Mahonri's 2nd Annual BYC EASTER HATCH. Post pics of your chicks!

[Rathbone]

Thank you all for the belly laugh...and I have the belly to do it up right!

Regarding my imminently hatching chicks - I will be sure to post pix as soon as something happens. I can't wait to get home and hover over the glass to see if one of my daughter's sizzle chicks decides to make an early appearance.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

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ring... ring... ring...

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

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I have a goose egg candling video on youtube. I have a pre-made email response for all the people who have the heating pad, light bulb trick. So far none of them have had a goose hatch even though they email and beg me to make them hatch. I tell them in the nicest way possible that a goose egg needs a goose or an actual incubator with a knowledgeable human operating it. I see the craziest contraptions.... and I feel so bad that these people are basically killing perfectly good goose eggs.

 

[dsqard]

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I was gonna say it but I restrained myself

 

[The Sheriff]

Kathy, are those her babies or is she a surrogate Mom? Whatever they are, they are too cute!

 

[Patchesnposies]

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Hmmmmm, somehow I'm thinking you wouldn't have to hold her down......

 

[debilorrah]

You people are wrong on all levels.

 

[The Sheriff]

Call me crazy but I am going to do this! My broody on the right, Cara, is sitting on two eggs with dead embryos ( will swap out with wooden eggs tonight under the cover of darkness). My broody Lukka, on the left, is sitting on one wooden egg, an Icelandic egg and a Coronation Sussex egg both viable, but due a week apart (These two will be swapped out for wooden eggs tonight as well.)

So, here is my plan. On lockdown for the Easter hatch, I am going to swap their wooden eggs with those in the incubator. Cara is a first time Mom so she will get three New Hampshire eggs. Lukka is supermom so she will get five Barred Rock eggs.

The two Lukka is sitting on are still viable, and they will go in the incubator with one Coronation Sussex egg for a ridiculous staggered hatch. Ridiculous, in that I have no idea when they are due to hatch. I know at least one is due four days before the Easter hatch. So call me crazy. That is my plan. Kathy will probably never send eggs to me again but I have to get these girls some babies! They have been through hell and back trying. By the way, the broody coop has a divider down the middle so they shouldn't get their babies mixed up.

So I will end up hatching and brooding one Icelandic, two Coronation Sussex and 24 Mille Fleur Leghorns. The odd balls can go in the freak brooder with my olive egger, Frizzzle cochin, and Polish baby. The six of them should make quite a sight!

 

[Noncentzter]

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I love this quote! I even bought a floor mat with this saying and gave it to my MIL cuz it sounds like something she'd say! LOL!!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

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I feel you! I have 1 I think is developing, one is a maybe and tossed half already. Don't give up!! My first hatch was 5% and second was 32% and this one is definitely going to be bad. But its still fun and worth it. It could be your incubator, but also if they are shipped that could be it. I'd say buy one...if just for fun.

Thanks for the encouragement, kvmommy. I took your advice and ordered an incubator!

Today is my 50th(!) so it will be a present to myself. If my one chick hatches, I'll have a 5% hatch rate (I set 20 eggs), otherwise, it will be zero.
I'm going to try again as soon as my incubator arrives. I just hope my rooster steps it up. I've seen him mating, but apparently, he is not successful.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I'd be happy to give you some (free) cross eggs (half would be turken) to attempt hatching with. My roo has good fertility and I just ivermectined my girls on Monday so I'll either be throwing out or blowing out eggs for at least the next 10 days... and they lay about 24 a day... that's a lot of blowing.