February Hatch-A-Long

[LadiesAndJane]

Yesterday I announced to my family, "I'm collecting eggs to hatch!" And the reply was, "isn't it too early for chicks?" Along with a couple eyerolls.

Anyways, I have a few silkie eggs, a couple bantam-orp silkie eggs, and a couple mystery ones from my flock. The only dad is a silkie roo. Also a few from the past week with no dates or breed ID written on them. This is so fun!

Can't wait to see what your banty orp/silkie crosses look like!

 

[PioneerChicks]

This is sooooo tempting!
With all 3 silkie girls laying again after 2 went broody, I am tempted to try incubating some. They are all new layers, but egg size has normalized to around 40 grams. What do you think, worth a try in the incubator? I have a list of folks who want purebred silkies!

Don't think, just do it!

 

[Willow2253]

I have a girl that’s thinking about going broody right now, if she starts sitting by Saturday I can hatch for Valentine’s Day.

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

I have a girl that’s thinking about going broody right now, if she starts sitting by Saturday I can hatch for Valentine’s Day.

You should do a hatch-a-long!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Don't think, just do it!

Yes, but that is what usually gets me in trouble....
Anyway, I already set aside 5 eggs, 3 from today and 2 that were in the fridge from yesterday. Room for up to 38 in my two incubators. Will probably see what I can collect from those three girls in the next week or so and then set!

 

[shaila]

I'm setting a mixed group of eggs from MPC tomorrow morning, second round this year already. Hatch day should be around Feb 10th.



List of labels:
FEE
BP FF
MYS (maybe blue/green)
MYS (white)
MYS (brown)
BB FF bantam
x2 JB FF bantam

I have some basic ideas what I might get, but don't know what the actual breeds/crosses are for most of them.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I'm setting a mixed group of eggs from MPC tomorrow morning, second round this year already. Hatch day should be around Feb 10th.

View attachment 2495857

List of labels:
FEE
BP FF
MYS (maybe blue/green)
MYS (white)
MYS (brown)
BB FF bantam
x2 JB FF bantam

I have some basic ideas what I might get, but don't know what the actual breeds/crosses are for most of them.

I love crosses! They are always unique!

 

[BuckeyeFoodie]

I've got some Silkie fertility-test eggs in the bator, due various dates in early Feb. Of course, I was trying to test fertility of my Splash boys, and I know my grey boy jumped over once or twice, so who knows what I'll end up with?!

 

[shaila]

Got my Feb group in the incubator. The air cells aren't in the best condition, but seeing as I still got three chicks from last batch with similar issues, maybe I'll be fortunate to get at least as many this round too.

I forgot to note that I'm fairly certain that MPC took into account my request for skipping light brown eggs (like I already get from my rocks and orpington) when picking for my order. Which excluded a lot of breeds I'd have been interested in otherwise, but I'm happy that resulted in more EE. I love the fierce-but-cute facial appearance that comes from the ameraucana genes.

 

[casportpony]

Heads up!
The Easter Hatch-Along is getting close!​

Set Chicken eggs on Saturday, March 13th at Noon (whatever time zone you are in).

Other poultry breed setting dates listed in the table below:

Type of Egg	Days to Hatch	Set Dates
Emu	49 - 55	February 7 to February 13
Muscovy duck	35	February 27
Goose	28 - 32	March 2 to March 6
Pheasant	22 - 29	March 5 to March 12
Mallard (derived) duck, goose,	28	March 6
Turkey, Guinea, Peafowl	28	March 6
Call duck and other bantam ducks	26	March 8
Bobwhite quail	23	March 11
Seramas other small bantams	19 - 21	March 13 to March 15
Chickens	21	March 13
Pigeons	17 - 19	March 15 to March 17
Coturnix quail	18	March 16
Doves	14 - 16	March 18 to March 20
Button quail	16	March 18

Contests​

#	Contest	Host	Start Date	End Date
1	Guess How Many Eggs Will Be Set!	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	Farthest Shipped Eggs!	TBD	TBD	TBD
3	Cutest Baby Fowl - Win a TBD!	TBD	TBD	TBD
4	Edible Easter	TBD	TBD	TBD
5	Natural Egg Photo Contest	TBD	TBD	TBD
6	Hatching Chick Photo Contest	TBD	TBD	TBD
7	Guess How Many Will Hatch!	TBD	TBD	TBD