Hatch-Along - Setting eggs this weekend (Jan5/6) WHOS WITH ME!

[CamiLynn]

Mine are doing well. So far the 7 I have left seem to be right on track. Fingers crossed they make it all the way!

I received my shipped eggs this morning and let then set for over 12 hours and have placed them in the bator this evening.

And, one of my silkies went broody yesterday on two eggs, so this evening I snuck out and put 4 of my shipped eggs under her.

Not sure what I have just done to myself, since patients is sure not my friend, but here goes nothing! Lol Hope all hatches are successful!

 

[fisherlady]

It's an 8 hr drive 1 way & he wasn't sure if the power cord was all that was wrong with it. I passed on it.

Too risky for my taste too... I can see why you passed.... for what it would cost in fuel you could build a heck of a bator yourself, or have someone else build it for you!

 

[fisherlady]

Mine are doing well. So far the 7 I have left seem to be right on track. Fingers crossed they make it all the way!

I received my shipped eggs this morning and let then set for over 12 hours and have placed them in the bator this evening.

And, one of my silkies went broody yesterday on two eggs, so this evening I snuck out and put 4 of my shipped eggs under her.

Not sure what I have just done to myself, since patients is sure not my friend, but here goes nothing! Lol Hope all hatches are successful!

 

[Sally8]

I just lost a Silkie roo so pens will be changing, but I have assorted colors. Cochins are a mixed flock as well but I may be able to get pure mottleds since I have a trio. I'll have to separate them out. Silkies are just starting back to laying after our move & Cochins are still on strike. It will likely be closer to spring before everyone is back to laying well. They don't like to be moved, especially in winter.

Hi - I'm not interested in buying any eggs but have a question. Last spring I bought a bunch of assorted eggs and 3 turned out to be cochins, all males and all very bad tempered. Is this normal? Or was this a problem that came from the breeders stock? I also have a Frizzle that is the sweetest thing from the same lot of eggs I bought. Just wondering....Sue

 

[Sally8]

And, one of my silkies went broody yesterday on two eggs, so this evening I snuck out and put 4 of my shipped eggs under her.

That's a great idea. Just make sure she stays on them. I have 1 that occasionally jumps nests to a nest with more eggs in it. Keep us posted.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Too risky for my taste too... I can see why you passed.... for what it would cost in fuel you could build a heck of a bator yourself, or have someone else build it for you!

That was my thought precisely. I have an old bathroom cupboard in the basement that would be perfect to use. Gonna have the bf look at it today & see what we can do with it.

Hi - I'm not interested in buying any eggs but have a question. Last spring I bought a bunch of assorted eggs and 3 turned out to be cochins, all males and all very bad tempered. Is this normal? Or was this a problem that came from the breeders stock? I also have a Frizzle that is the sweetest thing from the same lot of eggs I bought. Just wondering....Sue

My cochin roos are actually some of my sweetest birds. I have more problems with my silkie roos than the cochins. I do have 1 cochin roo who likes to be head roo & will squabble with any other roo he comes up against, but I just give him his own cage & his own girls & problem solved. None of my cochin roos have even ever tried to peck me. A few of the hens have & my Silkie roos have, but not my cochin roos. My OEGB hens are the biters. I have 2 cages of them I can't reach into without getting pecked unless I am handing them food.

That's a great idea. Just make sure she stays on them. I have 1 that occasionally jumps nests to a nest with more eggs in it. Keep us posted.

If you get a nest hopper you may have to separate her from the others. The best way, if you have room, is a kennel or cage right in the coop where all the birds can still see each other so she doesn't lose her status. However, if you have to move her to another cage away from the others she will eventually reintegrate but pecking order may have to be reestablished when she does.

 

[CamiLynn]

That's a great idea.  Just make sure she stays on them.  I have 1 that occasionally jumps nests to a nest with more eggs in it.  Keep us posted.

Yea, I haven't been watching her an so far I haven't even seen her leave the nest at all. I also close out the other hens during the day, so they won't run her out the nest and add more eggs

 

[heirloomorps]

So how is everyones eggs doing? Can you all believe we are almost at lockdown. I have 4 days til lockdown. I cant wait! Im keeping 5-6 out of my batch and I already have a few others that people are picking up. What is everyone elses plans for their chicks once they hatch?

We are going to keep ours and breed from them. We hopefully are getting cute Chocolate Orps and Chocolate Wyandottes! Both bantams.

 

[purewellspring]

Day 14 candle...lost 12. :/ So sad. The weirdest is that it looks like 5-6 clears (infertile), but then the others were at various stages of development. I didn't crack any open yet, because I wanted to get advice. At this point, since all my good ones (pretty dark all through, good air cells, LOTS OF MOVEMENT!!!!!!) are so obvious, is it safe to assume that if I have eggs that have some amount of dark, but not much veining, or pretty clear spots down at the smaller end, those are goners? The 6 I'm uncertain about all have obvious chick development, but little to no obvious veining...I'm assuming since they don't look like the others that are so obviously healthy, it's safe to say they are goners, but I'd hate to chuck without second opinions. Ideas?

But on the upside, looks like 16 super healthy going into lockdown this week...I probably won't candle again, unless someone thinks I should. Only increasing my odds of dropping something at this point, right?!? oy. Would be my luck. Oh, and just thought I'd add, the egg we cracked last week that was a growing chick? It's one of the 16!!! Waved at me as I candled her. Birthday candle to the rescue.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Day 14 candle...lost 12. :/ So sad. The weirdest is that it looks like 5-6 clears (infertile), but then the others were at various stages of development. I didn't crack any open yet, because I wanted to get advice. At this point, since all my good ones (pretty dark all through, good air cells, LOTS OF MOVEMENT!!!!!!) are so obvious, is it safe to assume that if I have eggs that have some amount of dark, but not much veining, or pretty clear spots down at the smaller end, those are goners? The 6 I'm uncertain about all have obvious chick development, but little to no obvious veining...I'm assuming since they don't look like the others that are so obviously healthy, it's safe to say they are goners, but I'd hate to chuck without second opinions. Ideas?

But on the upside, looks like 16 super healthy going into lockdown this week...I probably won't candle again, unless someone thinks I should. Only increasing my odds of dropping something at this point, right?!? oy. Would be my luck. Oh, and just thought I'd add, the egg we cracked last week that was a growing chick? It's one of the 16!!! Waved at me as I candled her. Birthday candle to the rescue.

At day 14, veining isn't always obvious. You also may not see the chick moving. Chicks in the egg rest sometimes. Also, I find that every egg will look a little different. Some chicks seem to take up more room in the egg, some less. Sometimes I'll see what looks like a lot of room at the bottom of the egg, when other eggs seem to be pretty filled up. I would say that if you can't see an obvious blood ring (and I mean really obvious, sometimes veining can look like a blood ring), and you can tell the egg has developed somewhat, and it's not smelling or leaking, leave it. You might want to mark it as questionable though.