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

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm a first time duck owner of about a week now. I've had chickens since August of last year and love them to bits. The very first time I let the ducklings swim in the sink, my sister and I watched them for a couple of minutes, then looked at each other and I said, "Why didn't we get ducks before?" My sister replied, "I like them better than chickens."

They are certainly NOT chicken-like. I had to get over that, first. Then I had to get over having a clean brooder. And clean floors. And a clean bathtub. And a mud and hole free yard.

But they're just so darned cute. Sometimes I think I can live without them, then they let me spray them in the face with the hose, and they enjoy it. Then I realize I can't live without them.

So glad you're enjoying yours. Anyone else getting ducks for the first time this hatch?

 

[debs_flock]

Wow do you folks realize that this thread went for over an hour and a half with no one posting? There weren't many posts on BYC in general! I thought the sun flares had knocked out communications or something.

Sorry, I wasn't home. I'll do my best to make up for it.

Our TV died and we had to go buy a new one. Can't live without background noise.

I am now the proud owner of my first lakenvelder. First one hatched and a couple more in lockdown. Not great out of 24 eggs, but at least I wasn't skunked. One silver campine hatched last night with two more in lockdown. I have 17 bobwhite pipped, no babies yet.

Deb

 

[LarryPQ]

255 posts later...I will try to catch up later. Not now. I am tooo tired.

Have you all seen how cool this is?

 

[NotAFarm]

You can count me in for the Hatch-A-Long. Already ordered my eggs and marked my calendar. So Excited!!!!!!

............we are getting sooo close to 200 hatchers!!

 

[Mahonri]

Wow... it didn't take me forever to catch up after my nap... like it normally does.

Looks like our Easter Hatchers have a life on Friday nights! Woot.

Joke of the day:

It seems Virgil and Lucille, bonafide rednecks (like me), had just had their 9th child.

So they showed up at the country doctor's office and Virgil tells the doc, "Doc I need to get myself fixed!"

The Doc's known Virgil since he was nigh unto a pup and he says, "But Virgil, you are only 35 years old and you've only had 9 children!"

Virgil: "I know Doc, but it's time now, I've got to get myself fixed!"

So Doc gets Virgil undressed and into position and finally, curiosity killed the cat...

Doc: "Virgil, I don't get it, why do you wait until Lucille's had your 9th child, and then you come to me to asked to get fixed?"

Virgil: "Well Doc it's like this, t'other day Lucille and I were watchin' this news reporter on the TeeVee, and he was saying that 1 in every 10 children born in the United States is a Mexican, and Doc, neither Lucille nor I speak a lick o Spanish... don't dare take a chance, do I?"

In AZ it's one in every 8....

guess I've given one or two too many "big hugs".....

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
Oh that was the problem! OK glad you are back now. Congrats on the lakenvelder!

They sure are pretty birds.

Hubby and I will be at the senior dance tonight. Try not to go past 200 or so pages while we're gone. I've got a super slow computer and I'll never catch up!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Thanks, Ron and SCG. I am not good at not planning, so I'll come up with some loose strategy, but I am glad to know it's not that vital.

It's going to be a week of fuzzy madness!

 

[Arielle]

It looks like I have some eggs which will be arriving earlier than others. My EOs might be here on Monday or Tuesday; whenever they get here, I'll let them rest for a day, and then they are going into the incubator. I'll still have RC Leghorns and Wheaton Marans coming from Gabbard and my swap eggs.

So... my eggs will be set over about 5 days. It will have to be a staggered hatch. I am thinking it is doable, but I need advice.

Genesis 1588, automatic turner, forced air. I have had success with about 30% humidity for incubation and 65% for hatch. I am thinking of bringing it up to 50-55% for the full extended lockdown period - will that work? Also, how do I deal with turning the eggs which are still incubation when the others are locked down?

If only I could get the temps to stabilize in my LG still air. Last year, I wanted to use it as a hatcher. I would get the temperature perfect for three or four hours, come back and check it in the morning, and it would be 106 or something. I am not cooking my eggs. I taped the edges, I put books on top, .... no good. I'd get another Genesis (a new one with the digital temps!) but it seems to be backordered.

Ideas?

Perhaps read the LG thread. Many of use do pretty well using the LG to hatch. You might find answers to your problems there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/601352/little-giant-incubator-tricks

 

[mlm Mike]

They are certainly NOT chicken-like. I had to get over that, first. Then I had to get over having a clean brooder. And clean floors. And a clean bathtub. And a mud and hole free yard.

But they're just so darned cute. Sometimes I think I can live without them, then they let me spray them in the face with the hose, and they enjoy it. Then I realize I can't live without them.

So glad you're enjoying yours. Anyone else getting ducks for the first time this hatch?

Yes, this will be our first time with ducks.

 

[Arielle]

We love our ducks! Not like chickens at all, like SCG mentioned. But they do like water: tubs , pools, rain, love the rain. THe muscovey fly up high to roost, but trained them to a duck house for my peace of mind.

Hope you get a few cuties. What kind are you hatching?