September Hatch-A-Long

[Red Star Rob]

I have eggs sitting on the counter waiting to go in bator. I look at it like a learning experience. I started with eight eggs, four of which came from a neighbor and had been in my fridge for a couple of days and from my own flock of pullets. The chances of them hatching was small to start with. I actually am kinda proud that four made it to day 17 still alive.

That's right. We all have slightly different set ups, temps, humidity, etc and learn from every hatch. I learned that with shipped eggs it is best to let them hatch upright in the carton rather than lay them down. I lost like 8 shipped eggs at lockdown on my first hatch because I laid them down. So sad, but I learned and had all of them hatch that made it to lock down this time around. Some people have posted that they have had eggs go to 25 days before they hatch. . Could it be that the thermometer was off, reading perfect when it could have been a few degrees low? Either way, I'm sending good thoughts your way my friend.

 

[Peep_Show]

The other two TJ eggs quit at about Day 19, large external yolk sacs. Two of the remaining 3 CCL's seem to have an internal pip. Cannot see into the marans eggs for the life of me. Tomorrow is day 23.

Hatching at high altitudes is tricky at best.

 

[kada6305]

Day 3 and we have 4 out of our 7 eggs showing signs of developing! Won't be candling again until day 10. I am hoping we have a better rate on these E-bay eggs than the last E-bay eggs. We only have 2/8 going into lockdown on Tuesday from those eggs.. I would be happy if we got 3 out of this new batch of Silkie eggs,though! Getting excited!

 

[Rainier]

Quote:

That's right. We all have slightly different set ups, temps, humidity, etc and learn from every hatch. I learned that with shipped eggs it is best to let them hatch upright in the carton rather than lay them down. I lost like 8 shipped eggs at lockdown on my first hatch because I laid them down. So sad, but I learned and had all of them hatch that made it to lock down this time around. Some people have posted that they have had eggs go to 25 days before they hatch.

. Could it be that the thermometer was off, reading perfect when it could have been a few degrees low? Either way, I'm sending good thoughts your way my friend.

All of the chicks died. The foot chick and the chick from my flock were so close

Here's a link to the thread with the eggtopsy pictures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/928227/eggtopsy-graphic-pics

 

[krista74]

Hi all

I am pleased to report that 6 out of my 7 eggs hatched. One looks like it died about Day 19 which is sad, but I understand it happens from time to time.

Everyone seems healthy and Momma and the babies have now been moved into a separate pen.

I did have some trouble with one chick - I thought it had poop hanging out it's butt and tried to pull it away. It turns out it is an umbilical cord - the poor chickie cried out when I touched it. I felt so guilty, but a kind person on this site has suggested she/he should be ok, as there is nothing protruding from the cord.

Gosh, I am such a newbie, and will make all the mistakes under the sun sometimes. The guilt is terrible.

Anyway, hopefully the chick will be ok, and the other 5 are marvellous!

They are now a day old, and are BO x RIR.

Here is a pic of some of the chicks - the rest are under Momma!




Krista

 

[redhen689]

Congrats! Krista!

I finally have a pip but will be out for the next 15 hours.

 

[krista74]

Thank you!

All the best for your hatch today.

Hopefully when you come home there will be a baby chickie waiting for you!

Krista

 

[kada6305]

I am a little confused about when to start Lock down. I set my eggs Sept 11th at midnight. So would day 18 start Today (Monday the 29th) or Tomorrow? And do I lock down end of day 18 or beginning?

 

[Red Star Rob]

Quote:
All of the chicks died. The foot chick and the chick from my flock were so close

Here's a link to the thread with the eggtopsy pictures. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/928227/eggtopsy-graphic-pics

So sorry Rainier, I just posted on the link.

 

[Peep_Show]

@ kada6305

Lockdown begins at the end of Day 18, so for you that's midnight tomorrow night.



@redhen689

Good luck on the hatch. Don't forget those darling chick pics that we all "awwww" over!



@krista74

Way cute! Congrats!



@Rainier

I posted on your other site, too. I believe it was your temp spike. I'm looking at a Brinsea also, but I don't think it will overcome my challenges of high altitude and cruddy postal handling. Kind of funny that the least expensive eggs are the ones that have given me the greatest hatch results.... hmmm...

Not a single purebred in my flock as a result.