March 2023 hatch-a-long

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I did it! I have 26 going. Decided to overfill, but the stacked eggs all belong to my one hen who never got along with my roo (my fave hen of course) so her eggs have the least likelihood of being fertile. I’ll do my best to manually turn those 4, and see how it goes. First time and so excited!! I have 22 of my own BYM eggs and I purchased 4 BCM eggs from a local breeder.

 

[3KillerBs]

I was really excited about the prospect of being able to overfill the incubator, but after thinking about the situation with the turning, I think I should stick to what the incubator can turn for me. My work schedule is not condusive to egg turning, lol.

Probably wise.

I know that so far I've had about a 60-70% hatch rate from my flock so I am compensating.

 

[3KillerBs]

I’ll do my best to manually turn those 4,

Make sure to manually turn all the eggs they're contacting too -- they can keep the others from turning correctly.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Probably wise.

I know that so far I've had about a 60-70% hatch rate from my flock so I am compensating.

It would have been wise, lol, but still ended up with 4 extra. I have a feeling they aren’t fertile, though, so I’ll do my best to manually turn those (the rest turned fine, I did a test run). Then I’ll be prepared to toss them right away if no signs of development at first candling.

 

[abpatchy]

Thursday evening I started my second machine and I set 38 Augsburger eggs and 58 Sulmtaler eggs. The Augsburger eggs were shipped. This year my Sulmtaler are not great layers and I am having issues with double yolkers and thin shells. As well as not all of my hens are laying. It is very frustrating. So I am really anxious to candle for the first time in a few days. Keep your fingers crossed for that hatch!

 

[kcotton7]

I put my first ever set of eggs in on Thursday morning. I have the following eggs: mottled cochin bantam, porcelain belgian bearded d'Uccle bantam, green queen, frizzle EE, EE, olive eggers, barred rock, salmon faverolles, black copper maran, blue orpington, and welsummer. I have to admit I am slightly obsessed with this whole process and trying to make sure everything is correct! I'm so glad I found this group.

 

[junior67]

1 day down 20 to go. Lol

 

[pinewoodacres]

I set these yesterday! They are first and second generation crosses of Legbar and Welsummer. They were under an F1 cockerel. I’m starting with 39 total.

 

[pinewoodacres]

Probably wise.

I know that so far I've had about a 60-70% hatch rate from my flock so I am compensating.

I’ve found that certain combinations have worse hatch rates than others, and I also have set quite a lot of pullet eggs, but I definitely try to set as many as I can either way so I have more to pick from with my next pairings. I collect for two weeks and have seen decent hatch rates on the older ones so I figure I’ll keep up with that routine.

We are expecting in July so this may be my only hatch this year, just depends on how things are going but I may do a smaller one in the fall. But I really wanted to fill the incubator as full as I could this time just in case! My next hatch will be more selective since we will be talking fourth generation birds and I may do some feather testing to check males for two blue egg genes before I decide.

 

[Iluveggers]

I’ve found that certain combinations have worse hatch rates than others, and I also have set quite a lot of pullet eggs, but I definitely try to set as many as I can either way so I have more to pick from with my next pairings. I collect for two weeks and have seen decent hatch rates on the older ones so I figure I’ll keep up with that routine.

How do your pullet eggs develop?