Ended Official 2020 BYC Halloween Hatch-Along

[Pensmaster]

I hatch different breeds and bantams with standards all the time. I've never had an issue with the hatch being too staggered. It's almost always within 24 hours unless it's a chick struggling to hatch in general. When the hatch is staggered enough I just remove all of the hatched chicks before the others get started. As a matter of fact, when I hatched Light Brahmas (a very large line of them genetically, the roosters head was as tall as my waist) with Silkies last year, the Light Brahmas hatched first!

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How long does it take for the larger Brahma to gain their sizes?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

How long does it take for the larger Brahma to gain their sizes?

I feel like they mature a little slower, much like English Orpingtons but they are bottomless pits. They eat SO much food while they're growing. The breeder recommended fermenting the food because they don't eat as much when the food is fermented.

 

[alknoll]

Update: 6 chicks so far and another Silkie hatching (What am I going to do with all these Silkies... ayiyiyi).

two of my chicks have dried but their backs are dried crusty. Are chick baths a thing? How do I get the dried yolk/whatever off them?

 

[Pensmaster]

A wet paper towel might help.

Update: 6 chicks so far and another Silkie hatching (What am I going to do with all these Silkies... ayiyiyi).

two of my chicks have dried but their backs are dried crusty. Are chick baths a thing? How do I get the dried yolk/whatever off them?

 

[alknoll]

One of my newly hatched OE mixes... pretty sure she’s a pullet based on her primary feathers being longer than covert feathers. So far I think my other OE mix is a pullet, one silkie is a pullet and one is a male. Two chicks still in the brooder. The potential pullet Silkie has a hint of primary feathers and a very round crown. The male just has sort of fluffy wings and a square head. Who knows, but fun to guess!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

One of my newly hatched OE mixes... pretty sure she’s a pullet based on her primary feathers being longer than covert feathers. So far I think my other OE mix is a pullet, one silkie is a pullet and one is a male. Two chicks still in the brooder. The potential pullet Silkie has a hint of primary feathers and a very round crown. The male just has sort of fluffy wings and a square head. Who knows, but fun to guess!

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So cute!!!
Feather sexing only works on breeds that were bred for it. Something about a fast feathering gene. I can't remember the specifics st the moment, I haven't had any caffeine this morning, lol. It is something they do at some hatcheries but there's no way you could tell with mixes.

 

[lu bantam chickens]

One of my newly hatched OE mixes... pretty sure she’s a pullet based on her primary feathers being longer than covert feathers. So far I think my other OE mix is a pullet, one silkie is a pullet and one is a male. Two chicks still in the brooder. The potential pullet Silkie has a hint of primary feathers and a very round crown. The male just has sort of fluffy wings and a square head. Who knows, but fun to guess!

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Beautiful chick - feathers go in and out like a girl I think

 

[alknoll]

Well still no sign of pips on the BCMs. The lightest of the Marans shells already hatched. And a Silkie stuck in its shell for 24 hours... the tail end of this hatch is a struggle.

 

[Verna Y]

Mine started hatching at 11 pm election night.

 

[alknoll]

Ended up with 7 chicks, mostly Silkies. I ended up helping the one stuck in its shell hatch. It’s doing fine now. Only got 1 BCM out of 4 eggs, I left them in the incubator since Friday and still no pips. I am disappointed but also wondering what to do with these Silkies lol.. how old do they have to be to sex?