October Hatch-a-long 2022🎃🐣🍁

[Pampered chicken girl]

Welcome! I know this is so exciting being your first hatch. It never gets old!

Thanks!! It is!!!

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm warming up the incubator to set eggs today for an October 8th hatch.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I'm warming up the incubator to set eggs today for an October 8th hatch.

Welcome!
Hatching more Australorps after the elusive Splash?

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome!
Hatching more Australorps after the elusive Splash?

Yes. Exactly.

After two hatches with a preponderance of males I'll probably get loads of pullets instead of the quality Splash boy I need, but that's what I'm aiming for.

 

[3KillerBs]

Didn't get them in last night, but got them in this morning so hatch day should be Oct. 9.

As you see, I tucked in 2 extras that I'll have to hand turn until I can candle for development.

I did this for 2 reasons. First, I only have one rooster with about 15 hens currently laying (I *think* -- molting and broodiness are making it difficult to figure out), so there's a chance that some aren't being fertilized. Second, I have, so far, averaged about 2/3 of my eggs making it to lockdown so a few spares are insurance for a better hatch.

The spares are also the smaller 46 and 47g pullet eggs. I had 4 of them and *could* have gotten enough of the full-size 57-61g eggs, but I thought I might risk 4 pullet eggs with their valuable F2 genes and early laying traits. If they don't make it I'll be sad but it's a calculated risk.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

DAY 7, all 15 looking good.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Didn't get them in last night, but got them in this morning so hatch day should be Oct. 9.

View attachment 3264065

As you see, I tucked in 2 extras that I'll have to hand turn until I can candle for development.

I did this for 2 reasons. First, I only have one rooster with about 15 hens currently laying (I *think* -- molting and broodiness are making it difficult to figure out), so there's a chance that some aren't being fertilized. Second, I have, so far, averaged about 2/3 of my eggs making it to lockdown so a few spares are insurance for a better hatch.

The spares are also the smaller 46 and 47g pullet eggs. I had 4 of them and *could* have gotten enough of the full-size 57-61g eggs, but I thought I might risk 4 pullet eggs with their valuable F2 genes and early laying traits. If they don't make it I'll be sad but it's a calculated risk.

For most of the above reasons you state, I usually set twice the eggs as chicks I’m hoping for, end up with extra chicks sometimes, but this is a bonus usually!
I also often run into eggs going to lockdown and then not hatching for whatever reason. Seems to be at least one or two each hatch.

 

[3KillerBs]

For most of the above reasons you state, I usually set twice the eggs as chicks I’m hoping for, end up with extra chicks sometimes, but this is a bonus usually!
I also often run into eggs going to lockdown and then not hatching for whatever reason. Seems to be at least one or two each hatch.

I've been hatching about 50-60% of eggs set and am still figuring out why.

From the very beginning I've gotten twice the birds I wanted and sold off the extras. That lets me pick the best (by whatever criteria I want to use to define "best).

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I set my eggs today!!! Six eggs, all silkie and silkie mixes!!!!!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I set my eggs today!!! Six eggs, all silkie and silkie mixes!!!!!

Yay!