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

[scflock]

Thank you for all the good wishes (well wishes). So, yes it is early. Even for me. I don't technically hit day 19 until noon. My next to the last hatch I had half pipped mid 19 but none hatched until 20. Last hatch I had half pip and hatch day 19 with the rest (minus one) finishing up on day 20. I can't say surprised with these eggs being smaller though as the one that pipped is one of the silkies. (Though I expected if they were going to hatch it would be the polish first.) Half the reason I was checking them is between the last 24-48 hours I've had problems with the bator being consistant on both sides. So I am struggling a bit with that. If I can keep both sides above 98 and under 100.5 I'm going to be happy. My humidity, well somewhere between 70 and 90...lol When I did the test before the hatch it showed I was off around 10%. But it's reading 70-75 and has a couple times read 80 and there is no condensation so..... I don't know. I figure as long as the gage reads 70 I'm good considering it was reading low to start off with. Last time I ran with three cloth sponges in the bottom with the wells and my two tiny bowls filled and two sponges on top. I forewent the cloth sponges in the bottom this time as we aren't using the pellet stove and the air isn't as dry. I 'm not having a problem getting the humidity up, but it hasn't been lasting as long so I opted to wet two cloth sponges and fold them up and slip them in there this morning. I wish I had gone ahead and put them under the screen last night, but I can't do anything about that. I'm pretty nervous. I wasn't nervous hardly at all last hatch. This hatch- pins and needles. Not liking the feeling. But I do expect the first hatcher if he's going to hatch, out tonight at some point. I still have to run to the store and buy the chick starter and scrub my water bottle and find my rocks..... He's a bit earlier than I expected...lol

I'm not getting why you're so nervous this time. Is it because of the pullet eggs, or just a bad feeling? I'm telling you, over and over, that pullet eggs are fine. I think you're overly concerned about the polish as well. As long as your temps and humidity are where you want them, you will be fine. Don't you want to make me bow to you in front of everyone?

 

[BYC910]

I'd give anything to take you fishing one day

You're locking down again? I don't know if you have posted this or not before, so I'm going to ask. Are you staggering hatches in 1 or two large incubators, then moving them to a hatcher for lockdown? What do you do with all the chicks? Do you sell that many?

I'm trying to be like the amish farmer who hit the sale barn early Feb with 200 pullets 1st week and 150 the next week and the lowest price was $7 some got $10 he had two good pay days .the trick is get ahead of the game, sell early I watched a pair of peacocks sell for $ 200.00 three weeks ago so I'm thinking might raise some but they scream "no offence girls" like a woman and it makes my hair stand on end so not sure about that. We're lucky to have this barn hope it can stay afloat this time. It went under once before but they tried to do only large animals .the new owners will sell any thing and I mean anything. Its so wet here my small garden is in but the big one not plowed yet. the wild Turkeys are still mating and should have been done a month ago. So now you got me thinking about them tomatoes and how good they are going to be. Dang it got you talking mayters walnut smoking sausage I'm getting hungry . show us pictures when the feeders are done. I'd like to see how they work. I have a small coop floor design you might like I.ll try to post pictures in a few .

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm not getting why you're so nervous this time. Is it because of the pullet eggs, or just a bad feeling? I'm telling you, over and over, that pullet eggs are fine. I think you're overly concerned about the polish as well. As long as your temps and humidity are where you want them, you will be fine. Don't you want to make me bow to you in front of everyone?

I have a bad feeling totally because they are pullet eggs and I am wondering if I didn't let the polish and silkie get big enough to incubate. Other than that, the development has been great and everything has been fine, it's the hatching out I'm worried about. That and anytime I get cocky about things God does one of these:

to show me I'm not all that, and I've been pretty aggressive with the hands off fighters that I have never lost a pipper/zipper during hatch....lol Hoping the hand of God holds off till after the hatch to smack me...lol

 

[scflock]

I'm trying to be like the amish farmer who hit the sale barn early Feb with 200 pullets 1st week and 150 the next week and the lowest price was $7 some got $10 he had two good pay days .the trick is get ahead of the game, sell early I watched a pair of peacocks sell for $ 200.00 three weeks ago so I'm thinking might raise some but they scream "no offence girls" like a woman and it makes my hair stand on end so not sure about that. We're lucky to have this barn hope it can stay afloat this time. It went under once before but they tried to do only large animals .the new owners will sell any thing and I mean anything. Its so wet here my  small garden is in but the big one not  plowed yet. the wild Turkeys are still mating and should have been done a month ago. So now you got me thinking about them tomatoes and how good they are going to be. Dang it got you talking mayters walnut smoking sausage I'm  getting hungry . show us pictures when the feeders are done. I'd like to see how they work. I have a small coop floor design you might like I.ll try to post pictures in a few .

Sounds good. You couldn't pay me to keep pea fowl, too loud. If I tried to get 200 pullets, I would wind up with 400 Roos
Once I get about 50 chicks, I have to back off for a while. I can sell pullets all day long for $15, but the Roos are harder to get rid of

 

[scflock]

I have a  bad feeling totally because they are pullet eggs and I am wondering if I didn't let the polish and silkie get big enough to incubate. Other than that, the development has been great and everything has been fine, it's the hatching out I'm worried about. That and anytime I get cocky about things God does one of these:   to show me I'm not all that, and I've been pretty aggressive with the hands off fighters that I have never lost a pipper/zipper during hatch....lol Hoping the hand of God holds off till after the hatch to smack me...lol

You don't trust me on the pullet eggs, do you? Search it on BYC. Some people say wait, but those with more experience will produce evidence that proves pullet eggs are fine, even their first eggs, as long as they are fertile

