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

[mallory2013]

I'm freaking out, I think I ruined this hatch already!!

Last night the humidity rocketed up to 70 degrees (

) and the temp was fluctuating between 98.1-99.0 but I was worried about touching the thermostat because ChooksChick said to leave it and walk away. I removed the water and the humidity is a steady 25%. This morning, however, I checked on it again and the temp was 98.5 so I bumped up the thermostat and it went up to 102!!! I put it down again and now it is staying between 99 - 100, so I am not going to touch it. I had my incubator rock steady for 4 days, how did I mess this up so bad?? I'm sorry for venting but I tried to talk to my mom about it and she said "Why don't you just try and hatch them in the toaster oven?"

She was serious too... lol

 

[HortonFarms]

whoops, sorry folks. i got sucked into the black hole that is IKEA. i'm a little late posting the winner and i apologize.
the winner of the random entrant contest is
HORTONFARMS!!!!!!

congratulations Hortonfarms, please PM me with your address and i will mail you the prize, which is a coffee mug and stuffed chicken toy.

**i used random.org to generate a # and then just went down the list.

YAY, I am doing the happy dance this morning.

Congrats to Horton Farms.

Well, I am Exhausted. I'm thinking I'll sleep well tonight.

Thanks

And without the poster.

Okay, here is my entry for ChestnutRidge's Most Ingenious Chicken Design - First some background. I experienced a "guinea population explosion" summer-before-last. I built a 12 x 16 open air, covered run to house the guineas and whatever chickens wanted to stay there. The roof is over 12 feet high at the peak and the birds like to sleep in the rafters. All the birds. Even the old, fat, laying hens will make their way all the way to the highest rafters to roost. Within a week of finishing the coop, I needed a way to get then out of the rafters so I found a scrap of wood about 30 inches long and a smaller scrap to nail on top. I called it my "Chicken Gitter." I have used it nearly every day since and have several times intended to make a more presentable version, but this one is functional and always handy. I had a neighbor come over to care for my birds while we were away on vacation and I labled it for her. I wrote "Chicken Getter" on it so she could differentiate it from other scrap wood laying around and because I was afraid she would think I didn't know that "Chicken Gitter" was incorrect! I now have three old hens that will stay in the rafters until I help them down. They stand on the rafter until they see the "Chicken Gitter" in my hand, then they squat and I touch the back of their legs with it. They step back onto the cross piece and I lower them to the ground. Spoiled girls!

I got to git me one of them.

Candling already?!? I thought I was the only crazy one that cant keep my hands off the eggs. lol

I candle every one of my eggs on a daily basis.

 

[mstricer]

Today is the day that construction begins on my breeding pens! e

Mine are already being made. I wish I could put smilies from my phone. I would give you a big rasberry.

 

[Arielle]

whoops, sorry folks. i got sucked into the black hole that is IKEA. i'm a little late posting the winner and i apologize.
the winner of the random entrant contest is
HORTONFARMS!!!!!!

congratulations Hortonfarms, please PM me with your address and i will mail you the prize, which is a coffee mug and stuffed chicken toy.

**i used random.org to generate a # and then just went down the list.

Congratulations!

So I did really good, didn't touch the knob when temp was stuck at 97. Looked this am and temp was 99.9! Yay me.
Also our Internet is still down and I can't post pics from my phone. I will be able to tomorrow. Is that ok for the hatch rate contest? (hahahhaa as if I'd win that!)

Not touching is the hardest thing--patience!! I re-read CHookschicks CHeat Sheet when I'm wavering and about to touch the knob. Do not Touch, I recant!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm freaking out, I think I ruined this hatch already!!

Last night the humidity rocketed up to 70 degrees (

) and the temp was fluctuating between 98.1-99.0 but I was worried about touching the thermostat because ChooksChick said to leave it and walk away. I removed the water and the humidity is a steady 25%. This morning, however, I checked on it again and the temp was 98.5 so I bumped up the thermostat and it went up to 102!!! I put it down again and now it is staying between 99 - 100, so I am not going to touch it. I had my incubator rock steady for 4 days, how did I mess this up so bad?? I'm sorry for venting but I tried to talk to my mom about it and she said "Why don't you just try and hatch them in the toaster oven?"

She was serious too... lol

The humidity isn't that important the first few days. And I don't think 102 for a short period of time is going to hurt anything, either. I thought I was a goner my last hatch because my bator was unplugged somewhere between 12 and 24 hrs and I had an awesome hatch... so don't give up.

Your mother sounds a lot like mine, too....

PS is that permission to turn the toaster oven into an incubator?

 

[mallory2013]

Quote:


Thanks so much SCG, that really helps, I think I just needed some reassurance haha. I'm just hoping a few of them hatch, this is my first attempt so I would be happy with one! But that would mean I would have to go buy some more chicks to keep that one company... oh dear it goes full circle doesn't it?? Lol

 

[rarely bored]

Good Morning!! Eggies all set. Only 24, will have to go read the rules to see if it is worth taking a picture of for the best hatch rate - I'm sure there is a minimum number of eggs that must be set.

Got out of bed this morning cuz my ditzy t-bred was acting, well, ditzy. Discovered the ill mannered 1/4 horse was in the driveway, where she didn't belong and the t-bred was jealous and having massive anxiety issues. As I was looking out the window at the equine scene I noticed a bunch of snow on the hills around our house. That may explain why it is so cold. Beautiful though!! So jealous of people who get snow on a regular basis. Got my boots on, chased the 1/4 horse (you'd think at the age of 31 she'd stand still to be caught, yes?) around until she decided to be caught, tossed her back into the pasture and now, all is quiet.

Think I'll go google friesan chickens...

oh, what happened to Laree -- wasn't her last post about a major war wound, and then poof, nothing? Her avatar is a bit ominous -- makes me wonder if she pushed the hens for too many eggs and there was a major uprising. Hope she is ok.

 

[Wisher1000]

Hey, Hortonfarms! Congratulations! Now aren'tyou glad I talked you into joining the hatch? How 'bout a cut of that prize?! JK!

 

[1muttsfan]

Good Morning!! Eggies all set. Only 24, will have to go read the rules to see if it is worth taking a picture of for the best hatch rate - I'm sure there is a minimum number of eggs that must be set.

There is a small batch hatch rate contest too

Mahonri, I am sure Laree would let you have that bator shipped to her house - though you may never see it again after that.

 

[ChooksChick]

Whoops...I forgot to list some eggs.

24 of Kathy's F2s
8 of Debs_Flock's Golden Campines (from exhibition stock!)
8 of TN Barnqueen's English Lav Orps
12 of MyABCs3's French Cuckoo Marans
12 of SparkyCrows's Blue Barred Rocks


I'm sure there are others I've forgotten...