The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Happy Chooks]

Its LOCKDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooooooooohooooooooooooo Im so excited I a can barely contain myself!.........YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY Ok...maybe Im not containing myself. lol. Now is the time when I get crazy involved with the incubator. I can pretty much ignore it the first 18 days....Candle once, then again on day 18 to pull clears. Then I hit today and the next four days are going to turn me plum BONKERS!!!!!!! All these worries....questions...and silliness enters my head.... ie:

Is the humidity up to high?
Is the humidity down too low?
Should I turn on the humidifier? Turn off the humidifier?
Are my temps going to drop when the humidity goes up?
Wonder if that egg is too close to the sponge???
Cheep cheep cheep….*listen*… Cheep cheep cheep….*listen*…
Were the air sacs too big? Too small? Maybe I should take one last look.
No…NO…. NO touchy the bator….
Fine…Nose back to the glass….tap with finger….
Did I hear a cheap or are the outside birds confused and think its spring?

And on and on and on my thoughts go. lol

But its LOCKDOWN!!!!!!!!! YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

It sure is. Did you clean the bator glass?

And yes, I will admit that I listened for the cheeping. Nothing yet though. I also like to peer in with my flashlight.

 

[LFchixranch]

Ok on another note..5 set 5 went into lock down. Air cell looks to be ok but hey what do I know, this is my first time. Only saw very little movement in the sole duck egg which is actually 3 days short of being in lock down, but hey its in there. Put about 1/4 cup of water in the Hova bator and humidity shot up, now raising temps. Trying for about 102, I think I may be awhile waiting since I was maintaining it at 99-100 with a still air. The duck egg was the only one that I had marked the air cell on day 1

 

[Happy Chooks]

For the member that wanted to see my incubator set up for lockdown, here it is. They were already locked down, so I got pictures through the glass. Didn't have a chance to get more shelf liner.

16 Barnevelder eggs. (13 pure, 3 blue) The one in the upper right with the X on it I think is a quitter, but not positive enough to take it out.


3 welsummers (post office was not kind to these) and 1 black sex link (welsummer roo over BR hen)


Barnevelder egg from a different line that I want to band and keep track of how it grows out.


21 eggs in all for hatching.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hatching tip:

Don't worry about a lower temperature in these last few days. Temperature is not as important now because the chick is finished developing.

 

[chirpingcricket]

hopefully it will at least be warm for easter and the wedding right now it looks good for both

Hoping double,

,

for you! Congrats!

 

[QuailGuy88]

LOCKDOWN TIME!!!

I am down to 14 eggs and 5 of them are shaking

Only (give or take) 3 more days to go.3 Days

3 Days

 

[chirpingcricket]

Sorry for both of your losses.

That's so sad,

.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Hatching tip:

Don't worry about a lower temperature in these last few days. Temperature is not as important now because the chick is finished developing.

Can I add to this................

dont treat waterfowl eggs like chicken eggs nearing the end. Let them internally pip BEFORE moving them to lock down or into your hatchers. Waterfowl in general take longer start to finish than chicken eggs who pip, zip, hatch quickly.


21, 28, 30 days ect are just averages, and not all eggs read the memo of hatching ON day X

dont rush them, they will come

 

[chirpingcricket]

It sure is. Did you clean the bator glass?

And yes, I will admit that I listened for the cheeping. Nothing yet though. I also like to peer in with my flashlight.

The next 48 to 72 hours or so should be exciting for you! Hang in there...

 

[chirpingcricket]

I didn't start assisting until last night, which was day 24. I'm wondering if I could have saved two if I had tried earlier.
live and learn.

That is "the" question we all ask ourselves with dread and unknown answers most of the time. When/If to intervene.