Ms. Pepperpots and Trader Joe's: hatch complete

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Hi all!

Quick update:

2 Ms. Pepperpots have hatched and four more are pipped.

I'm not sure they're really Ms. Pepperpots (Black Sex Links) because one is buff and the other is black. I was under the impression that they would all be black, with the males having a white spot on their heads.

No activity on any of the TJ's. I'm still hopeful though...they didn't go into the 'bator until 11:30 PM, so the 21st day is still 11+ hours away.

I do have some pics to share later, but for now I'm back to the garden duties.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

We have our first Trader Joe's pip!!!!!

w00t!

 

[Chicktastic]

How cool Trader Joes! I'll be really interested in seeing that. We have a Trader Joes near us. I'll have to check it out.

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

This is awesome! I'm so glad they are hatching...and from store eggs too! Go Chickies!!!

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Here's the current status...

The top time on each egg is the time of pip, the lower is the hatch time.

The Ms. Pepperpots (Black Sex Links) clearly are not really Ms. Pepperpots, so just for funsies I've noted which color peep came out of each of those eggs. I wonder if the mother hens, some of them anyways, were Ms. Pepperpots themselves, which obviously don't breed true. No big deal.

The hatch is still in progress with the RH being maintained at 58-62.

 

[Bock_Bock]

congrats on the good proggresion hope many more to come good luck

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Okay the hatch is essentially over...with just a few duds still cooking until tomorrow, just in case.

9 of the 11 fertile Ms. Pepperpots = 82%
3 of the 9 fertile Trader Joe's = 33%

Here's the final breakdown on the pip/hatch times...

Of course, the Ms. Pepperpots were not really F1 Ms. Pepperpots, as evident by the first peep to hatch...

Maybe this one is, but it doesn't really matter...

Trader Joe's pip...

These kids were getting pretty rowdy in there, so I turned off the lights and put them to bed...

Finally, the last peep to pip has hatched so it's time for Marek's vaccine (I hate that part)...

These two seem to have singed some feathers on their backs. The skin looks fine and they seem just as happy and healthy as the rest...

zzzzzzzz...

(yes, they have water now)

 

[melissastraka]

WOW now i know how to candle an egg!

 

[mightieskeeper]

How long does it take your chicks to fluff out? They are cute little fuzzy chicks.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Well well well, I'm glad I left all the "duds" in the 'bator because this morning we have another pip on a TJ's egg.

We'll see what comes of this one. I sure hope it happens quickly, for the peep's sake, because it is STANKY inside that 'bator.

melissastraka, yes now you can consider yourself a master of candling. It really is just as simple as turning off the lights and holding a flashlight up to the egg. When I do it, I'm really just quickly looking for veining and then moving on to the next. I usually choose not to fuss about with trying to find and observe the actual embryo or looking for a tinky winky or anything like that.

I use an LED flashlight that's so bright it actually has a laser warning decal on it. $30 at Lowe's. Lighter-colored eggs can be done with a simple $10 mini Mag-Lite.

mightieskeeper, thank you. It seems as though my peeps will fluff out in a matter of a couple/three hours when left in the 'bator (forced air). The thing is, by the time the last peep hatches, the first ones are usually at, near, or over the 24 hour "deadline" for administering the Marek's vaccine. So I just scoop them all out and the wet ones will dry rather quickly in the brooder, but without the benefit of a fan they can still be "crusty" for a couple days.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that last little TJ's pipper.