Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[wolftracks]

258 posts since I left for my daughter's. I usually at least skim, but it ain't happening at this point. I set my eggs a while ago for the Cinco de Mayo Turkey hatch. I think I heard something peeping in there. Hopefully I didn't kill them off for sure when I opened the Sportsman.

for a day after Easter hatch. It would be nice to get something out of all those eggs,

 

[lilstar]

I have 2 pipped and peeping and a few more that might still have a chance at pipping..maybe. But my bator is TOAST. Heat lamp over it, and a duckling nestled in my shirt because I don't have a heat lamp for the brooder :/ The humidity is probably somewhere in the 50s. I've opened the lid WAY more than I care to think about My first hatch was textbook perfect, normal, and this one a mess. I assisted the duck. With the crappy humidity, do I need to be bracing myself to help the chicks out if they get stuck to their shell? I don't wanna Praying they spring out of their shells like popcorn while I'm sleeping.

 

[featherz]

Two of my hatchlings died overnight - have never had a hatchling die, so new to me. =( but I think they were both very late hatchers so something might have been up with them. Have one last hatcher in the bator and I called it done at 38 chicks. Last two eggs in the bator are lifeless on candling.

 

[nightowl223]

Two of my hatchlings died overnight - have never had a hatchling die, so new to me. =( but I think they were both very late hatchers so something might have been up with them. Have one last hatcher in the bator and I called it done at 38 chicks. Last two eggs in the bator are lifeless on candling.

Sorry to hear that... we always wish them *all* to be healthy, but sometimes it just isn't to be.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Good for you! Me, too! I just emptied out my trays and am getting ready to fill them up!

Wow you're even behind me. I think my bator was empty for all of 30 minutes before I set turkeys.

 

[featherz]

Even though I do NOT need any more chickens, I have 6 of my own eggs in the brinsea. I have broodies sitting on eggs from another byc'er and one of my poor hens has been broody for at least two weeks, so I want to make sure she gets something after 5 weeks of sitting (since she just now got eggs). So I threw a few 'backup' eggs in the bator - and it's good to have it going just in case she abandons those eggs, at least that's my thinking.

 

[java girl 2]

well it look like my eggs for the hatch-a-long are gone!!!

I AM NEVER DOING A DRY HATCH AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOMEBODY SLAP ME FOR TRYING AGAIN AFTER THE FIRST FAILED HATCH!

 

[featherz]

well it look like my eggs for the hatch-a-long are gone!!!

I AM NEVER DOING A DRY HATCH AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOMEBODY SLAP ME FOR TRYING AGAIN AFTER THE FIRST FAILED HATCH!

I did a dry hatch this time in one bator and I was surprised - it actually worked. Everything hatched late, but that was due to the temp. No sticky chicks! I kept it at 25%-30%, then went up to 65% at hatch. I am sorry to hear about your chicks, it might not work well in certain incubators?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I think the wording DRY hatch is misleading people. I've read posts of many people who never added water in first 18 days. There needs to be a more accurate phrase as people take the word dry literally.

I myself am a huge advocate of dryer or lower incubating humidity. Older resources will say 60% first 18 days and 80% last 3. I believe all can agree that is ridiculously high. I think 50% is too high also. Basically, if your air cells don't develop enough then your humidity is too high. If your chicks take more than 12 hours to dry then your humidity is too high. Yep, huge advocate of a dryer hatch and monitoring air cell growth or weight loss of eggs to adjust humidity if needed.

Running at 40% my air cells were a bit small day 10 so let dry out day and half to 20% then back to 40. Next year I'll try 35%.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

We had our second chickie hatch over night and have a couple of eggs that pipped lastnight but havent done anything since. I also have some eggs that are wiggling all around in there but havent seen a pip from them yet. I think I am a bit nervous because I really dont know what I should be looking for, since this is my first time. So I have a couple of questions for you more seasoned pro's:

The first chick that hatched yesterday seem to have trouble with a leg. It looks fine, but sticks out to her side a bit and she cant seem to getit under her. Any suggestions as to what I can do for her?

Our second one hatched about 1am this morning and really hasnt moved much since. She's almost all dry, but doesnt seem to be up and moving at all. Is that normal behavior for a chick that has been hatched almost 5 hours or should I be worried? Do you think there is something wrong with what I am doing with the incubator? Its an LG still air, and I havent had any trouble the entire 3 weeks maintaining temps etc. There has been an occassional dip here and there, but nothing alarming and nothing that I wouldnt think would happen had the eggs been under a hen.

Thanks for your help everyone. I really dont know what I am going to do when this hatch is totally over! I have so enjoyed popping in here and chatting with everyone