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

[scflock]

I LOVE BCMs! When I first decided to incubate, I didn't even think I was going to keep the chickens. My girlfriend said she would take them to add to her flock. So I asked her to tell me what breed hatching eggs to get because they were going to be hers. She wanted silkies. So I researched and found a good breeder for silkies. Of course as I started incubating and charting temp/humidity, I really got attached to these little eggs. Before they even hatched I had the feeling to keep them. After hatch I was sold! During the incubation period I started researching chicken breeds. I fell in love with the BCMs & those dark eggs! They are definitely my next project down the road. Sorry you had to cull them. Why did you? Were they getting to old or needed new breeding lines? I shall carry the Brinsea torch!

Just saw this one. I started with 8 straight run chicks in Jan. wound up with 4 hens and one keeper rooster. I need less hackle color in the hens, but my primary goal is darker eggs. I'm going to incubate the darkest, raise them until they start laying, and keep the darkest egg layers. Hopefully in a few years I can get the super dark ones that I see pictures of. Mine were hatched from eggs that were 5-6, but I would really like to get to an 8. I haven't culled yet, but will in the future

 

[BYC910]

I came home to turkey eggs due to hatch Thursday with internal pips on the few I candled.

So I shuffled them out of the incubator into the hatcher, which was nice and stable at 99.5 per SpotCheck for over a week...and within 45 minutes it was up to 103 and still climbing. Time for a new wafer and switch.

Sooooo,..

I took the tray that was tray 1, a shallow tray, and put it in tray 4 position. Put a turner in and moved all the eggs from tray 3 to tray 4. Moved all the eggs from tray 2 to tray 3. Removed tray 2 and turner and put a hatching tray in the tray 2 position. Put in two layers of drawer liner to cut down the breeze from below, and filled the silverware tray with water and sponges. Then rushed all the eggs back from the hatcher into tray 2.

Holding steady 99-100 and 65%...I hope this hatch in the incubator goes better than earlier attempts. And I also hope that moving the eggs twice with a bit of heat stroke after the first move doesn't hurt them.

After these hatch, I am down to about 40 eggs more to hatch this season. Then I will make some changes to my cabinet to make hatching easier and safer for the babies.

You think maybe the wafer is that gremlin that's been hiding in your incubator. sure hope your eggs are going to be ok and hatch good .maybe you should go digital get rid of that thing. the on the bower only cost $20 but it can only be set to 1 degree on /off I wish it was .5 degrees on/off I got 2 just in case one went out I don't have to mess with it just set it at 99.5 with that old thing the temperature swing is like 6 degrees but the top of the eggs stays at 99.5 most of the time.

 

[BYC910]

I just set my eggs. 21 days, here we go!! I set 14 bantam cochins, 4 d'uccle (is that plural without the "s"?? Lol) and 5 polish. I went ahead and weighed these like I have done my previous hatches, since these eggs are soooo tiny! My LOs averaged about 55 grams. These little babies are only around 33 grams! The polish are about 50 grams. I hope they don't flop too much in the turner!
Guess it looks like I better get kicking on my new candler.

Oh BYC, I saw your thread, but haven't read it all yet. Been a busy weekend. If you go to it, copy your address bar, then come back here and paste it in. I'll do it for you if that makes no sense. Lol

I'm not finished yet I'm going to try to get more on tonight. But I think I got us in the contest They emailed me said it was a great ideal I had to do a member page and link the two together. go to the DIY contest forum click on members page find me read what I put in the post.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I actually said "prim", but we can go with prime, angel...
Cover your ears, princess

I saw my BCM rooster trying to have his way with one of the girls this afternoon, so hopefully when he learns to hang on I will be ready to start that experiment. I read so many theories on how to incubate those that I think I'm going to do exactly what I've been doing, then adjust from there if needed

LMAO I didn't even realize I had an "e" on there. I'm like, that's what I said...I had to read it twice to figure out what you were talking about. It's been a long couple days.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I took my sister's three silkies that she had and I have to say, I'm kinda wishing I didn't. We'll see how it goes. I'll give it some time, but I don't know.

 

[WalnutHill]

Just saw this one. I started with 8 straight run chicks in Jan. wound up with 4 hens and one keeper rooster. I need less hackle color in the hens, but my primary goal is darker eggs. I'm going to incubate the darkest, raise them until they start laying, and keep the darkest egg layers. Hopefully in a few years I can get the super dark ones that I see pictures of. Mine were hatched from eggs that were 5-6, but I would really like to get to an 8. I haven't culled yet, but will in the future

As you are going through your "weed and feed" process, I'd like to purchase some hatching eggs from you for my absolutely non pedigree production layer flock. I want to spice up my cartons, the bland ISA Brown color is boring. I have been crossing mine up as Easter Eggers and would love to have both Olive Eggers and darker brown egg layers. Non-show quality shell colors are fine with me, as are off colored birds.

