"Springing in the Chicks" 2016 April Hatch-a-Long Hosted by Mike & Sally

[mlm Mike]

Quote: There are some clouds, but no rain.....yet.

 

[Chaos18]

There are some clouds, but no rain.....yet.

Well when you send them my way tell them to stop and drop a little rain cause I don't want to water the garden myself.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: I'll try, but I'm kind of hoping they don't stop and talk, it's wet enough for a bit here.

 

[Chaos18]

I'll try, but I'm kind of hoping they don't stop and talk, it's wet enough for a bit here.

So you've been stealing all the rain the last couple days? That's awful nice of you. Since it was sunny and beautiful the last couple days. Good weather to get stuff done outside.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: No, it's been sunny and warm here to. It's just starting to dry out.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

@Sally Sunshine Here is my updated update for the April Hatchalong

My April Hatch Statistics
Hatch #1 37 eggs at lockdown/33 hatched/27 survived first week






.
Hatch#2 had 21 friends eggs and 14 of my eggs.. temp issues throughout incubation of hers 2 hatched a day late. 1 made it to external pip and did not make it. 2 died after absorbing egg yolk and internal pipping before external pipping. The eggtopsies showed most quitters are at the end of the early beginning of middle stage. There were a that made it to lockdown and didn't make it until hatch time (had absorbed no yolk). I had trouble with the incubator with maintaining proper heat/ I suspect my humidity may have been too high as well. I started hatching in 2013 and have hatched every spring since and this is my worst hatch ever. I have 2 surviviors out of 35 eggs.




Hatch#3 lockdown 4/26 due 4/29 I am NOT using the incubator that I just used on my last hatch so maybe will have better luck like I did with hatch #1. This is my last chicken egg hatch unless I can get some somewhere, I do want to hatch some Olive Eggers this year at least but maybe I should take a break.

awwwwwww well look at those twins at the bottom!! I am sorry this is your worst hatch.

but what lovely babies

I'm,worried about one of the two Silkie eggs I have in the bator on day 15

ok CH how about more COMPLETE INFO when you post if you expect us to answer you? that is not a question that is a statement

Just put 21 eggs in lockdown this morning!

By bedtime, something isn't right with the eggs!!!

It is only day 18 and one of the OEGB eggs is already pipped!!!

GO BABIES!!

Quote: x2

Float tested my last 3 duck eggs, quit a few days before hatch day.

Glad I saw on here to use milk jugs as waterers for ducklings. Just spotted one of my day-old ducklings climbing out of the jug waterer and shaking itself off.

The milk jugs holes need to not be big enough they can climb in, they can drown in there if its deep enough, they do NOT have momma to get the oil from to help them float.
so please use the jugs but be certain of those holes it should be as this... see size differences, you will go through several hole heights and sizes as they grow, see sizing the duckling.....

​

REFER TO THIS LINK FOR A GREAT ADULT WATERER! http://permaculturenews.org/2013/05/20/poo-free-self-filling-duck-waterer/

Quote: x2 others use the filters just be sure your getting humidity and air flow level temps

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Just finished my day 14 candling, and I found another blood ring. Hmm.. perhaps I missed it on day 7? I really hope the remaining eggs make it to lockdown. I started with 30, and I'm down to 19 eggs now. Not really liking USPS too much right now. I have a couple of eggs that have large saddles, but the embryos seem to be doing fine. Will have to hatch these 2 eggs upright...




The rest seem to be a lot closer to what air cells should look like...



And there was nice movement inside the eggs...




It's amazing when you think of how that jiggly little glob will almost completely fill the egg in the next 4 days...

My new/used bator(ebay) made it.

Preset 1588. Fired it up. Held even temp thru out.

Retired my 10300 (lg). That bator gave me fits.

So set 41 eggs in it.

Have 4 in the hatcher off a test run of eggs.

2 are out. 3rd is slow to hatch. All royal palms.

4th I don't have hope for but left just in case.

awesome!!!! CONGRATS on the test hatch, and good luck!!

FIRST CHICKS EVER! Please let more hatch. Please let more hatch!!! Since my first hatch was a total fail, I'd be happy if these were the only two chicks though.

CONGRATSSSSSS how pretty!!!

well...my first hatch ever in a new untested incubator...
I set 30 eggs and hatched 14barring any that decide to pip overnight.
I eggtopsied a few...seems they passed day 17/18 as they were just about fully formed but had not absorbed yolk...and they were shrinkwrapped meaning I had a humidity proble. some drowned others were shrinkwrapped???
I now know what to concentrate on...what a learning experience.
Anna

CHICKS Wet? Sticky? Stuck? Yellow Gel? What did I do Wrong? post #25379

I have 2 chicks from eggs I thought where dead. I always leave them extra days especially when things don't go quite right. One pipped then stopped. We'll see what happens.

Just an update, all 8 of my chicks that hatched April 7th are doing great! They will be 2 weeks old tomorrow & they are all healthy even though 6 hatched with omphalitis.

This is the chick I had to assist because he got stuck zipping. He is huge now!



Buncha boys



Chocolate cuckoo chick that is going to my friend. I think this one is a pullet.

Great news!!!

Hi! I am hatching a batch of chicken eggs this April, due next week on Tuesday/Wednesday!!! I'm excited but also nervous since I haven't incubated since I was a kid, and because I've already gotten 5 early quitters. Ugh, it's the worst. I'm sure it's something I did improperly. Was it the hand sanitizer I used before candling? Was the incubator dirty (i did wash it)? Did I jostle them too much? Tomorrow will be eggtopsy day, hope I can figure out what happened. (And that they were all roosters, so I don't feel as bad. right?)

Anyone would want to weigh in on their day 18 and lockdown protocols for a still-air HovaBator 1620? I've found so much great info here on BYC, but I want to make sure I've got great hatching conditions since now my last few babies are seeming precious... Links, personal experience, etc. I'd love to hear it!

Wish me luck!

WELCOME!!!! Hand sanitizes is fine to use! GOOD LUCK.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubating-w-friends-helpful-notes-links-informational-post-links

I candled my Broodies eggs last night, it must be less time since I set them than I thought. 3 are showing veining and 1 I'm not sure.

Quote:

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Morning everyone!

The two merlerault are out! Six other pips.

I candled the bator and only had movement from one of the 9 eggs still over there. So I think the staggering may be finished.

Quote: AWESOME!!!!

 

[BullChick]

  I'm sorry. Enjoy the duckling you did get.

  Yes, hatching them would have been fun, but already having the chicks is such a relief.
      For the 19.

  Good luck!

 Congratulations!

 

 He sure has gotten big! 

@Chaos18 that is the incubator that I have. The one that Joey showed above.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

SPOILED "Gooserz"



IS THIS ANGEL WING OR JUST GROWING OUT?









7 ducks and a goose <3 all spoiled!!