 

[BYC910]

I have a bad feeling totally because they are pullet eggs and I am wondering if I didn't let the polish and silkie get big enough to incubate. Other than that, the development has been great and everything has been fine, it's the hatching out I'm worried about. That and anytime I get cocky about things God does one of these:

to show me I'm not all that, and I've been pretty aggressive with the hands off fighters that I have never lost a pipper/zipper during hatch....lol Hoping the hand of God holds off till after the hatch to smack me...lol

I don't know why your so worried maybe because it's your first hatch this spring it will be fine .I'm thinking big chick though the pip is high up on the egg .Like I said your right there. take a chill pill or something. wonder what's up with the twin hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

You don't trust me on the pullet eggs, do you? Search it on BYC. Some people say wait, but those with more experience will produce evidence that proves pullet eggs are fine, even their first eggs, as long as they are fertile

100% fertility... Ok, I'll try to relax.

I don't know why your so worried maybe because it's your first hatch this spring it will be fine .I'm thinking big chick though the pip is high up on the egg .Like I said your right there. take a chill pill or something. wonder what's up with the twin hatch.

OMG BYC just said "chill pill".

I needed that. Now I am imagining Ralph Waite saying, "Take a chill pill".

 

[RubyNala97]

Day 1 and 8 week photos of my 2nd gen mutt EE: And my very shy, very feather footed, booted girl: Several of the others look too much alike to be able to tell exactly who was who, but they are all very nice, healthy little birds. And with all four parents hatched out of green or blue eggs as well as these chicks hatching from green or blue eggs, the odds are good that these will also lay various tints of pale to medium green eggs.

I love the before and after pictures! That's a great idea. I'm going to try that with this next hatch! Your birds are beautiful!

I feel that was proven with my last two hatches...lol Thanks for the point out there, as if I'm not nervous enough because of using pullet eggs, let's just remind me if it fails there are many eyes on me...lol What a buddy... But, if it's not a good hatch, then I'll know better and have personal experience to have an opinion on hatching pullet eggs...lol So at least knowledge is gained either way...lol

Amy, your so funny. This is exactly what I was thinking when I read SC's post. I'm thinking, the poor girl just said she was nervous & then you go and tell her all eyes are on her! You'll do great!

It's not hard...give it a try. Start with a fresh breakfast sausage. Use half pork loin and half pork butt (assorted pork chops work great). Grind the meat with a 1/4" grinder. Season it up with salt, pepper, a pinch of brown sugar, a few hot pepper flakes, and a little sage. I can give you a recipe if you like but tune it to your tastes. Mix in just a little water so it is tacky, and form it like you would a meatball so that it stays together. Roll it out a bit and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper overnight. Unwrap in the morning, slice and fry it up. Even better, divide the meat and try two recipe variants at once. Once you have your recipe down, scale it up, buy casings and use your jerky shooter to make breakfast links. Smoked sausage is the next step, you do need a meat grinder, sausage stuffer or jerky shooter, casings, and Cure #1 (aka Prague Powder #1). Find a recipe, I am glad to share mine for starters, and be sure to use the exact amounts of meat, salt, sugar and cure as the recipe calls for. Seasonings are a guideline, feel free to experiment. Grind and mix everything plus a little water so that it can stick together, and pack it into casings. Let cure overnight and smoke the next day. No turbo smoking, please...you only want to get to 155 internal temp, and slowly so that it doesn't case harden.

You make it sound sooo easy!! You've got skills to do that!

woo hoo! Babies on the way. I am only on day 5 of my shipped eggs. I did put them on the turner this afternoon.

Good luck with your shipped eggs! Did you read the article I posted awhile back for shipped eggs? Let me know if you want the link. It's a great article & I am having success following it.

LOL. Just gotta love you!! It is FOUR AM.... (OK, 4:18 am now) and I just have to report- I have my first pip!!!! One of my silkie's eggs have pipped! no complications!!!

So technically a pip on day 18? Wow!! So exciting! Please keep us posted play by play!! Pics too!!

 

[scflock]

I don't know why your so worried maybe because it's your first hatch this spring it will be fine .I'm thinking big chick though the pip is high up on the egg .Like I said your right there. take a chill pill or something. wonder what's up with the twin hatch.

I'm not saying this to get

ed, it's just the truth. It's totally a woman thing: Imagine all of the bad things that can happen, and worry about it needlessly for weeks on end, all so they can

when things turn out ok.
I would rather

for three weeks, then if something goes wrong

 

[WVduckchick]

I didn't know peafowl were loud. Glad I hadn't seriously considered them! LOL Anyone raise quail? We have considered some quail.

But this will have to be my last hatch for a while. Too much stuff coming up for me to be fretting with little chickies. Our camp hasn't gotten nearly enough done on it this spring... hubby is mad because I don't want to leave the "kids" alone at home lol. But we are definitely taking vacation in July for my 50th b-day, and I get to see all of my sisters in one place... something we haven't done in many, many years, except for funerals

since we are scattered all over the US.

My garden never even got started this year, another bummer... there's nothing like a fresh picked tomato or cucumber! But I'm still hopeful to get deer food plots in the fall. Hunting season will be here before we know it.

As far as this hatch, my humidity was running upper 20's to about 32%. Cells were big, so I decided on a squirt of water. Well dangit if it didn't shoot to 55. So I suctioned the water back out and tried a small piece of sponge. I was hoping for 40. Sponge still was around 50, so I cut it in half (down to about 1" x 1"). Was still showing about 45 when I had to leave for work, so I took it out. It will slowly drop back to 30, but that will be fine for today. I suppose....