Putting eggs in the bator on July 25, does anyone wanna hatch along???

[Aschenfire]

I have four out of 17 which are growing and moving. I'll be setting more after the 20th (replacement eggs...wonderful breeder is kind enough to replace them). Right now it's 4 little Serama eggs...and there is a range in sizes in the four...the smallest is about the size of a really fat bumblebee. I imagine that baby is going to be TINY!

Hope everyone's hatches turn out great!!

 

[cluckitall]

Thanks Thejohnsie! Probably helps immensely that none of the eggs were over 72 hours old when they went in the 'bator

One of these days maybe I'll graduate to fancy purebred chickens, but for now I really like my mutts!

 

[cluckitall]

Oh my gosh, Aschenfire, they're going to be adorable! You have to post pics!!!

 

[dandydoodle]

Okay, so I am thinking between the fact I am hatching shipped eggs and the fact I had that one huge drop in humidity I am not gonna have a really good hatch rate. I guess shipping eggs in this heat is not so good on them.

( Guess thats what I get for spending almost 100 bucks in hatching eggs )
( Sorry I needed to fuss about that for a moment )

Okay so I seemed to be throwing out hatching eggs like crazy, so I thought I would update on what I have left.

I started with 25

7 Wheaton Marans
5 Tolbunt over Birchen Marans
7 White Ameraucana
3 Coronation Sussex
3 Speckled Sussex

Two days ago I threw out 3, there was nothing in them.
Last night I threw out 5 more.
I had two empty eggs and 3 blood rings.
So this is the count of what I have left.

3 Wheaton Marans
3 Tolbunt/ over Birchen Maran
6 White Ameraucanas
3 Coronation Sussex
2 Speckled Sussex

So out of 25 I have 17 left and only half way through. Honestly though I pretty sure two of the Tolbunt/ Marans that are left and 2 of the Wheaton Marans that are left aren't any good. I am pretty sure but, I think I am not really ready to admit it to myself.

I think I am gonna get 1 Wheaton Maran and 1 Tolbunt/ Birchen Maran out of this. I needed at least one Wheaton Maran roo and two to three hens. I thought with my starting numbers I would be safe. This is only my second time hatching shipped eggs and I guess I really didn't realize how bad the hatch rates can be.

My White Ameraucanas air sacs are a lot larger then they should be but, on the positive side they do have live babies. I guess they were really affected by heat in shipping and that one humidity drop.

Well we are gonna just keep chugging along and gonna be greatful for the little ones who hatch and then order some more eggs, so I can get what I need. I am trying to start some flocks. I can't really start a flock with one Wheaton Maran. Thats okay, I am gonna be happy with what I have and then just try, try again.

 

[dandydoodle]

Oooh, oooh! I started mine on the 28th, is that close enough??? First attempt ever, please bear with me -- I'm all excited!

Welcome to our little group and have fun. :0)

 

[dandydoodle]

I was SURE before tossing anything. I know what you mean, I almost kept those in "just in case" even knowing for sure I had nothing.
I put 11 mixed breeds in today and I have 14 various eggs set on Saturday.
I just finished building a hatcher bator. So I'm just going to keep adding eggs until I've hatched the amount of chickies I'm wanting.

Yea, I guess I am bad about wanting to hold on to some that I am pretty sure are bad. If there is any chance someone might be in there I want to give it a chance.

I know I have three left in my bator that I am almost 100% are no good but, I just couldn't toss them yet. I am sure they will be tossed with in a few days. I am sure it is gonna be obvious my others are growing and they aren't. Little nervous about tossing because, they are Maran eggs ( Super dark)

So what is a hatcher bator? I think you have already explained this if you have sorry for asking again.

 

[dandydoodle]

Oh, that's fascinating! Not in a good way, just in that scientific "Oh, so THAT's why that happens" way -- I knew you shouldn't open the 'bator till they were all hatched, dry and fuzzy, but I didn't know why. Cold air/membrane shrinkage? Or is it the sudden draft of dry air?

Okay, I am not an expert but, I will explain it to you how I understand it. If you have a chick in the bator with a pip ( hole in the outer shell ) and then you open the bator which can cause, a sudden drop in your humidity and cause the exposed membrane to shrink. If you have to do it just do it really quick and possibly spray some water mist in before closing back.

 

[dandydoodle]

Eek. Well, I'll just have to wait and see... Right now there is NO water in my incubator at all, since I live in mid-Ohio and outside humidity has been sitting right at 60% for the past two weeks. Humidity inside the incubator's been at 62% since I set them... Eek.

Well I guess if you humidity is the same on the outside of your bator as the inside you probably don't have to worry about shrink wrapping anyone.

 

[dandydoodle]

I have four out of 17 which are growing and moving. I'll be setting more after the 20th (replacement eggs...wonderful breeder is kind enough to replace them). Right now it's 4 little Serama eggs...and there is a range in sizes in the four...the smallest is about the size of a really fat bumblebee. I imagine that baby is going to be TINY!

Hope everyone's hatches turn out great!!

You lost 13? I am soooooo sorry!!!! Can you tell what was wrong by candling, were they not fertile? Well good luck with you four and that is wonderful that the breeder is willing to replace. I wish my breeder would I am scared to ask though.

Good luck,
Michelle

 

[cluckitall]

Okay, so I am thinking between the fact I am hatching shipped eggs and the fact I had that one huge drop in humidity I am not gonna have a really good hatch rate. I guess shipping eggs in this heat is not so good on them.

( Guess thats what I get for spending almost 100 bucks in hatching eggs )
( Sorry I needed to fuss about that for a moment )

I'd be fussing about that too!!!

Ouch!!!

That's very interesting on the humidity drop while hatching/shrinkage thing. I'll actually pay heed when someone with more experience tells me "Don't" even if they don't explain why -- but I have to admit I really like knowing why something happens. I suspect eventually I may get into experimental breeding just because I find it fascinating how things work and combine. I guess you could say I'm doing experimental breeding now

although not with any intent. Just happen to have a Marans roo and Rock and NH hens.

Just ordered two australorps, two columbian wyandottes, and one speckled sussex (hoping for a broody!) from Meyer hatchery. My little mutts are supposed to hatch on the 18th, I pick the new ones up on the 20th -- voila! Instant motley baby crew! I wanted a few other breeds too, but they weren't available that week. Just as well -- I really only have room for 16 chickens or so without crowding, and I'm already over limit. Chicken stew, anyone?

And I suspect I would do the same thing with "iffy" eggs -- I tend to hang on till all hope is gone, whatever the situation... Hee!

Question: when I first got my hens, their calcium was clearly very low, producing really thin eggs that crumpled with very little pressure, and their overall condition was fair but not great. I'm a bit of a health-food nut

and my hens are now sleek and sassy and lay eggs you could practically play baseball with. Okay, that's an exaggeration! But they're definitely very strong, sturdy shells at this point. Is it possible to give your hen too much calcium, thereby producing an egg a chick has a hard time breaking out of? If it is, I think I may have done it.