Redinator's First Hatch-Along w Bonus Broody: And Everything Thereafter

[redinator]

@redinator,
Can u tell me a little bit more about dry hatching? Im starting my incubator again in a few days, and would love to try it!
No fuss!

The first 17 days you don't add water, as long as the humidity stays between 15% and 30% the eggs should be fine. At lockdown, days 18-21 you increase the humidity to 60-65%.

This is only my second dry hatch, 5th hatch total, so I still have a lot to learn. Here's some more info on the topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wet-vs-dry-hatch.1609407/
https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2024/12/the-dry-incubation-method/

I decided to give dry hatching a try because with a traditional hatch it seemed I always added too much water in the early days and would loose seemingly healthy chicks (I saw development when I candled) midway through because they were too damp in the shell and drowned.

The last hatch I did was a dry hatch and the majority of the eggs that didn't make it weren't fertile from the beginning.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

The first 17 days you don't add water, as long as the humidity stays between 15% and 30% the eggs should be fine. At lockdown, days 18-21 you increase the humidity to 60-65%.

This is only my second dry hatch, 5th hatch total, so I still have a lot to learn. Here's some more info on the topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wet-vs-dry-hatch.1609407/
https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2024/12/the-dry-incubation-method/

I decided to give dry hatching a try because with a traditional hatch it seemed I always added too much water in the early days and would loose seemingly healthy chicks (I saw development when I candled) midway through because they were too damp in the shell and drowned.

The last hatch I did was a dry hatch and the majority of the eggs that didn't make it weren't fertile from the beginning.

That sounds awesome!
Will definitely give it a try.
My first hatch, I didn’t lose any eggs.
Like you, what didn’t hatch just wasn’t fertile.
My Christmas hatch, I actually lost 7!
Mid time, like maybe day 12 ish.

 

[redinator]

The Rent-A-Coop incubator seems to be working great.

Another update on the Lavender Ameraucana, Black Tailed Red Marans & Crele Penedesenca (4 of each) they're due to arrive on Wed Jan 7th.

I think I'll still stagger the hatches a bit though, that way I can candle the eggs on different days. Also the 3rd order of Cream Legbar egg is still 'awaiting shipment' so maybe they'll arrive a few days after the mixed order . .

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Hey, so one of my friends is looking to buy half a dozen each Lavender Ameraucanas and Lavender Orpingtons.
I don’t have either of those breeds, let alone a hen-rooster pair.
So I need to get some hatching eggs.

Do you have a recommended site?

 

[redinator]

Hey, so one of my friends is looking to buy half a dozen each Lavender Ameraucanas and Lavender Orpingtons.
I don’t have either of those breeds, let alone a hen-rooster pair.
So I need to get some hatching eggs.

Do you have a recommended site?

This is only the second time I'm ordering shipped eggs. The first time was a batch of barnyard mix eggs on Amazon.

All the rest of my current flock I either got as chicks/eggs from local sellers I found on Facebook or from my local TSC and some I hatched from my own flock.

That being said the Ebay seller I'm getting the Lavender Ameraucanas eggs from was very responsive to all my questions. I initially saw a different mix of eggs on their Ebay page that had a few breeds I wasn't interested in. When I looked through their other listings I saw other breeds I wanted in a different groupings (I hope that makes sense). I messaged them and asked if I could get the specific breeds I wanted in one batch and they obliged.

Here's the link to their page: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?ite...61.l161211&_ssn=a_wing_and_a_prayer_homestead

When ordering on Ebay I read the seller reviews and only select seller's that have a 90% rating or better.

ETA: I haven't received my eggs from that seller yet, so maybe wait and see how the eggs are packed and what condition the eggs arrive in.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

This is only the second time I'm ordering shipped eggs. The first time was a batch of barnyard mix eggs on Amazon.

All the rest of my current flock I either got as chicks/eggs from local sellers I found on Facebook or from my local TSC and some I hatched from my own flock.

That being said the Ebay seller I'm getting the Lavender Ameraucanas eggs from was very responsive to all my questions. I initially saw a different mix of eggs on their Ebay page that had a few breeds I wasn't interested in. When I looked through their other listings I saw other breeds I wanted in a different groupings (I hope that makes sense). I messaged them and asked if I could get the specific breeds I wanted in one batch and they obliged.

Here's the link to their page: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?ite...61.l161211&_ssn=a_wing_and_a_prayer_homestead

When ordering on Ebay I read the seller reviews and only select seller's that have a 90% rating or better.

ETA: I haven't received my eggs from that seller yet, so maybe wait and see how the eggs are packed and what condition the eggs arrive in.

Okay, thanks so much!
I will for sure check it out!

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Here's the link to their page: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?ite...61.l161211&_ssn=a_wing_and_a_prayer_homestead

Whoa!!!!
That’s insane!
$120 for a dozen eggs????
Do you really pay that?

 

[jxp]

They're here
View attachment 4277841View attachment 4277843
They were snuggly wrapped and packaged and I candled to check for hairline cracks and they are perfect

Now they'll rest for 24 hours minimum to let the air cells settle.

I remember when those special prepaid boxes used to be guaranteed 2-3 day shipping.
I sent something to my brother last Friday (2nd), it'll get there next Thursday(8th) They cannot even use the "holiday" or "weekend" excuse.

ETA - I'm glad your eggs arrived safely. I hope they're all fertile and the oldest ones didn't have to wait to long for the later ones to be ready. Happy hatching!

 

[redinator]

Whoa!!!!
That’s insane!
$120 for a dozen eggs????
Do you really pay that?

I know it was insane and normally I wouldn't have, but she had several breeds I wanted and was very accommodating with setting up a seperate listing for the specific breeds I wanted, so, yes . . . yes I did, lol.

This will be the last time I order chicks/eggs from someone else, so I figured the investment would be worth it. Now I'll have all the breeds I've wanted for just under a year.

The only time I'll get eggs/chicks from someone else after this will be when I need new genetics.

Wait, no . . .that's probably not accurate . . . I might get pure breed roosters/cockerels from somewhere else once the chicks from this hatch are old enough to breed. I don't like the idea of possibly breeding siblings if they all came from the same seller and are the same breed . . .

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

I know it was insane and normally I wouldn't have, but she had several breeds I wanted and was very accommodating with setting up a seperate listing for the specific breeds I wanted, so, yes . . . yes I did, lol.

This will be the last time I order chicks/eggs from someone else, so I figured the investment would be worth it. Now I'll have all the breeds I've wanted for just under a year.

The only time I'll get eggs/chicks from someone else after this will be when I need new genetics.

Wait, no . . .that's probably not accurate . . . I might get pure breed roosters/cockerels from somewhere else once the chicks from this hatch are old enough to breed. I don't like the idea of possibly breeding siblings if they all came from the same seller and are the same breed . . .

Wow.
Im liking the look of this one, though!