As my window of opportunity to set eggs this year so that they mature before winter is closing, it may have to wait for next year...if you are willing.

 

[FridayYet]

I would definitely like some Marans, too. Unfortunately I lost 4 (2 boys, 2 girls) at 6 weeks to my dog, who has been watching my hens for the past 2 years. I think he couldn't handle the flying/flapping of the youngsters and pounced on them when I went in the house. (Obviously he is not allowed around young chickens anymore.)

The only one I have left is a Black Copper Marans pullet that was given to me as a baby since she was the only one left when I picked up my Orloffs. She's a little mossy across the shoulders, but I'm looking for dark eggs so that doesn't matter now. Maybe if I have an Ameraucana hatch out make I can have some OEs in the future.

 

[MunsterChicks]

Little BCM last one hatched yesterday

So cute!

@BYC910 this is as good as the green ones get...lol Taken with the candle setting on my phone.

Thanks for posting these! Now I know what to expect to see. I know ill get freaked out, and have to keep reminding myself it's OK not to see much in the blue eggs.

I came home to turkey eggs due to hatch Thursday with internal pips on the few I candled. So I shuffled them out of the incubator into the hatcher, which was nice and stable at 99.5 per SpotCheck for over a week...and within 45 minutes it was up to 103 and still climbing. Time for a new wafer and switch. Sooooo,.. I took the tray that was tray 1, a shallow tray, and put it in tray 4 position. Put a turner in and moved all the eggs from tray 3 to tray 4. Moved all the eggs from tray 2 to tray 3. Removed tray 2 and turner and put a hatching tray in the tray 2 position. Put in two layers of drawer liner to cut down the breeze from below, and filled the silverware tray with water and sponges. Then rushed all the eggs back from the hatcher into tray 2. Holding steady 99-100 and 65%...I hope this hatch in the incubator goes better than earlier attempts. And I also hope that moving the eggs twice with a bit of heat stroke after the first move doesn't hurt them. After these hatch, I am down to about 40 eggs more to hatch this season. Then I will make some changes to my cabinet to make hatching easier and safer for the babies.

I hope it goes well!

I just set my eggs. 21 days, here we go!! I set 14 bantam cochins, 4 d'uccle (is that plural without the "s"?? Lol) and 5 polish. I went ahead and weighed these like I have done my previous hatches, since these eggs are soooo tiny! My LOs averaged about 55 grams. These little babies are only around 33 grams! The polish are about 50 grams. I hope they don't flop too much in the turner! Guess it looks like I better get kicking on my new candler. Oh BYC, I saw your thread, but haven't read it all yet. Been a busy weekend. If you go to it, copy your address bar, then come back here and paste it in. I'll do it for you if that makes no sense. Lol

Nice! Good luck with the hatch.

 

[Fowling around]

So after a week I have finally been able to read all 90 pages. My first hatch should arrive Monday. I have 36 going into lock down some are pure Americana and some are Americans and blue marans cross. And my americanas have won blue ribbons so should get some pretty birds. I don't care much for breed standard honestly just breed what I like to look at lol. I have 8 lorpes, 1 rir, an Americana roo and hen, sold the other hens someone wanted then more than I, 3 buff orphington, 3 blue marans, a black copper marans roo and pullet, and 2 Plymouth barred rocks. Think that is all the chickens. I also have 4 heritage turkey hens and a Tom, 9 west indie ducks, and 2 khaki Campbell ducks. They all mostly free range. I have a turkey trying to go broody hope she waits until she has about a dozen eggs to sit on. Fingers crossed. This thread is awesome. Humidity queen you have the northern accent easy for a southerner to pick out.
Far as food you need some brains and eggs. Pork brains you will never be the same it is delicious.

 

[WVduckchick]

So after a week I have finally been able to read all 90 pages. My first hatch should arrive Monday. I have 36 going into lock down some are pure Americana and some are Americans and blue marans cross. And my americanas have won blue ribbons so should get some pretty birds. I don't care much for breed standard honestly just breed what I like to look at lol. I have 8 lorpes, 1 rir, an Americana roo and hen, sold the other hens someone wanted then more than I, 3 buff orphington, 3 blue marans, a black copper marans roo and pullet, and 2 Plymouth barred rocks. Think that is all the chickens. I also have 4 heritage turkey hens and a Tom, 9 west indie ducks, and 2 khaki Campbell ducks. They all mostly free range. I have a turkey trying to go broody hope she waits until she has about a dozen eggs to sit on. Fingers crossed. This thread is awesome. Humidity queen you have the northern accent easy for a southerner to pick out.
Far as food you need some brains and eggs. Pork brains you will never be the same it is delicious.

Welcome!