MARCH HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[chickenmeadow]

crittergal: Crosses/mutts are great, they can often both be beautiful & keep you guessing. Sounds like your "down-size the #'s" plan is sensible.

I'm off to the February thread again. I'll be checking in & then we'll all join everyone here as March gets closer.

 

[chickenmeadow]

Quote:
debiraymond: Me too! I've still got 3 hatches to go in February on 16th, 18th & 21st. Just didn't want to leave anyone here without notice.

On my way back to 'FEBRUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in', check that one out too if anyone wants to see how that month has been going.

I'll be back!!!!

I will send lots of extras

Henry "hcammack" is that you? Sending xtras!!!! I look forward to recieving the eggs that I have ordered from you, those Bantam Faverolles breeders of yours are beauties.

 

[Deanner03]

Thanks for the help save the favs! Mine are plain RIRs but the only pics I've seen are of white eggs! LOL. I'm so excited/nervous!

 

[sevenchickens]

I just set my first ever eggs. 7 home breed mutts (various Cuckoo Marans crosses)!! I'm so excited!!

 

[Woods_Woman]

I set 18 top hats (polish) on Saturday. So should see something hatch around the 5th. Someone gave me a still air little giant so I'm trying a hatch in this. Also using my Brinsea mini advance.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Save the Favs....Thanks for starting this thread.
My incubator is a 2362 Hova Bator circulated air..it is holding at almost 100..maybe a little shy of it....is that OK??

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Well I will join this march hatch thread to. I set some of my own Bantam Welsummer eggs do to hatch 3rd and 4th

 

[chickenmeadow]

D'Angelo N Va. : Forced air/with fan/circulated air type incubators I've been told to best at 99.5%. I've done well at the 99.5%. In some prior poor hatches, I recall doing higher temps. After assessing what was going wrong, I realized that higher temps can really do a lot of damage to the chicks; also higher humidities. Slightly under sounds better than slightly over, you're doing good!

 

[chickenmeadow]

Here's some info that I've collected for myself that you may find interesting or helpful!

Here's some info that I've collected for myself that you may find interesting or helpful!

REGARDING INCUBATION
*When is day 1 (see #69 & #70) http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res32-qa.html

*Calibrating your hygrometer (see # & read the calculation correction at the bottom) (see #241
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=271098&p=25

*The “dry incubation” method
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
(see #3) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113681&p=3

*Candling (see #6)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3364955#p3364955

*Egg progression (see #1)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876&p=1

*Air cell
http://www.poultryclub.org/VHIncubation.htm

*Emergency egg repair with wax (see #68) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=68

*Egg carton hatching examples (see #5)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/form/viewtopic.php?id=276491&p=5

*My Christmas 09 - Incubation of 6 viable eggs (“save the favs”/see #70)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=70

*My Christmas 09 - Hatched eggs, 6 chicks (“save the favs”/see #80)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=270500&p=80

MY "DRY INCUBATION" METHOD USED - That was very successful for me, but you will find out what works best for you & with your equipment
(The purpose of using this method is so chicks don’t grow too large & not be able to turn during pip. Also, so they don’t drown in the excess liquid in the air cell when they break through before pipping; the excess liquid is caused by higher humidity.)
*Days 1 thru 17: Temperature was 99.5 degrees F (this temp is for forced air incubators, measured at the level of the egg using a small thermometer that lays on top of the eggs), Humidity was 40% to 42% (with a couple of drops to no lower than 25% for air cell growth, may not be necessary though). Eggs were propped up at an angle with wide end at top, but most people just lay them down sideways. Turned eggs 3 times a day (on my work days) & 5 times a day (on my weekends); 5 times is better & always turn an uneven # of x's a day.
*Day 18: "Lockdown" starts. Stop turning eggs, put eggs into cardboard egg carton bottom with hole in each cell bottom(sizzor away the empty egg carton parts, the carton keeps the air cell at the top & stops the hatched chicks from knocking around other eggs), keep temp at 99.5 F, bring humidity up to 55% for the durration, & do not open the incubator again until all chicks have hatched (opening it would drop the humidity too much for the other chicks in eggs & they could stick to shells & not get out). Be patient, as the last hatch took 20 hrs from 1st pip to the last one hatched.

OTHER INFO
*Homemade Natural Chicken Dust Bath Recipe (external parasites, such as mites) put 1 part of each of the following in a kitty litter tray & leave out (keep dry) for chickens: wood ash, DE (diatomaceous earth), sand & road dust (dusty dirt).
*Good veggies for chickens https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats
*Treatments for Leg Problems in Chickens
http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces
*Hatchability Problem Analysis (see pg. 11 - includes section on “Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities” in chicks) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204
*Need to sex your chicks. (hatchery method at 2-4 days old) Watch this:

*HOW TO STAY CALM & RELAXED WHEN WAITING FOR THEM TO HATCH
Still researching info on that! Let me know if you have any ideas!

 

[busylizzie]

Can I join too - I set 6 special Orpington eggs last night - so hopefully I will get some babies
on 7-8th March.

This is my 4th hatch; previous hatch rates have been:
9/10 mixed muts - 5 pullets & 4 Roos - all left home now
4/6 black silkies from ebay - now 4 months old and so fluffy I want to cuddle them - I "think" 3 pullets and 1 Roo
3/6 ebay shipped eggs.......were meant to be Orps but certainly weren't!! 3 Roos to boot! all gone :-(

Good luck to everyone