November Hatch-A-Long (2014)

[pickledpenny]

Here's a few slightly better pics of my new peepers.

 

[Antiquity]

I appreciate it, but it's not the thermostat holding me back, it's everything else. There's really no good way to install one in the aquaribator. I think after this hatch my husband is intent on helping me build a nice insulated wooden incubator, and we'll install one in that. Thank you though.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on these guys. A temp spike on lockdown is what killed my last hatch.

Oh my gosh, Penny. Those are flippin adorable. Congratulations.

 

[pickledpenny]

I appreciate it, but it's not the thermostat holding me back, it's everything else. There's really no good way to install one in the aquaribator. I think after this hatch my husband is intent on helping me build a nice insulated wooden incubator, and we'll install one in that. Thank you though.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on these guys. A temp spike on lockdown is what killed my last hatch.

Oh my gosh, Penny. Those are flippin adorable. Congratulations.

Ah that makes sense! Wish it was as simple as adding a thermostat for you crossing my fingers those are tough survivors in there!

Thank you! My kids keep yelling "It's so fluffy" like the little girl from Despicable Me.

 

[Jucknath]

I appreciate it, but it's not the thermostat holding me back, it's everything else. There's really no good way to install one in the aquaribator. I think after this hatch my husband is intent on helping me build a nice insulated wooden incubator, and we'll install one in that. Thank you though.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on these guys. A temp spike on lockdown is what killed my last hatch.

Oh my gosh, Penny. Those are flippin adorable. Congratulations.

I use a digital thermostat that has a small probe on a 3' wire. It would work on your aquaribator. I use it on my ice chest bator.
They are about $15 on e-bay. copy and past to viev it. I got the idea from ozexpat http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-10A...761?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed901aad9

 

[Kaylish]

It seems like I am having a happy ending after all. I have 2 chicks so far. 1 CL X RIR and 1 CL X Red Star. The CL x CL pipped 3 hrs ago as well, so I am hopeful on that too. So if I can get 3 of the 5 good ones that went to lockdown and especially after yesterday's disaster, I am feeling very lucky and happy. Thank you everyone for giving me support after yesterday's disaster.

Here are some pics. Please comment on the gender if you may.

First two are from CL x RIR- I think its a girl because of no head spot and distinct chipmunk pattern from Legbars but could be wrong.





Next two are from CL X Red Star. I am confused about this chicks gender
Do distinct chipmunk pattern calls for a boy, but then there is no headspot (if Legbar barring trait is carried)
Feather pattern tells me its a girl but I could be wrong. Head is too big for a girl.
Its a big fat girl if she is. Whopping 2 oz (56 grams)





Here is a nice pic of both of the together:

If your cockerel is the CL then they won't be sexliked by headspot (you need a non-barred roo over a barred hen); however I don't know if the auto-sexing trait will pass on with a mix. Either way they are CUTE!

Just had the last baby bleed to death in my hands

saddest thing ever! It was malpositioned and pipped in a weird place on the side. Started pecking to zip and must have hit a vein that wasn't ready. After I seen the bleeding ( wasn't just a little, it was hopeless if I left it ) I took him out and tried to stop it with cornstarch. Unfortunately it didn't work and he died. I finished opening it to see what it was since it was just barnyard mixes and it was a naked neck! So strange! So we ended up with 5 out of 7 that made it to lock down. Most of the others I set were clears with just a couple blood rings. Here's the babies!

So sorry you lost one but Yea for the other little fuzzies!

Ok, after a rather... obsessive staring contest with my eggs guess what...? They're wobbling! Yay.

I lowered the humidity for the past three days because the air cells were not as large as I would have liked, but with day 19 rapidly approaching I'm going to try to jack that humidity up tonight just in case one of them is in a hurry. On last candling for the first batch this evening one egg had a drastic increase in size of it's air cell. I just did a quick check without moving the eggs and two more have an increase in air cell size, so the lowered humidity has done it's job. I am so excited. I may not sleep for days.

Right there with ya - lockdown is Wednesday and I can't wait!

While mine are now all out, I'm gonna stick on the thread to watch the new eggs

Have a cute picture of my sweetie, though, s/he likes to sleep in my lap, I sense a pet coming on:



Chicken math reared it's head. I left for work with eight babies.

I came back to fifteen. My partner had visited a farm with a friend...but he is a soft touch for fluffy things. Three of them will be going to another home in six weeks when their new owner can keep them

Lap chicken!

and gotta love the chicken math, especially when it's a surprise!

Just got caught up again. Congrats on all the new chicks!

Junibutt - woot! My recently saved chick was named Sticky after he was cemented into his unzipped shell. I had to take him into the steamy bathroom and carefully remove shell - he had been in so long that the blood and yolk were fully absorbed, but he couldn't move! I had to give him an orthopedic shoe for a day and night, and I'm pretty sure he's near-blind in the one eye that was close to the opening. But, he's walking normal now, has figured out food and water (that was tricky, he kept calling me when he was thirsty... I finally just sat there and dunked his beak over and over for a good minute before he seemed to get a big enough drop and then it clicked).

