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

[Antgarner]

A little cot hatched between my last post and when i was in the bath think its two days early.

Is it dangerous at all for them to hatch early if they do it on their own terms?

 

[Sally8]

We'll go into lockdown tomorrow. I was really worried as I have so many eggs. Tonight hubby helped me and we bought another incubator (so I can keep the EE's separate from the rest) and we bought a bunny pen (I already have a dog crate that I used last time. I'm feeling a little better but my temps spiked once too. I might candle one last time tonight. The outside temp is 4 degrees. Keep warm everyone. Sue

 

[fisherlady]

Oh, I guess I was unclear. Check for chicks from a distance, they will peek out once in awhile under a wing etc!!

Disturbing a broody hen in that critical "lockdown" time esp. if her first chick has hatched could upset her to the point she will abandon the other eggs
(trying to save her " right at the end there, they kinda "space-out" or go into some almost hybernation like state so they can sit there w/o even food or water for 24-72 or so hrs while the chicks hatch at their own pace. You don't want to mess w/ the broody during that time, the first chicks will be fine up to that 72 hr point, they will snuggle in w/ mama broody hen and call to those trying to hatch.

I can't wait to see pictures of her strutting around w/ her clutch, broody hens are so proud and it is cute as can be to watch them interact.

BTW- thanks for the photos of your setup, that broody pen w/ the fold away for cleaning top&wall is great!

Gotcha! Hands off at the end of the week till 72 hrs after first chick...
I can't wait till we get to see her with the little ones! Good thing memory cards hold lots of pics!
You're welcome on the pics, the door does work really well for getting into the broody area without problems!

Lockdown here is Friday. If I remember right (haven't looked in the bator today) I still have 42 of the 50 eggs & all of those will go into lockdown because I just don't have time to candle that many eggs right now. I have 3 bators running right now, 1 quail egg went in lockdown Sunday, 1 goes in today, 3 go in Friday & 1 on Saturday (staggered that batch bad

). Then I have another 5 due on the 2nd & 1 on the 3rd, 37 chicks due on the 5th & I think 2 due on the 6th. The 3rd bator has 8 due on the 8th & 4 due on the 11th & space for more that will likely be set in the next week.

I'm guessing you have a scorecard taped to each incubator to keep track of it all! I know I would need to!

 

[sticknstring]

I candled the other night. The basque eggs are full on dark inside-can't tell what's going on in there. I got rid of one unfertile and one bloodring that obviously showed no progress(both BLRW). Tommorrow, my basque eggs are supposed to go into lockdown. With only one incubator, this will force my BLRW into lockdown 2 days early... will I be ok doing this?
Anyway-I'm excited to see everyone's results

. Chick pictures everywhere!

Good luck to all!!

 

[RosecombRIR]

We candled our eggs tonight. Pulled out 11 and left in 29. They are heritage Rhode Islans Reds. My air cells seemed smaller than the picture above, not sure what that could mean? We go into lockdown tomorrow evening.

 

[chicken pickin]

I also candled tonight for the last time 17.5 days in. I am bummed looks like out of the 19 I have left to go into lock down only 7-9 look just ok. AGH Im upset. I guess its because my last hatch I had all but one egg hatch and this time they dont look good. I wanted to keep 5-6 so bad and I have a 14 chicks spoken for this isnt gonna work out. I wanna cry

. Im hoping for the best and I will lock down some time tomorrow. I will keep you all posted .

 

[chicken pickin]

Now that lock down is here everyone if you could tell us what you decided whether laying eggs on their side or put them upright in egg cartons. Also what humidity did you decide etc. I wanna here about all the details, all the pips and peeps and zips and all the pics after hatch. We want all the details so try to share with us if you find time. Im very excited to see everones fuzzy little babies and all the results. Good luck everyone and good hatching vibes to all.

 

[heirloomorps]

Now that lock down is here everyone if you could tell us what you decided whether laying eggs on their side or put them upright in egg cartons. Also what humidity did you decide etc. I wanna here about all the details, all the pips and peeps and zips and all the pics after hatch. We want all the details so try to share with us if you find time. Im very excited to see everones fuzzy little babies and all the results. Good luck everyone and good hatching vibes to all.

We lay eggs on their side - we have the Dickey Incubators separate incubator and hatcher and the eggs just lay on the trays. We have never have had a problem using this method of hatching. We hatch with a humidity of around 60-65% - we have found this to have a MUCH better hatch rate than our Brinsea incubator with the same settings though. I would love to order another Dickeys!

 

[fisherlady]

I also candled tonight for the last time 17.5 days in. I am bummed looks like out of the 19 I have left to go into lock down only 7-9 look just ok. AGH Im upset. I guess its because my last hatch I had all but one egg hatch and this time they dont look good. I wanted to keep 5-6 so bad and I have a 14 chicks spoken for this isnt gonna work out. I wanna cry

. Im hoping for the best and I will lock down some time tomorrow. I will keep you all posted .

ooohhhh... that sucks!

Hopefully more are good than you thought!

 

[Sally8]

ooohhhh... that sucks!

Hopefully more are good than you thought!

Me too!