to try for a while.

Make sure not to turn them for the first 5-7 days after you set them. This gives the insides more time to get settled from their travels and helps the embryo to start growing. Once you start turning on Day 5-7 the embryo has developed all the major organs and has a better chance at surviving once the egg starts being moved.

 

[Brookhavens]

greetings peeps
Im new to BYC and a novice at chicken keeping. I've set my second set of eggs on Monday Feb 4 and would like to hatch along with others. I have a question regarding the incubators, i.e. what is the type of choice among BYC participants? I have a vintage Hova #1604N which has performed well but requires a lot of attention as the temp and humidity seems to fluctuate. I've been wondering if I should use my Quincy Lab model which I use for reptile eggs and maintains temperatures much better. However, to use the Quincy for birds I would need to find an egg turner that would fit. Many thanks for any thoughts.

Welcome to BYC and our hatchalong. My biggest concern about the Quincy would be how much airflow it has. Chicken eggs need fresh air to develop (I don't know anything about reptiles) so as long as there is an air vent of some type that allows for air exchange I would say go for it. As for turning you could place the eggs in egg cartons and then just place something under the cartons and switch sides a few times a day. Or place a book under one side of the bator and then switch the sides a few times a day.

 

[Brookhavens]

Just had to toss one of my eggs, and it was the last paint silkie egg! Ahh! She only sent two...
I one time ordered a dozen paint silkie hatching eggs from Georgia, and only one hatched, and it was black!

Will I ever have my paint silkie??

Karen has sent me paint eggs in both batches I have hatched from her and not one paint yet. I have a Dark blue,Light Blue, Buff & Lavender.

 

[koakritters]

awww i know, i felt SO bad picking and choosing who went in the bator yesterday i went and bought another one today!!! LOL!!!

I wont buy any chicks from TSC bc their Roo count is SO high its not worth it....but I *will* be in there playing with them, lolol!!!

I've been pretty lucky with trying to feather sex them at the store. I think i drive everyone there crazy, they won't let us touch them so i probably made them pick up 50 chicks for me to inspect last time before picking out 6 bantams the first time! and with the 6 silkies i got after - i sold 1, and 3/5 of the others were females.