June 2025 hatch-a-long

[PrettyCoolChicks]

sounds like quite the adventure getting those eggs!

I would participate, but our broody duck is Eggspecting on May 23rd.
Candling the eggs tomorrow.

I'd love some early chick pics tho

 

[RoseHawke]

What have I done?! I'm expecting a dozen VERY EXPENSIVE (I'm not telling my husband how much I spent on these eggs,) black bantam cochin eggs Thursday the 15th. At least expensive for me. What may have spurred it is that I scored a little incubator off Amazon Vine. Yes, it's Chinese but as part of the reviewal process I've had it running and been watching it the past week. So far it appears to keep a steady temp and humidity very close to its stated parameters and has been good about turning the "eggs" (dummies.) In any case I've got a Hova-Bator I'm going to set up "just in case."

So those eggs will be going in sometime Friday or Saturday depending. I'm not expecting much, I've only ever done one incubation, and these are shipping to boot. At least they're coming from a reasonable distance, under 180 miles, so I'm hoping for less traumatized eggs.

 

[junior67]

What have I done?! I'm expecting a dozen VERY EXPENSIVE (I'm not telling my husband how much I spent on these eggs,) black bantam cochin eggs Thursday the 15th. At least expensive for me. What may have spurred it is that I scored a little incubator off Amazon Vine. Yes, it's Chinese but as part of the reviewal process I've had it running and been watching it the past week. So far it appears to keep a steady temp and humidity very close to its stated parameters and has been good about turning the "eggs" (dummies.) In any case I've got a Hova-Bator I'm going to set up "just in case."

So those eggs will be going in sometime Friday or Saturday depending. I'm not expecting much, I've only ever done one incubation, and these are shipping to boot. At least they're coming from a reasonable distance, under 180 miles, so I'm hoping for less traumatized eggs.

I don't DARE tell my husband what I spend on the eggs I have coming! I am really hoping that I get a good hatch or I am going to have some really expensive chicks!!!! LOL think on average they were about $10 an egg.

GL with your hatch though!!!!!! I have heard of others getting chinese incubators and had amazing hatch rates!!!

 

[RoseHawke]

Eggs arrived about 30 minutes ago, a day early . I'm not complaining. Well packaged and all in good nick; no cracks or anything. The breeder also sent a couple extra which makes me happy. Bantam eggs are so cute. I haven't candled them to check air sacs yet, I'll do that tomorrow before I set them. If they're real bad I may give them an extra "rest" day although I don't know if that would do anything or not. Opinions on that seem to be varied.

 

[junior67]

Eggs arrived about 30 minutes ago, a day early . I'm not complaining. Well packaged and all in good nick; no cracks or anything. The breeder also sent a couple extra which makes me happy. Bantam eggs are so cute. I haven't candled them to check air sacs yet, I'll do that tomorrow before I set them. If they're real bad I may give them an extra "rest" day although I don't know if that would do anything or not. Opinions on that seem to be varied.View attachment 4123353

oh how exciting! that is great that they came early!!!!!! I also saw different opinions on letting them rest longer etc. I have done both since it seems everyone has their own thing. I honestly didn't think letting them rest longer changed anything but you need to do what you would feel best with! I can't wait to hear how your incubation goes!!!!

 

[AusHen]

So I ended up putting 37 mystery chickens in, not the intended 12 due June 5th

 

[junior67]

So I ended up putting 37 mystery chickens in, not the intended 12 due June 5th

WOW! so how many in total do you have in there? I can't wait to hear about your incubation and hatch!

I want my 2ish weeks till I get my eggs to go by FAST! but then again I don't want it to go by fast since I am on vacation for most of that time and don't want that part to go by fast but I am SOOO ready to incubate eggs! Normally by this time I have my 2nd set of eggs in and ready to hatch (if not 3rd set. LOL)

 

[AusHen]

It has 4 eggs from the first lot of 6 mystery eggs due on the 30th (I have seperate hatchers) so 41 in total. I might just do a half dozen each of the Marans and Olives on Sunday, since I'm picking up roosters I can make more of each in the future with my own birds

 

[RoseHawke]

Well, set the bantam eggs this morning after an approximately 36 hour "rest". I have them "pointy end down" in an egg carton and I'm choosing not to turn them for 3 days (still haven't candled any.) I also decided to put them in the Hova-bator as even though the temp on the little Chinese unit is steady as a rock (unlike the Hova-bator which after I finally got it dialed in yesterday, has a 1.5-degree range around 100.5°,) it's on the low side and I just don't quite trust it. I'm keeping it plugged in though; it has a nice little integral candling light, and a countdown function that will help me keep track.

I'm choosing not to turn them for the first three days as in the beaucoup articles I've read, somewhere there was an Ag School brief that mentioned that turning is not critical for the first three days but apparently would be after that. Trying to give them every chance for any sketchy air-cells to settle down.

In addition, I've also chosen not to add water to the tray; 1) because it's a royal pain to get to, and 2) it appears that the ambient humidity inside the house stays around 45% or so. Outside at the moment the ambient humidity is 85%. Many times, when I get up in the morning the outside humidity is in the 90's (we're in Central Alabama.)

I'm really not expecting much from this, but we'll see.

 

[Vexys]

I’m in!

I have some due June 5th, marans (blue or black), langshans (blue, black or splash) and orpingtons (black or lavender, black or lavender mottled and a chocolate silver laced) I’m calling them my LMO mix.

and then depending on when this second shipment gets here…. Have kelsos and ayam cemani going in

They sent 2 that were incubated already 12 days and I don’t know which breed that was so if they’re still viable (I know all the research says they will not be) those would hatch Friday and the other fresh ones would be due somewhere between the 7-9th I think.

If they get here. Tracking hasn’t moved so I’m not expecting them to make it tomorrow when they’re supposed to be here so just have to hope they make it soon and are ok.

It’s my first hatch. I definitely have a lot of stress hitting and am just hoping for good results so I can make the argument for a second incubator. Don’t have any friends here that do chickens so borrowing isn’t a thing and ordering another wouldn’t have made it in time so here’s hoping