June 2025 hatch-a-long

[RoseHawke]

I'm down to three eggs I guess. Lockdown is in ~5 days or so since it's likely to be early.

not doing well at ALL this hatch. started with 34 eggs I think and down to maybe 12 still going but who knows if really even that many.

@PrettyCoolChicks I'm so sorry about the duckling. Between you, @junior67 , and me, it sounds like quite a few people are having trouble with this hatch. A friend of mine many years ago would always nod wisely and say "Sunspots." It seems as good a reason as any. Fingers crossed for your last 3 eggs and Junior's dozen. All you can do at this point is hope for the best and expect the worst.

 

[junior67]

@PrettyCoolChicks I'm so sorry about the duckling. Between you, @junior67 , and me, it sounds like quite a few people are having trouble with this hatch. A friend of mine many years ago would always nod wisely and say "Sunspots." It seems as good a reason as any. Fingers crossed for your last 3 eggs and Junior's dozen. All you can do at this point is hope for the best and expect the worst.

I was thinking the same thing....... A bunch seem to be struggling this hatch!

I am debating on ordering more Owlbeard eggs. I can either go with same breeder or I found another one.... Only thing is I can't have them shipped till around the 23rd because of a camping trip we are doing July 11th and I don't really want 2 day old chicks while we are gone. We aren't far and only gone Fri afternoon to Sun early evening but still..... so by then the other chicks I have will be 4 weeks which is then iffy on brooding them together and I only have the one spot to brood them outside in my coop....... UGH! decisions!

 

[BoundlessLove]

I have a batch of Speckled Sussex in the incubator. We are on the last week.

Good luck with your hatch!

SS are a particular favorite in our family. Kept them for years.
Was time to add more to our flock, so hatched eight SS chicks on Easter Sunday.
Edited to add: Welcome to BYC!

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

I am leaving them in just in case since you can barely see inside the eggs.

not doing well at ALL this hatch. started with 34 eggs I think and down to maybe 12 still going but who knows if really even that many.

I hope your ~12 eggs make it to hatch, rooting for these babies! Maybe some of the ones you leave in just in case might still be viable.

A friend of mine many years ago would always nod wisely and say "Sunspots." Fingers crossed for your last 3 eggs and Junior's dozen.

I was thinking the same thing....... A bunch seem to be struggling this hatch!

Agreed! I'll take sunspots as an explanation. Looks like indeed quite a few people are struggling.

We aren't far and only gone Fri afternoon to Sun early evening but still..... so by then the other chicks I have will be 4 weeks which is then iffy on brooding them together and I only have the one spot to brood them outside in my coop....... UGH! decisions!

I'm already worried at the idea I need to be at the farmers' market for 4h, this would sound way too stressful for me. XD

I've candled today, marked air cells. All three eggs had definite movement, yay!

I read a lot about early signs of malpositions this evening so I have something to look for. Based on baby outlines, I'll take my bets on one internal pip, one pip the wrong end and one head under wing. Also for whatever reason , I'm fully expecting them to hatch between the 12th and 13th (with lockdown supposed to be on the 15th, and hatch due on the 18th so we'll see if the incubator change delays how early they hatch a bit).

 

[RoseHawke]

...and I don't really want 2 day old chicks while we are gone.

Nope. You need to interact with them as soon as possible and as often as possible during the first 2-3 days. Every time I put my hand in the brooder bin Pippin (my singleton hatchling) comes running to investigate, while Buffy, Willow, Chip and Monk, the Tractor Supply chicks, think it's the chicken monster coming for them.

ETA: Just wanted to add that I learned this after watching a few of The Featherbrain's videos on YouTube so I've been trying some of her suggestions. I didn't do this with the chicks I hatched the last time 4 years ago, and while those were at least somewhat tame, they were still terribly skittish, especially as chicks and youngsters. Pippin looks like she's going to be an "in your lap" chicken if her behavior so far is anything to go by.

 

[junior67]

Nope. You need to interact with them as soon as possible and as often as possible during the first 2-3 days. Every time I put my hand in the brooder bin Pippin (my singleton hatchling) comes running to investigate, while Buffy, Willow, Chip and Monk, the Tractor Supply chicks, think it's the chicken monster coming for them.

ETA: Just wanted to add that I learned this after watching a few of The Featherbrain's videos on YouTube so I've been trying some of her suggestions. I didn't do this with the chicks I hatched the last time 4 years ago, and while those were at least somewhat tame, they were still terribly skittish, especially as chicks and youngsters. Pippin looks like she's going to be an "in your lap" chicken if her behavior so far is anything to go by.

I have interacted with all of mine besides broody hatched and some are super skittish some not as much. My first batch I got from a feed store at a few days old and my kids were a bit younger and loved them as babies and I watched my grand daughter then so they were handled a LOT and most won't let me touch them. They come up to me but if I go to touch them they are gone!! Lol. Most times most will love me as babies but then hate me as adults. The brats

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

They come up to me but if I go to touch them they are gone!!

Same with my first batch but it depends on the birds! Seven babies raised in the house with me working from their enclosure as much of the day as possible, hand feeding and huddling on my lap to nap. Only two of them ended up tame-ish. That said they're all relatively tame for leghorns - comparable to my dominique rescue who is naturally gentle and docile but is not used to being handled.

 

[junior67]

ugh my last owlbeard egg quit... so had I think 3 that quit and all within 7 days. so something I did? just from being shipped? something with the seller (guessing not this one). so do I try again from same seller? try another one or just figure I am not meant to have an owlbeard..

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

Sorry your last owlbeard quit, that sucks It didn't sound like you did anything wrong in particular to me at least, and the seller seems ok? Shipping can be tough on eggs. I would try again after your trip, june seems a bit unlucky but maybe you're meant to have owlbeards in July?

I had another power outage this evening for 30min, incubator temp droped to 90F - I guess that's no worse than a broody duck taking a break, so maybe it's ok?

My duck hen is still broody so far, i do find her on the roost in the morning but she spends most day on the nest and is there in the evening when i put birds to bed so she might just go roost in the morning while chicken take over to add their eggs in her fake clutch.

 

[junior67]

Sorry your last owlbeard quit, that sucks It didn't sound like you did anything wrong in particular to me at least, and the seller seems ok? Shipping can be tough on eggs. I would try again after your trip, june seems a bit unlucky but maybe you're meant to have owlbeards in July?

I had another power outage this evening for 30min, incubator temp droped to 90F - I guess that's no worse than a broody duck taking a break, so maybe it's ok?

My duck hen is still broody so far, i do find her on the roost in the morning but she spends most day on the nest and is there in the evening when i put birds to bed so she might just go roost in the morning while chicken take over to add their eggs in her fake clutch.

I wouldn't worry about it being out for 30 min. I agree it is like a broody taking a break.

hmmmmm are you sure she isn't going up and roosting after you put the others to bed? I would maybe go check just to be sure if you are going to be giving her babies or eggs (sorry I can't remember but I thought you were going to give her the eggs that hatched?)