I'll definitely intervene sooner next time! I thought he was about to emerge in the evening and left him to hatch. Next morning, he was in the same spot, but I had a new pip and had to wait the other chick out. He was stuck for 18 hours at the unzipped stage!

Sorry, I ramble... I'm very excited that he's improving!

My eggs should be shipped today! I will hopefully have them by Wed or Thurs, then set them Thurs or Friday. Anyone joining for a Thanksgiving hatch? Keep the kids busy watching the incubator while the turkey is cooking!

Great story! would love to see pics

So many new fluff butts!!!! They are all so cute! Congrats on everyone of them. Junibutt, I'm so glad they are hatching for you! PickledPenny sorry to hear about the one who died. The rest are adorable though!

Tonight is lockdown for me, expected hatch on Thursday! This part is so bittersweet. I can't wait, yet I am terrified I'm going to have a drastic temp spike or something as equally terrible at the last moment causing their demise.... (Oh, now I see where my son gets his dramatic personality from.....hmmm lol) Anyhow, I've had 16 going strong now and hoping for a good outcome this time.

Sending good hatching juju your way! Hope its drama free

Here's a few slightly better pics of my new peepers.

So cute! I have 11 TJs developing so I really hope it's a good hatch (last dozen I ended up with 4 at lockdown and only 1 very late hatch)

Ah that makes sense! Wish it was as simple as adding a thermostat for you

crossing my fingers those are tough survivors in there!

Thank you! My kids keep yelling "It's so fluffy" like the little girl from Despicable Me.

LOL! That's great!

 

[pickledpenny]

If your cockerel is the CL then they won't be sexliked by headspot (you need a non-barred roo over a barred hen); however I don't know if the auto-sexing trait will pass on with a mix. Either way they are CUTE!

So sorry you lost one but Yea for the other little fuzzies!

 Right there with ya - lockdown is Wednesday and I can't wait!

Lap chicken!
and gotta love the chicken math, especially when it's a surprise!

Great story! would love to see pics

 Sending good hatching juju your way! Hope its drama free

So cute! I have 11 TJs developing so I really hope it's a good hatch (last dozen I ended up with 4 at lockdown and only 1 very late hatch)

LOL! That's great!

I'm wondering if the TJ's are slower to hatch because they've been refrigerated for who knows how long. Mine went over as well.

 

[ochochicas]

What kind of chicks are in the trader Joes cartons? Are they mostly leghorns? And how does the price compare to ordering eggs? I've never been to a Trader Joes, but I know we have one around here somewhere.

 

[Kaylish]

I think it depends on which farm the eggs come from - I've heard both white Leghorns and Austra-Whites (a Leghorn mix I think). My local store they are $2.99/dozen so SUPER cheap as far as hatching eggs go (make sure the carton is label "Fertile"). I've also seen fertile eggs at Winco and heard that some Raleys stores carry them. All eggs sold in stores are marked with a Julien date (Jan 1 is 001; Jan 2 is 002, Dec 31 is 365) which will tell you how old the eggs are. I"m not sure if they are label the day packed or the day laid but figure it couldn't be more than 1 day difference. My current batch were labeled 5 days old when set.
There is a thread about it if you want to join the crazyness!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...cery-store-egg-hatching-club-are-you-a-member

 

[Junibutt]

I thought it odd, but it's from the Pas Reform Academy, page 28 (number 25 at the top of the actual page), a hatchery reference. Don't they usually hatch upright? Their advice is to check for clears on day 10, remove if there is greater than 10% because clears don't make their own heat, and to candle before transfer (so before lockdown for us), which they may do around day 14 or 15. Then, to be sure remaining eggs are touching so the chicks will be signaled to hatch closer to the same time by the clicking from other pips.

I think you have the idea of being careful not to disturb the contents. I just found it odd they use a light table and don't have to handle the individual eggs, yet suggest not to candle on those days.

I have a feeling that they are talking about shining the light on the egg and not about moving the egg that is the issue. I can't quote but I read somewhere that too much candling disturbs the developing chicks without regards to a specific time period. Maybe they are super-sensitive during this particular time frame.

 

[Junibutt]

I have 3 of the 5 that went to lockdown hatch so far. 4th one is zipping. This one is a precious pullet egg (she just started laying 3 weeks before I set her egg). The egg was really small and I am expecting a small baby. Lets see how it does! Day 22 is not over yet so I will probably give the 5th egg tonight and then let the broody free. Since the first chick hatched yesterday morning, they will be pretty hungry by tomorrow morning. I would rather have the broody take care of them instead of waiting on 1 egg.

Considering my Day 20 disaster, I am on the moon with this hatch! Kids are also very happy because these are babies from their beloved chickens.

Congrats everyone who has hatched so far! @thailand how is it going for you? Got some sleep? Everyone else who is on lockdown, good luck with everything.

People who have hatched and rested, please post pics of your chicks.