March Hatch-A-Long.( How is it gettting here so quick ? LOL )

[DiamondDust]

Here are some individuals. I bought them off of a guy that lives somewhere in California. I've tried to email him to get some pics of some of the possible parents, but he won't reply!

So here is Chick #1



Chick #2



The first set of "twins" Numbers #3 and #4



And the last set of "twins" #5 and #6

Please help me identify!!! AAaaahhh! lol im dying to know!!

I have a guess on chick #2! I used to raise Silver Spangled Hamburgs and the chicks looked a lot like that guy...that would be my guess. The rest I have no idea as I haven't had a lot of varieties. If you find out from the breeder you'll have to let us know!

DD

 

[Shellz]

I saw Accurite have one with a probe for $12.84 at Walmart, I should have bought it!

I can't speak for that unit, since we don't get that brand here in Ontario, Canada, but I've noticed some Canadians who do incubate, use Walmart's National Geographic digital therm/hygrometer. Just saying. Am I the only Canuck on here?

 

[Shellz]

Want to try Cayuga and Welsh Harlequin in the future too, the diversity is key.  We would also like goats and alpaca, maybe sheep, when we get more land.  Chickens are such a gateway, lol (though I've had reptiles forever).

Its funny, we wanted to raise alpacas initially when we bought our property, but found out the water table was too high to support them. Foot rot would've resulted. Chickens became the answer for us. What a happy accident! I'm thinking we might be able to raise some mini goats on the driest part of the property though.

 

[Gen9]

Sorry, my eggs are Malines large fowl, not quail. Most of them are destined for freezer camp as well. I'm always interested in diversifying by trying new kinds of fowl. Looking into Muscovy ducks later this year. Someday would like to try quail or guinea fowl.

Same here, would love to try quail. We're getting turkeys in June. 4-H is doing a turkey show, only had to pay $20 to register my children for the show, & we're getting 6 poults! What a deal
I really want to do Malines! I think we'll just stick to the plan for 2015.

I can't speak for that unit, since we don't get that brand here in Ontario, Canada, but I've noticed some Canadians who do incubate, use Walmart's National Geographic digital therm/hygrometer. Just saying. Am I the only Canuck on here?

For as big as Walmart is, they don't have much of a selection - at least the Walmarts where I live... ALL the brands for temp/humidity are Accurite. I went to the pet store & got a hygrometer for reptiles - it's a dial one & reads 5% more than the Accurite. I just assume most people here are in the US, so it's good to have you here for input in case they are located where certain brands aren't offered.

Its funny, we wanted to raise alpacas initially when we bought our property, but found out the water table was too high to support them. Foot rot would've resulted. Chickens became the answer for us. What a happy accident! I'm thinking we might be able to raise some mini goats on the driest part of the property though.

Oh I need to keep that in mind too. We're on a slope & the left side of our property can get pretty muddy. It rains out here so much. I think we're going to try bee keeping before we get goats, but I'd really love some mini goats too!

 

[Gen9]

Hatched my first Ancona baby today. My flock is black & blue, but apparently they are split to chocolate because this little baby sure isn't black or blue. WoooHooo!

Interesting colors pattern! What a cutie

Day 8 for the quail, so candle and pulled all the clears and quitters. 18 clear and 4 quitters of the 73 I put in. The others looked good, veins and movement. A few stayed in just because I can't see in with how the spots are at the air cell...but holding strong still with 51 eggs. Had hoped 45 would hatch in my first try,looks like that should be doable right now!

That's great! My first hatch I set 24 eggs, 4 were clear, then 18/20 hatched. The other 2 were fully formed, just never pipped or anything. 2 died from open umbilicals, & the 3rd one had to be put down. I felt bad for telling hubby to do it. The 2nd hatch didn't go so well... set 16, most of them were clear, 4 quitters, 2 were rotting & this crystal stuff seeping out of the shell, they stunk. Got 3 chicks; 2 pullets, one cockerel - who ended up singing "cock-a-doodle-doo" perfectly. Ugh.. I have him to a neighbor before he started crowing. I would have kept him if I knew he would crow like that!

