The 10th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!!

[Rammy]

Put the Ancona duck eggs in lockdown today. Heard chirping coming from one of the incubators last night. Every time I checked to see which one it was coming from, it quit! Cant wait to see how many hatch.

 

[igorsMistress]

So weird situation. I have 20 viable eggs in an incubator that will likely go into lockdown on Saturday morning. (not a part of his HAL) I also have 9 eggs under a broody that is due to hatch in two weeks (part of his HAL). My broody hen is in my brooder box and I'd really like to see if I can get her to Mama Hen the chicks after they hatch.... so I'm wondering....

After this weekend's hatch, can I sneak the chicks under Mama Hen and move her eggs to the incubator? I'm kinda worried about her eggs because she wont get off the nest even though I've taken her off a few times to encourage eating. The result is that she's pooped in the nest a few times. I've cleaned it up ASAP but some did get on the eggs. I'm worried about germs and contamination of the eggs..... (would it be possible to clean them at this stage even if I was super careful about water temperature?)

Is making the switch-a-roo playing with fire? Should I leave her be and set up a new brooder box for the chicks hatching this weekend? She's untested as a Mama Hen with chicks....sooooo...none of this may even work...

Welcome to thoughts or ideas ....

If you do the switch maybe try cleaning the eggs with a dry rag or paper towel instead of water. Might keep the bloom on and prevent issues.

 

[two j farm]

With the eggs I have due to hatch this weekend I tried something new. Let me know if any of y'all have done this.

1.I did the ring test on all the eggs. 16 eggs. "13 hens" "3 roos"
2. I ran at a lower temp for the first 3 days. Because I read this will hatch more hens
3. I really didn't plan this one, but we will be having thunderstorm's all weekend. I was told that a thunderstorm can kill chicks or make them turn in the eggs at hatch. I have no clue on this, so I guess we will see

 

[ronott1]

With the eggs I have due to hatch this weekend I tried something new. Let me know if any of y'all have done this.

1.I did the ring test on all the eggs. 16 eggs. "13 hens" "3 roos"
2. I ran at a lower temp for the first 3 days. Because I read this will hatch more hens
3. I really didn't plan this one, but we will be having thunderstorm's all weekend. I was told that a thunderstorm can kill chicks or make them turn in the eggs at hatch. I have no clue on this, so I guess we will see

It is something how many wives tales there are about chickens!

I am surprised that the pointy vs round egg for males and females is not on the list.

It is entertaining

 

[two j farm]

It is something how many wives tales there are about chickens!

I am surprised that the pointy vs round egg for males and females is not on the list.

It is entertaining

I know, I had never heard about thunder turning chicks in the egg or killing them til my dad told me. He said my grandma believed this to be true.

I have already done the round egg vs pointy eggs with another hatch. It wasn't true.

 

[Jules929]

Phenomenal launch for Spacex! I didn't see it for long from my front yard, as it was going away from me, but watched on my phone at the same time. I wish I had been at the Cape for it!

 

[ronott1]

Phenomenal launch for Spacex! I didn't see it for long from my front yard, as it was going away from me, but watched on my phone at the same time. I wish I had been at the Cape for it!

I watched it too! It was amazing!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I didn’t even know there was a launch!

 

[ronott1]

I didn’t even know there was a launch!

Jump ahead about 4 minutes

 

[igorsMistress]

With the eggs I have due to hatch this weekend I tried something new. Let me know if any of y'all have done this.

1.I did the ring test on all the eggs. 16 eggs. "13 hens" "3 roos"
2. I ran at a lower temp for the first 3 days. Because I read this will hatch more hens
3. I really didn't plan this one, but we will be having thunderstorm's all weekend. I was told that a thunderstorm can kill chicks or make them turn in the eggs at hatch. I have no clue on this, so I guess we will see

I'm interested in your results. I hope you'll follow up and let us know how your ring test worked out.