I have 150 eggs set as of Saturday Feb 13th.

[dave27889]

Okay update for Monday March 8th. We now have a total of 37 chicks. I only have 1 EE. 4 BCM's, 8 RIR's, 12 Jersey Giants, 3 old english game birds and 9 Delaware. I do still have some peeping but I am not counting them yet. I had 1 RIR chick to die while hatching and 1 more to die after hatching. I have about 3 Delaware that are peeping right now and I have 1 Jersey Giant that is peeping. I am pretty sure that all but 1 Jersey Giant is mixed with N.N. becase they have a bare neck on at least 9 or more of them. They are large chicks. The Delaware are also very big and really cute. The old english game are tiny and cute.
I don't understand the low hatch rate on the BCM. The only thing I can think of is 1 bunch was severly handeled by the post office and not a single chick from that box have hatched. The box was severly crushed and I have talked with the local post office and we were waiting for the hatch to happen to see what they MIGHT do. I have pictures of the box and even the postman and the assistant postmaster saw the box when it came into the post office. There were Welsummer, RIR's and BCM in the box. I really hate that because I had a lot riding on that bunch of eggs. I can understand a little problem with shipping but to totally crush the box is outragish.
The other 12 BCM I got still may hatch another so I am waiting a few more days on them. I really hope to get at least 1 or 2 more from that bunch. I am getting ready to check the incubator in a few minutes to see what else might be ready. I am going to candel everything that is left on Wednesday and throw out anything not moving. I do have 13 other eggs that are EE's that hatch on this Friday so I may get a few more out of that bunch. I am not sure on them because they came through some very cold and snowy weather just like the other EE's did. This batch that is due Friday did come almost on time. They were just a day late. The other EE's in the above hatch were lost and in cold weather for at least 4 days and I am not even sure how old they were when they were shipped out. We had a little miscomunication on that bunch.
I will update maybe tonight but have to take my son to the dentist on Tuesday for wisdom teeth problems so not sure if I can update tomorrow. Thanks, dave

 

[texasgal]

Still hyperventilating here ...

 

[tdgill]

thanks dave! glad you are investigating options with the PO. good luck with the rest of your hatch!

 

[angelique_redhead]

I love your updates. Thanks so much for sharing your hatching with us.

: Angelique

 

[carriehelene]

Oh Dave, I'm sorry your hatch isn't going as well as you'd like. Mine is going the same way this time. Also PO related. I hope you get more EE's from friday's batch. And I hope you're taking care of yourself. We'll be watching for your updates and

for your eggies.

 

[dave27889]

Okay this is most likely the last post on this hatch. I had a total of only 48 chicks to hatch. It took some of them 25 days to hatch. I had 3 chicks to die after hatching so that left me with 45 chicks total living. I had only 3 Old english game birds, 1 EE, 5 BCM, 11 Delaware, 9 Black Jersey Giants, 5 Black Jersey Giant mix Naked Neck and 9 RIR. None of the Welsummer hatched. They were in the box that was crushed so badly. I am still talking with the Post Office about the problem.
I guess my hatch rate would be a third since I started with 150 eggs. I guess that is not but so bad. When you consider the really bad weather that caught some of the eggs and the crushed box that contained such a good number of eggs my hatch isn't so bad. They are awful cute in the brooder and I am going to post a picture in a minute if everything goes okay with the camers. It hasn't worked so well since the kids went out in the snow with it. There are not going to be all the chicks in the picture as some of my farming family have already come and taken their picks of the chicks hatched. I only have about 24 left right now and 12 of those are all mine. I have a friend coming today that has bought chicks and adults from me before and I think he will take the rest. I did not have to feed and heat the bunch for long. I will say 50ish chicks can stink up a house quick.
I do have 13 EE eggs hatching this Friday or Saturday. I will post that on a new posting. I candeled them last night and 10 were moving around some so I hope that hatch goes well. For the people asking about my son this is what went on. He had the 2 top wisdom teeth removed and he has an infection in his gums and around his jaw. They are treating him for that. He is hurting pretty good today and his daddy ( me ) is taking good care of him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He has to have the other 2 wisdom teeth removed on March 22nd. He should feel a lot better soon.
Thanks for everyone who has followed my post it has been great fun and I will keep it open for a while so people can make their repost on it. Thanks for everything and I have made a lot of good friends on here. Later, Dave

 

[IggiMom]

Yes, a third is actually pretty good for shipped eggs, I think.

I have some very nice Welsummers, and I have not yet separated them for breeding, but I plan to, after I get the coop cleaned out in the spring. So then I should have some nice eggs if you are interested.

I am planning to try an experiment. I thought I would put some of my pretty RIR gals in there with the Welsummers and the Welsummer roo, and so of course the eggs from the RIR's would be a cross between them and the Wellsummer roo. I just thought this might make an interesting cross.

Cute chicks, Dave. Have fun.

Catherine

 

[HickoryGuy]

If you think 50 day-old's smell bad, you oughta smell 50 2-week old's!

Sorry you didn't have more hatch. I know you put alot of effort into this endeaver, but 33% on shipped is fairly good, I think.

 

[dave27889]

Thanks guys I feel a little better. It's just looking at all the unhatched eggs and know the time, trouble and expense that went into it.

Yes if you do get eggs from the wellsummers let me know even if they do mix with RIR I think that would be interesting. Take care and i will be watching. Later, Dave

 

[angelique_redhead]

Thanks for the chickie picture. They look great! You did well.

: Angelique