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

[Cedarknob]

Well there is no doubt that the temps in the 1588 were way too hot.

FIRST THREE CHICKS OUT!

1. WMR Blue Wheaten Ameraucana
2. WMR Blue Wheaten Ameraucana
3. NotAFarm, Audin Icelandic
4. first pipped, Audin Icelandic almost out.
5. small cochin egg from Renee is pipped.... now remember, I didn't even pick this egg up from the post office until like 8 or 9 AM on the 17th! What are we day 18?

Seems like the Brinsea will be right on time on I don't expect a pip with them till Friday at earliest.

Congratulations on the early chicks.

I locked down only 39 of 84 eggs, and some of those are questionable. The toss outs were all completely clear except for one early quitter, looks like the fertility was low on the 'first egg or two' pullets.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

My 3rd Entry to the egg art contest:

 

[Kismet]

I came home from work a little early today to put everyone into lockdown mode. While checking on the hatcher which I had set up last night to get to the proper temperature, I heard noises from the incubator. I have a chick that's zipped all around and peeping like there's no tomorrow! They are not due until Friday at the earliest - do you think it's climate change that's causing all these over achievers?

I have 27 more to go, but I am hoping they slow down. I have one that got a cracked shell when my water container hit it as I was adding water. I was heart broken, but having read somewhere on BYC about covering the crack with wax might carry it through, I tried it. At day 14 it was still going fine.
Has anyone had success with a cracked egg? do you have suggestions as to when I should peel the wax off (it's on the air cell end), or on day 21 should I beak the shell to give some help?

I am about to put everyone in the hatcher now and I will candle them. I was waiting for the hatchling to pop off the top of his shell, but he's resting now (I say "he" too, I notice, when I want them all to be "shes"), and it might be awhile.

I must say - hatching with a group really does up the excitement level! I feel an adrenalin flow!

 

[SunnyDawn]

Dude! You and your hatches need to cooperate! I can never win your first out chicks.
Quote:
Hahaha! My ameraucanas always hatched early so I guessed ameraucana out first. Then I read about what early hatchers the icelandics were and thought for sure I would be wrong.

Now lets get the number I guessed right!

SQUEE!! Eggs "A" and "E" have wiggled! This is only my second hatch and in my first one, I never saw an egg move before the pip. How long does it usually take from moving to pipping? I set up a nerdy little chart to keep track of each egg. Time/date/order of each first wiggle observed, pip, zip, and hatch.

I've had them wiggle 3 days before hatching. That was my marans though and they really like to take their time hatching!


CONGRATS to all the folks that have chicks hatching already!

 

[1muttsfan]

Mahonri - Have a cookie

I am on lockdown. 100 out of 300 eggs.

for you

The other concern I have is the paper towels on top of the wire. Will they block the air flow of air through the bator? Does that matter, at this point?

I don't like to restrict the airflow, so do not cover the grate - it is harder for the moisture to circulate from the water wells, and for fresh air to enter via the vents at the bottom, if it is covered.




Quote:

Sounds like what happened with the new BYC...

And Linda - We get to see our chicks before you!!

 

[BHep]

Locked down around 1pm. 3 pips. What is going on ? Eggs pipped last night and locked down last night....eggs pipped now on day 17 &18 ???
Dickey Cabinet...dry incubation...running at 99.5 - 99.8. These babies are in a rush !

Let the hatching begin !!

 

[lilstar]

My kids want me to take them outside to ride bikes but I just want to sit here and stare at my eggs

I didn't know Ameraucanas had a tendency to hatch early. That might explain my last hatch of early birds. Every last one of them was at least 50% Ameraucana. I think they hatched about 2 days early.

 

[Pinx]

I threw out 26 eggs today, Today is day 24 and no signs of life.. I cleaned the bator and I just put the last 4 of my eggs in lockdown, I wasn't planning on setting more then the 41 but my hens started laying and I just had to try to hatch some out. All 4 looked good when I candled.

I hope I get some babies from my own flock.

Its possible I may be in the running for worst hatch rate lol. This being my first hatch though, I'm happy that I got the 8 chicks that I did.

 

[ronott1]

Locked down around 1pm. 3 pips. What is going on ? Eggs pipped last night and locked down last night....eggs pipped now on day 17 &18 ???
Dickey Cabinet...dry incubation...running at 99.5 - 99.8. These babies are in a rush !

Let the hatching begin !!

Ok, this all goes to prove it. The chart that Wolf Tracks sent us is correct. Today is day 19 moving to 20. Early hatching chicks will pip and hatch today and tomorrow. Most will hatch on Friday.

 

[SherrieT]

Guess I'd better get home quick and put them in lock down...................