May 2020 Hatch-A-Long

[Jehri]

Two in the brooder because they were playing kickball with their siblings and I didn’t like the red showing around the pip on one after it got flung. A peek into the pips all are chewing still so I think they will be a bit. I’m totally nerve wracked

 

[wolfwalker]

Where I'm at, I am seeing people asking (no idea if they are actually selling) $10+ for marans chicks and $5-8 for mixes and crosses (straight run) now... It's a little crazy. But maybe since all the farm stores are done with chick days, there's more demand (even though we have a hatchery 45 minutes away ).

Let me weigh in on the pricing of chicks subject. First off, it does not matter if you got the eggs for free or next to nothing. First things first. Decide on if your chicks are at the same quality level of the major Hatcheries.

Unless they are truly mutts, then they should never be priced much below what a Hatchery charges for them. Remember you do have costs into the chicks at the point of being hatched, why would you give them away for less than they cost you to hatch.

My FBCM go for 15$ at a week old. It costs me, with electric, infrastructure, feed and labor roughly 3$ a week to raise a chick, we have very high electricity here. I will be installing solar panels just to cut down on the bill. Between Electricity used incubating and the first weeks costs, I have near 4$ into them at point of hatch. Remember, you have breeding flock expenses for your own eggs. Bought eggs can have the point of hatch higher yet. McMurray Hatchery sells their FBCM for 7.75$ as day olds, other hatcheries are higher yet.

Even if you never want to do this as a business, you must cover expenses, otherwise you might as well hand the chicks out free and toss some cash into teh deal to as eventually you will be so far into the hole you can never see the light.

 

[spartacus_63]

Brand new to hatching. Set 29 eggs on May 1. Sitting on May 20 with 21 left. Itching to have pips or zippers or hatchers.

If you set them on the 1st, you are a little early yet. Pips and early birds at any time now though.

 

[sdm111]

I’m keeping some for myself. I am trying to keep two of each breed. Then I’ll start working on the quail.

Keep a couple number 2 pick spares just in case. One issue can set you back years

 

[BertyRoux]

Let me weigh in on the pricing of chicks subject. First off, it does not matter if you got the eggs for free or next to nothing. First things first. Decide on if your chicks are at the same quality level of the major Hatcheries.

Unless they are truly mutts, then they should never be priced much below what a Hatchery charges for them. Remember you do have costs into the chicks at the point of being hatched, why would you give them away for less than they cost you to hatch.

My FBCM go for 15$ at a week old. It costs me, with electric, infrastructure, feed and labor roughly 3$ a week to raise a chick, we have very high electricity here. I will be installing solar panels just to cut down on the bill. Between Electricity used incubating and the first weeks costs, I have near 4$ into them at point of hatch. Remember, you have breeding flock expenses for your own eggs. Bought eggs can have the point of hatch higher yet. McMurray Hatchery sells their FBCM for 7.75$ as day olds, other hatcheries are higher yet.

Even if you never want to do this as a business, you must cover expenses, otherwise you might as well hand the chicks out free and toss some cash into teh deal to as eventually you will be so far into the hole you can never see the light.

All very good info!

Perhaps I should have clarified, my comment that the prices are a bit crazy now was in comparison to what they were a month or two ago (which was about half what I listed). I wasn't trying to say anyone should charge less or take a loss, just an interesting observation that prices have increased nearly double in a short time.

 

[Jehri]

I have pips on all but 3 eggs I never expected this well of a result at this point but I know the game is not over. The three left without pips are all dark brown . I just bought new batteries for the incubright so if there’s still no action after a few more zips I may try and peep into them again with these lithium batteries that are supposed to give more power to your devices and it does look brighter.

 

[gimmie birdies]

16/19 fertile eggs, local eggs one town away. (just rehomed 7 chicks. I plan on keeping any with blue feathers and rehoming the others.) hatched day 22. BCM-Isbars and prolly EE.

I have 3 eggs from my avatar in incubator, one or 2 are due on the 25th, and one or 2 are due on the 30th. (I started out with 4 eggs, 5 days apart, I cannot remember which is which.)

 

[AUChickenGal]

The one laying down... put it in a cup for a few hours. Probably needs some physical therapy.

I just got home from work, and it had strengthened enough to go into the brooder with the others. Sometimes a chick just needs a little more rest before they're ready to come out of the incubator, I've found. It's still not as steady on her feet as the others, but I expect it will catch up in the next day or so.

At least three (hard to be sure when they're all identical - lol) have figured out where/how to get water, so that's very good to see. A couple of them have made some curiosity pecks at the feed, though they aren't actually eating just yet that I can tell.

I always forget how tiny just-hatched chicks are. Compared to my 5-week-old hooligans who are VERY ready for me to get the coop finished so they can move out of the garage, these new babies are practically microscopic.

 

[FortCluck]

Keep a couple number 2 pick spares just in case. One issue can set you back years

Thanks for the advice. I’m just crossing my birds, but these leghorns and brahmas ones I had to have when I saw them. The marans I want to keep 3.

 

[DdachickenBoy]

I have a silkie egg with twins on day 16

You can see both chicks moving when you candle