Hatching in Classrooms

[Faraday40]

I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4.5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling them. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here.

 

[calichicken]

I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4.5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling them. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here.

Lol...YEP!!! I always do the same and some years my hatch is low and other years they all make it to hatch

 

[Faraday40]

Just got a call from a teacher working late. She sees pips! Tomorrow's hatch day at 3 diff schools.

 

[calichicken]

Just got a call from a teacher working late. She sees pips! Tomorrow's hatch day at 3 diff schools.

How did the hatch days go???? My Banty Cochins hatched on Monday....9 in my.brooder and 8 in my friends brooder!

 

[Faraday40]

How did the hatch days go???? My Banty Cochins hatched on Monday....9 in my.brooder and 8 in my friends brooder!View attachment 1371777View attachment 1371782

They're still going but as of last night:
10 chicks + 5 pips + 4 eggs w/o pips
13 chicks + two died while hatching + one egg w/o pip
8 chicks +3 eggs w/o pips

Yesterday was a very long day. The hatch was evenly split between Tues night and Wednesday. I'm guessing most are done hatching, but we're leaving the incubators on just in case.
Here are a few of the chicks:

 

[calichicken]

ADORABLE!!! How do you get such good pics?????

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks. The incubator is home-made from a cooler. I built in a nice viewing window b/c that was the main reason for building it. (Too many years of students all crammed around & fighting to look through those tiny Hovabator windows.) The windows cracked a little during the 2nd year but it still works better than any other incubator.

I put a baby blanket on a chair & briefly place the chicks on it before putting them into the brooder. After 2-3 days, it gets harder to keep them still. LOL.

 

[calichicken]

Thanks. The incubator is home-made from a cooler. I built in a nice viewing window b/c that was the main reason for building it. (Too many years of students all crammed around & fighting to look through those tiny Hovabator windows.) The windows cracked a little during the 2nd year but it still works better than any other incubator.

I put a baby blanket on a chair & briefly place the chicks on it before putting them into the brooder. After 2-3 days, it gets harder to keep them still. LOL.

Yes.it does!!! I get blurry fluff balls or butts . LOL

 

[Faraday40]

It take about 7-8 bad pics before I get a good one. (Love digital cameras instead of film!)

When my chicks see the camera, several charge forward. I get close ups of blurry beaks.