June Hatch-A-Long

[CaseyV]

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I've heard from this forum not to have them together, even on the same property. However, I know a LOT of local farms that have both quail AND chickens. *shrug*

I have quail and chickens on the same property with no problem, actually my RIRs scratch under my quail pens. After everything hatches, I then separate into different brooders.

I'm also on lockdown, 12 lavender orpingtons and 25 quail. Good luck everyone!

 

[Englewood]

This is my and my bantam hen's first time hatching eggs. The first one pipped this morning and had hatched by the time I got home from work. The chick is a bantam cross of some sort. I have 2 mixed bantam hens, a mixed bantam rooster, and a cochin bantam rooster, so the possibilities are endless. A second chick has pipped this afternoon. Here is a picture of my broody and her first bantam chick!

Chicks # 2 and 3 have hatched! Chick #2 is out of a standard EE hen and a cochin bantam rooster. Chick #3 is another bantam cross.

 

[TiffanyKim]

Yay all six eggs hatched! Meet our youngest ( last to hatch ) the chocolate orp it's soo tiny!! Love bantams!! Lol

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

Yay all six eggs hatched! Meet our youngest ( last to hatch ) the chocolate orp it's soo tiny!! Love bantams!! Lol

So cute! Congrats on a 100% hatch...and your first time, too! Are you planning on keeping any of the girls for future broodies?

 

[TiffanyKim]

Thank you and yes hoping they do the broody thing lol

 

[Kim Z]

Going into lockdown tomorrow with 13 guinea, one sizzle and one mystery mix chicken. So excited!

 

[mrchicks]

Such cute babies everyone!! Congrats on great hatches!

 

[TeachAtHome]

Just turned the eggs for the last time -- as lockdown starts tomorrow! Concerned, though. Not hearing any peeps or seeing any movements. Does this happen only within 24-48 hours of hatching? Does it happen at all before lockdown? Or only after?

SO NERVOUS!! AND EXCITED!

 

[minnehaha]

It's hatch day!

So, last night I was in deep despair, absolutely sure nothing would hatch today because I messed up soo sooo bad. And today, I have one black orpington out of the shell, and one egg pipped!!!! I am now a gushing new mommy!

I accidentally put them in lock down 2 days early because I mixed up the days, AND I had put three rinsed out clean new Scotch bright sponges in the incubator. A day later we could smell the crazy stink of chemicals from those sponges, so we quickly removed them and replaced them with a tiny cup of water. I hope nobody climbs in like last time (she lived).

Between the sponges and early lock down I thought I was done, then to my surprise a chick hatched!!! I hope the other one makes it out and maybe some more actually pip!

 

[emorems0]

Final candling tonight, lockdown in the morning! Tossed 4 more eggs (mostly the ones I wasn't sure of on day 10, plus the cracked egg was a quitter). Total of 12 eggs left for lock down. I wasn't sure of two of them, but I left them in just drawing a little question mark on the shells.

I feel like I may have some early and some later hatchers due to the size difference inside some of the eggs. Some of the eggs look mostly filled and others have significantly more room but look healthy otherwise (can see movement, etc). What do I do if a few hatch on day 19 and the others aren't ready until a day or two later. It's my understanding that I shouldn't open the incubator until all have hatched, but I also don't want to leave hatched chickies in there for days while waiting for the other eggs. Is it normal to have different development rates like that?

Since I'm a first timer, can someone please confirm my plan for lockdown tomorrow morning?
Remove egg turner, fill water reservoirs fully, add a paper towel on top of the mesh rack (to help with clean up), replace eggs and lid. Fan should stay on, heat should be ~99.5, vents open, don't open lid until hatching is done.