March 2023 hatch-a-long

[junior67]

Had to take my daughter to the hospital and just got back about an hour ago (she slipped and herniated her back). Three more chicks hatched, making the total now 10, four more are pipped, and five are waiting although I think a couple of those are DIS.

The last six to hatch are all blacks, with yellow tummies, apart from the one bantam which is black with a silver tummy. Mixture of clean legs, semi-feathered, and full feathered. I'll try to get pics in the morning, after I go pick up daughter's pain meds.

Considering getting more eggs from this seller. I don't mind that I had a low hatch rate (about 50% or so) since I only paid $12 for 48, and the dozen+ clears are being used as food for my dog. Still means less than $1/chick!

hope your daughter feels better quick!!!!!!

honestly a 50% hatch rate is pretty normal. that is what they say to expect from shipped eggs so I would say you did really great!!!!!!!!

 

[junior67]

Ok I think the mystery chick is going to be a tricolor/mottled/speckled whatever Leghorn (in Poland and Germany it’s called “Porcelain” color) …and in fact I might have two of them now, because there’s a freshly hatched yellow chick with dark wing feathers in the incubator. An Araucana also just hatched, whee !

View attachment 3424352

no clue what they are but they sure are cute!!!!!!!!

 

[junior67]

Thursday is lockdown for me! I might candle tonight. Out of the 27 still left, 3 of them had veining but not a ton of movement, so I want to check & make sure those 3 are still ok. Fingers crossed! This has gone by so fast! I still have to dig my small brooder out of the shed and get it ready, along with my heat plates and heater/waterer.

I can't believe you are almost at lockdown already!!!!!!! so exciting! I need to FIND my MHP........ I put it somewhere safe after last years hatch, I don't think I broke it down. I have the dome one I use in the inside brooder for smaller batches or the first couple days but the other one is flat so more can fit under it... I need to look since I will be needing it in a couple weeks once I move them outside...... LOL

 

[junior67]

Here's an update on my chick with the brillo-like down on his back. Did I post about him in this thread? I don't remember! Anyway, he was one of the last to hatch on Sunday. He and three others had a very hard time. One died overnight, but the others are doing FINE. This one chick is very, very tiny. As of this morning, he weighs 37g - while one of the other late chicks that hatched with him is 40g, and a typical sample from the group that hatched a day earlier (Saturday) is 48g. Photos below.

Anyway, this one little chick has down on his back that's very short, stiff and wiry, almost like a brillo pad or beard stubble. The rest of his down is normal. At first I thought it was dried membrane or thick albumen, but I gave him a sponge bath and ... nothing. So I dabbed some coconut oil on his back, and it's softer, but just weird. The breed is simply a barnyard mix, maybe Australorp, BPR, RIR, or EE combinations.

Here he is. It's still oily with coconut oil. I hesitate to bathe him, but will need to:

And here he is with one of the other chicks who struggled to hatch on Sunday. He is 37g, the yellow chick is 40g:

And this gray chick is pretty typical of the rest of the hatch from a day earlier. The gray one weighs 48g:

Any thoughts or advice are appreciated!

hmmmm odd it does look like dried membrane....... I read you can use a soft bristle toothbrush. that is what I did and he still seemed a bit "matted" but I let him dry a bit in the incubator then once I put him in the brooder he fluffed up more.

 

[itkn]

5 chicks hatched so far! Several more pips.

 

[junior67]

5 chicks hatched so far! Several more pips.View attachment 3424498

love the markings on that one!

 

[bluer78]

I filled my NR360 with 22 eggs on Thursday night! This will be my first hatch! They will be barnyard mixes. Candled them last night at day 4, couldn't see through 3 of the dark ones, but a definite 13 showed the spider veins with little black bubbles inside!!
Beyond excited!! Hatch date of 3/23.

 

[LhickenChicken]

What day are your eggs on, @junior67? I don't know about mine, but they are 7 days from hatching, going to be 6 days to hatch at 2 or 3 oclock this afternoon. (MST) Keep the chicky photos coming, guys! I'm going to have my own chicks soon enough. For now, here's one that hatched in the Feb 2023 hatchalong:

She's the latecomer, Dawn.

 

[LhickenChicken]

@BarnyardChaos, how is that chicky of yours doing?

 

[junior67]

What day are your eggs on, @junior67? I don't know about mine, but they are 7 days from hatching, going to be 6 days to hatch at 2 or 3 oclock this afternoon. (MST) Keep the chicky photos coming, guys! I'm going to have my own chicks soon enough. For now, here's one that hatched in the Feb 2023 hatchalong:
View attachment 3424516
She's the latecomer, Dawn.

I am day 11 at around 2:30pm EST so just over half way there!!!!!!!! then I have 9 under a broody on day 2 at 8pm tonight...... LOL