She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[Ravynscroft]

Hi there everyone. I am fairly new to BYC and raising our first flock. We have 8 pullets that half are just starting to lay eggs and 7 ducks, 3 hens (all are laying) & 4 drakes. We got them as day old babies hatched 5/2/15. I want to hatch some duck eggs before it starts getting cold here in Northern Michigan. I recently stopped collecting eggs in hopes they would be sat on. But that hasn't happened yet. There are now 20 eggs in the nesting box and no one seems to have any interest in sitting on. So should I go buy an incubator or continue to wait? Decisions, decisions and I dont know what to do. I dont want the eggs to go bad.

If you really want to try hatching them now, I'd get a bator quick... eggs viability goes down after about 10 days, but up to 3 weeks they *can still hatch*... broody's are very unpredictable...

 

[Ravynscroft]

Is it okay to let a show chicken go broody if she won't show again until January?

You'll probably be ok, especially if she'd normally molt over winter anyways... but I've never shown so someone else may have more input...

 

[silkiecuddles]

Is it okay to let a show chicken go broody if she won't show again until January?

I think so. There should be plenty of time between now and then for her to finish being broody and for you to prep her for showing. Make sure she has food and water. Some broodies are so persistent they'll sit and forget to eat and drink.

 

[Poka Doodle]

Quote: I learned that, when I freaked out because my showmanship chicken hadn't drank since I got there

 

[WalnutHill]

Hi there everyone. I am fairly new to BYC and raising our first flock. We have 8 pullets that half are just starting to lay eggs and 7 ducks, 3 hens (all are laying) & 4 drakes. We got them as day old babies hatched 5/2/15. I want to hatch some duck eggs before it starts getting cold here in Northern Michigan. I recently stopped collecting eggs in hopes they would be sat on. But that hasn't happened yet. There are now 20 eggs in the nesting box and no one seems to have any interest in sitting on. So should I go buy an incubator or continue to wait? Decisions, decisions and I dont know what to do. I dont want the eggs to go bad.

I'm up in Traverse City right now. The storm damage is impressive.

I am hatching my last set of turkeys right now. If you figure 8 weeks to grow adult plumage, and back a month from that for incubation, and counting November as the onset of dangerously cold weather, early July would have been the ideal time for that late set.

However...

If you are willing to provide supplemental heat through November and into December, you can set now. Eggs less than 10 days old are best. Older eggs often have difficulty hatching.

 

[rossfam06]

Hi there everyone. I am fairly new to BYC and raising our first flock. We have 8 pullets that half are just starting to lay eggs and 7 ducks, 3 hens (all are laying) & 4 drakes. We got them as day old babies hatched 5/2/15. I want to hatch some duck eggs before it starts getting cold here in Northern Michigan. I recently stopped collecting eggs in hopes they would be sat on. But that hasn't happened yet. There are now 20 eggs in the nesting box and no one seems to have any interest in sitting on. So should I go buy an incubator or continue to wait? Decisions, decisions and I dont know what to do. I dont want the eggs to go bad.

I agree with Ravyn.

Is it okay to let a show chicken go broody if she won't show again until January?

I wouldn't see why that's a bad thing.

If you really want to try hatching them now, I'd get a bator quick... eggs viability goes down after about 10 days, but up to 3 weeks they *can still hatch*... broody's are very unpredictable...

You'll probably be ok, especially if she'd normally molt over winter anyways... but I've never shown so someone else may have more input...

Agreed x2.

I'm up in Traverse City right now. The storm damage is impressive.

I am hatching my last set of turkeys right now. If you figure 8 weeks to grow adult plumage, and back a month from that for incubation, and counting November as the onset of dangerously cold weather, early July would have been the ideal time for that late set.

However...

If you are willing to provide supplemental heat through November and into December, you can set now. Eggs less than 10 days old are best. Older eggs often have difficulty hatching.

I have a really good friend who lives there!!!!

 

[BYC910]

I'm up in Traverse City right now. The storm damage is impressive.

I am hatching my last set of turkeys right now. If you figure 8 weeks to grow adult plumage, and back a month from that for incubation, and counting November as the onset of dangerously cold weather, early July would have been the ideal time for that late set.

However...

If you are willing to provide supplemental heat through November and into December, you can set now. Eggs less than 10 days old are best. Older eggs often have difficulty hatching.

Hi WalnutHill

 

[BYC910]

good morning I'm working like crazy what's the count SC I have to get to work last I could find 12

 

[scflock]

good morning I'm working like crazy what's the count SC I have to get to work last I could find 12

14 total hatched, but two culls. I will give the gory details when I get to the big computer. No more pips in the remaining eggs, so I don't expect anything. Will totally shut down tonight. This is one of my worst hatches in a while. I will do the eggtopsies tonight. I don't know if it is something I did, the eggs were too small, or if it is just harder to hatch the BCM

 

[OldMissionChick]

I'm up in Traverse City right now. The storm damage is impressive.

I am hatching my last set of turkeys right now. If you figure 8 weeks to grow adult plumage, and back a month from that for incubation, and counting November as the onset of dangerously cold weather, early July would have been the ideal time for that late set.

However...

If you are willing to provide supplemental heat through November and into December, you can set now. Eggs less than 10 days old are best. Older eggs often have difficulty hatching.

we plan on running a heat lamp or two in the coop during the winter months. Not sure if I now want to wait until early spring to hatch.