Help me plan my hatch! What will the chicks look like?

lemurchaser

Songster
11 Years
Apr 11, 2008
938
17
151
Corvallis, OR
I just moved 19 eggs to the hatcher, tomorrow (2/14) is lock-down. I'm going to put a hardware cloth divider up to make 2 groups, so I can tell the chicks apart. Should I make 3 groups? Here's my 2 group plan (and what I think the chicks might look like):

In one 1/2 of the incubator:
7 Blue/Black/Splash Rocks (chicks are black/blue and yellow- penguin pattern)
2 Partridge Penedesencas (chicks are yellow with brown backs, stripes and speckles)
1 Golden Laced Wyandotte (chicks are grays and browns)

In the other 1/2 of the incubator:
1 Rhode Island Red (chicks are orange)
2 Wheaten Penedesencas (chicks kind of look like a splash)
1 Light Brahma (chicks are mostly yellow, black on backs, feathered feet)
2 Black or Blue Copper Marans (black/blue and cream, penguin pattern)
1 Barred Rock (black and white, more black?)
1 Easter Egger (any, hopefully will have fluffy cheeks)
1 Pumpkin Hulsey (chicks are yellow and brown, no feathers on feet)

So, any thoughts on breeds that I might get mixed up? Any chick colors that I have wrong? Ways to tell a BR from a BCM? Any way to mark that darn EE who will mess up the rest of my planning? I'll either band or mark with dye, any that are easy to mix up as they move to the brooder, I just need to keep them straight in the incubator.

Thanks for your help!
 
Yeah, I did my best from chick pictures on feathersite, but I don't know if there are variations or anything within the breed as far as coloring goes.
 
I've gone ahead and put them in like this. If I've had them in egg cartons the whole time, is it okay to lay them down on day 18? Or do they have to stay in egg cartons? It's kind of a tight fit in my Brisea Octagon ECO.

Still curious if I'll have any breeds that I won't be able to tell apart.
 
I like keeping them in cartons. I think it makes it easier for them to hatch... who knows... they aren't like that under a broody. But, in an incubator other chicks can move the eggs around whereas under a broody, the eggs pretty much stay put unless momma moves them.
 

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