May 2020 Hatch-A-Long

[FortCluck]

I get the eggs three times a day, which I see as a deterrent to broody. I could be wrong, don't the chickens need a clutch of eggs to give them the idea to be broody? I know my Barred Rocks started to complain at me about stealing four eggs, but then they get over it. If I had more than one nest box, I may plant ceramic eggs to see if it triggers one.

I don't know if they need eggs to become broody I've never tried to make them go broody

I usually get eggs once or twice a day because everyone seems to lay their eggs either in the morning or in the afternoon.

Plus I want to put more polish and Bantam Brahma eggs in the bator so I go out there instantly after they lay. They're still hot when I put them in the bator.

 

[WhiteWaterLady]

These kids are 3 days old and hatched in my kitchen.
First time incubating eggs for me.

 

[Erin80]

My chicks haven’t even hatched and I’ve already contacted someone for the eggs I want next...and I just put an order in for some day old Brahmas and silkie chicks that will be around the same age as my chicks hatching this weekend. That said...my hatches are just small (10 eggs to start and then whoever hatches out of that)....so it’s not like I’m over run . Controlled chaos!

 

[SueT]

The 3rd pipped egg left in last night is starting to enlarge its hole.
These late birds are 2 days behind the early birds.
Here are the 5 earlies in the brooder. I cannot tell which is the Spitzhauben for sure.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I put the peachicks on lockdown a day early. This completely detached air cell has been one of the weirdest incubations I've had to date. I thought for sure it wasn't going to make it to lockdown and I'm still not confident it will hatch. For several days I thought the chick had quit because there was zero movement, the embryo was smaller than the other two, and the blood vessels looked weak but I didn't see breakdown so I kept putting it back and hoping. Well I saw the tiniest bit of movement last night. It's possible that this weird air cell situation is also reducing the space in the egg for the chick to develop because it's still small.
Now to make things even weirder, there is what appears to be a tiny air cell developing in the pointed end of the egg as well as the detached air cell and fully attached to the side of the egg now. Time will tell I guess!

A few pictures for those that are curious and the video is from 4/26/20 when the air cell was still free moving like a bubble. I didn't share it before because it's not the best video because I was trying to be gentle.

 

[Knighstar679]

where can I find the Govee. Is that something on Amazon?

Yes it is on Amazon it is called the Govee Mini. I have really liked them so far.

 

[Knighstar679]

Never had any shatter before. Are you bringing them from cold to hot? I know glass will shatter if it goes from one extreme to the next. I leave mine in the bator for months and so far nothing has happened. My bators run 24/7 for months straight

I must be really unlucky then. I prefer to stay digital now because of it shattering. Cleaning glass out of an incubator sucks.

 

[FortCluck]

I must be really unlucky then. I prefer to stay digital now because of it shattering. Cleaning glass out of an incubator sucks.

I don't even think I have my thermometer in line right now don't follow my foot steps, I just tested them not long ago though. I know just by feel when it's too hot or cold.

Guess that's why I've hatched over 500 chicks the last year I'm ridiculous

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I don't even think I have my thermometer in line right now don't follow my foot steps, I just tested them not long ago though. I know just by feel when it's too hot or cold.

Guess that's why I've hatched over 500 chicks the last year I'm ridiculous

If it were anyone else I would say you absolutely should never trust your fingers over a thermometer...but you're you and we all know if there is a rule of thumb, the thumb will be broken by FortCluck.

 

[FortCluck]

I assume this is "blue" it's like a dark silver. It's sibling is light silver and yellow. They are still drying a bit. I really hate drying them in the incubator, but I had no choice because I was sleeping when they hatched. They always look matted when I do it in the incubator They fluff out under the brooder plate.

Color in question

Silver and yellow and what comb is this?