Well, no late hatchers 36 hours after hatch time, so I just emptied my hatcher. Cracked open the 6 eggs left, for my own educational purposes. I did NOT enjoy looking at 6 little dead chicks!! idk if I will do that again. 2 were fully formed with yolk sacs absorbed and everything, just never pipped. One was HUGE!!!!!! 3 were mostly formed, just their belly never closed. ewww! Any ideas or advice from this information to help with my next hatch?

How many eggs did you set? were the eggs shaped just slightly odd or porous? Some eggs I set are questionable, & end up having to toss after candling. Did you handle them too much? Like I mentioned in the previous reply, when I hatched 18/20 eggs, the 2 chicks were fully formed. I made my hubby crack them open, he basically said they were mal positioned - maybe I didn't give them enough time, who knows? Sorry for your loss. :::

Good morning, I did my first candling last night of the eggs I could see into, I tried again on the olive and blue eggs (11) but could see nothing. I culled three clears and the other 15 were well on there way. I am hopeful that the Olives and Blue have just as good fertility. I am very happy with the results up to now. I just pray they all continue to develop, no early quitter's. I have all barnyard mixes in the bator, my roosters are from my hatching last April, the dominant one is a "Wybar"? Wyandotte over Barred rock. He was only a few months old here. The other is a Wyandotte over Amber Star. I will have to go take a more recent photo.

I have some olive eggs that are hard to look through as well. Looks like you'll get some interesting mixes good luck!

Welsummer hatched Thursday. Waiting on bantam Cochins to hatch on Wednesday. Can't wait!

OOOH lucky you! I'd love a Cochin rooster. The one I have is kind of a jerk to the kiddos.

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

I have some olive eggs that are hard to look through as well. Looks like you'll get some interesting mixes

good luck!

I have just decided to leave all of the olive and blues in until the end and I will only candle the brown eggs. I am hoping for some good mixes.

 

[sonderah]

How many eggs did you set? were the eggs shaped just slightly odd or porous? Some eggs I set are questionable, & end up having to toss after candling. Did you handle them too much? Like I mentioned in the previous reply, when I hatched 18/20 eggs, the 2 chicks were fully formed. I made my hubby crack them open, he basically said they were mal positioned - maybe I didn't give them enough time, who knows? Sorry for your loss. :::

Set 29, 7 shipped were scrambled. Only 10 went to lockdown. I think my problem was I didn't clean the styrofoam bator well enough. Was afraid to use chemicals or anything, so basically just wiped it down. I'm guessing bacteria build up. Now that bator is only a hatcher and I've researched and figured out how to clean it. Between that and my new Genesis Hovabator, my fingers are crossed thins will get better!!

Fixing to candle my 1st ever turkey eggs on day 10!!! I'm so excited!!!!

 

[Gen9]

Set 29, 7 shipped were scrambled. Only 10 went to lockdown. I think my problem was I didn't clean the styrofoam bator well enough. Was afraid to use chemicals or anything, so basically just wiped it down. I'm guessing bacteria build up. Now that bator is only a hatcher and I've researched and figured out how to clean it. Between that and my new Genesis Hovabator, my fingers are crossed thins will get better!!

Fixing to candle my 1st ever turkey eggs on day 10!!! I'm so excited!!!!

I spray mine down with 50/50 vinegar & water. I'm using a homemade one out of a cooler. I'd love to get one with that didnt need so much monitoring. i was thinking of making another one as a hatcher because it gets crazy when the hatching starts. humidity & temps just aren't stable enough. Cleaning styrofoam I would think is kinda tricky. Either way, I think having 2 bators is ideal for anyone.
Good luck with your turkey eggs!

 

[sonderah]

Thanks! Set 9 turkey eggs, 4 are swimming around!! I knew at least 4 had been frozen, just wasn't sure which ones so I set them all. With that in mind, I'm perfectly have with 4 viables!!

 

[Heidisgran]

Thanks! Set 9 turkey eggs, 4 are swimming around!! I knew at least 4 had been frozen, just wasn't sure which ones so I set them all. With that in mind, I'm perfectly have with 4 viables!!

WOO HOO
my turkey eggs should be here anytime...they were pre ordered...I received an email from the seller that some time in March! heritage red