Hatch a long during the month of July

[wornoutmomto3]

Hello, everyone. I just found this post and thought I would say hi!

I won 18 EE eggs (from @banannalee) during the last big HAL. 9 hatched along with one of my own random bantam eggs. (It was a pullet egg from unknown hen.) The last one hatched yesturday. Now there are 10 chicks in the brooder.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Lock Down is the final three days?
So if my hatch date is 7/30 then I don't open and turn eggs on the 27,28th and 29th?
Caroline

That'll be fine. You could turn or not turn on the 27th. After day 14 it isn't vital.

 

[MBK Farm]

Update...

Last night was the end of day 10 and that means it's time for candling. We concentrate on finding clears and obvious quitters at this point. We had to pull a total of 3 eggs. 2 clears and one blood ring/quitter. There were a total of four more eggs of questionable status that were left to ride until the next candling going into lockdown.

So far, so good.

Looks like this July HAL thread is filling up. Good stuff!

Our experience has been that hatching in July is a great strategy for our region. We have both the calendar and Mother Nature on our side. High ambient summer temps means less supplemental heat necessary for brooding, and we raise our chicks during the daylight shortening period of the year. We do heritage birds and get our first eggs right around winter solstice when daylight starts to lengthen. Christmas hens of laying!

Aside: we begin pulling eggs for our next set, August 1, this Wednesday.

 

[MBK Farm]

Tomorrow is my Day 7 so I plan to candle them and see if I have anything. I have 9 eggs so I have no idea what to expect.

Some of the eggs are brown eggs I am hoping I can see. I have a good flash light

Wish me luck.
Caroline

So how did candling go?

If the results aren't obvious, concentrate on the egg shell integrity. Dark eggs can be tricky. If no obvious cracks in the egg, good air pocket and it looks like there's mass below...let 'em ride.

 

[BantyChooks]

Hello, everyone. I just found this post and thought I would say hi!

I won 18 EE eggs (from @banannalee) during the last big HAL. 9 hatched along with one of my own random bantam eggs. (It was a pullet egg from unknown hen.) The last one hatched yesturday. Now there are 10 chicks in the brooder.

How cool is that??? I won 18 from the same person, set 17, and 7 have hatched and one is zipping now!

 

[write2caroline]

You need a really bright flashlight.
Like the short stubby ones with the LED lights.

I couldn't see much and I was not sure my eggs were viable at all.
We do live close - I am in Northern Jax near Pumpkin Hill - Yellow Bluff and Starratt. Not far from Yulee.
Caroline

 

[write2caroline]

Went to turn the eggs this am and discovered the incubator on the floor and three broken eggs.
During the night, My dog must have gotten his tail caught in the cord and knocked the thing off the table. I am pretty sure he ate most of the broken eggs.
He is not a naughty dog. As dogs go - He showed up one rainy day and is nice to dogs cats people chickens.

But my incubator had egg mess in the heating section and I am pretty sure the fat lady has sung.

My daughter cleaned up the mess because I was sobbing.
Ugh.

I will continue to cheer everyone else on.

Caroline

 

[write2caroline]

I am not done with chickens - I think - my incubator is ruined - not sure without taking it apart but as far as july goes - I can't get it fixed.

My daughter is going to Sewanee in Tennessee mid August anyway for her Freshman orientation so I will wait and get chicks when I return and start over.

I just had my heart set on those Bielefelders and the Blue Bar Cuckoos.

I am not a quitter and I really want chickens again.
Caroline

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I am not done with chickens - I think - my incubator is ruined - not sure without taking it apart but as far as july goes - I can't get it fixed.

My daughter is going to Sewanee in Tennessee mid August anyway for her Freshman orientation so I will wait and get chicks when I return and start over.

I just had my heart set on those Bielefelders and the Blue Bar Cuckoos.

I am not a quitter and I really want chickens again.
Caroline

Sorry to hear what happened. I keep mine in a closet. No drafts, temp fluctuations, or risk of being knocked over. Something to consider.

 

[BantyChooks]

Went to turn the eggs this am and discovered the incubator on the floor and three broken eggs.
During the night, My dog must have gotten his tail caught in the cord and knocked the thing off the table.  I am pretty sure he ate most of the broken eggs.
He is not a naughty dog.  As dogs go - He showed up one rainy day and is nice to dogs cats people chickens.

But my incubator had egg mess in the heating section and I am pretty sure the fat lady has sung.

My daughter cleaned up the mess because I was sobbing.
Ugh.

I will continue to cheer everyone else on.

Caroline

Oh no!!