The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Razadia]

My day was completely chicken centered. Tomorrow the lady is coming out to test the birds so I had to make sure everything was in order. One of the only things I couldn't do was fix the door to the game pen. The top hing is broke and the bottom one is on it's way there. The horrors of working with wood older than you are.

While I was cleaning the cages my hypoglycemia attacked and I had to take a 2 hour break. Then when I was giving the RIRs water I left it alone for too long and it flooded the pen. Those were the worst things to happen to me though. Everything else went fine and I got everything done with the exception of getting the ducks and evil roo into carriers, and getting Bob's cage built. There's still enough time to get the cage built tonight and I need to wait till it gets a little darker to deal with putting everyone in carriers.

Despite the little things annoying me today went very well. Here's hoping tomorrow goes as well.

 

[debs_flock]

I participated in last year's Cinco de Mayo turkey hatch...................today I got my first turkey egg!!!

One of my BIG boys!

 

[chickenpooplady]

It's still a good egg with veining.

I am so glad!!! Thank you!

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Ok, so I need a little clarification please.

I have seen several of you refer to checking the size of the air cells as a sign of development of the embryo in the egg. So does this mean that the air cell does NOT develop or get larger in infertile or "dead" eggs? Or would the infertile eggs also lose moisture and therefore, increase the size of their air pockets simply because of the heat and level of humidity in the incubator?

 

[Caitlin_VT]

Finally, I got my pictures uploaded! Here are the eggs for the hatch-a-long. However, incubator is now more than full with the addition of 6 Orpington eggs and 11 duck eggs

 

[mama2my4]

This was a hatching weekend for me! 12 bantam orps and 6 silkies!

 

[RedIII]

This was a hatching weekend for me! 12 bantam orps and 6 silkies!

Yay! Cutie bums <3

 

[JoyfulPromise]

This was a hatching weekend for me! 12 bantam orps and 6 silkies!

Awww, how cute!!!! Bantam Orpingtons!!!!!

Someday...

 

[misskeeter]

Ok, so I need a little clarification please.

I have seen several of you refer to checking the size of the air cells as a sign of development of the embryo in the egg. So does this mean that the air cell does NOT develop or get larger in infertile or "dead" eggs? Or would the infertile eggs also lose moisture and therefore, increase the size of their air pockets simply because of the heat and level of humidity in the incubator?

The air cells still develop in all eggs. The size change is based on humidity loss. I've got several clears and quitters who have the same size air cell as the perfectly developing embryos...

I'm just not positive my air cells are the right size .. lol

 

[misskeeter]

i bought 24 eggs of 3 breeds from a seller once. 7 of 8 of one breed hatched, 6 of 8 of each of the others were clear. thats 12 eggs from 24 clear.. and obviously i was incubating well if 87% of one breed hatched in the same incubator.

the guys response was basically bad luck.

if he said hey, let me make it up to you he would have had a great repeat customer. I have bought more than 250 eggs since - just none from him.

I'm guessing she would give me some to make up for all the clears, but as I'm not getting to keep any of the chicks, it doesn't really matter. I'm hatching this bunch at home for the secretary at our school. I'm in love with Silkies and want one desperately, so I'm hoping that one hatches and I can convince the hubby to let me keep it... He is VERY anti chicken, so it's almost no chance though.

They look fine to me Personally from what I've seen of charts of egg air cells. The day 7 looks about the same as mine and I checked some today at day 11 and it is very slowly trickling down. I would say things are looking good.

of course take what I say with a grain of salt, since i am so new to them. i have read and studied a lot though, just no pro.
I just wanted to make sure you were answered, I know when you have a question like this you are impatiently waiting even though you don't mean to lol! Just a bunch of worried moms and dads here!

Thanks for the input... They looked "okay" to me based on the little chart I've seen, but as the last batch I hatched had half of them drown in the egg from too much humidity, I'm nervous...