The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[noahsmom]

OT...But, What's the chances of fertile hatching eggs that were taken from the hens right when laid and put into the fridge for 1-2 days hatching?

We went over to my S.O's bosses house this evening and he showed us his chickens (some looked mixed and others look possibly pure?) Anyway, he walked into his kitchen and handed us two dozen chicken eggs for free. I didn't think much of it until I asked if I could see his chickens and seen the most BEAUTIFUL rooster I have ever seen 'in person', huge and actually friendly. Anyway, long story short I came home cracked one and they are obviously fertile. He had 3 roosters in with these hens.
I have pictures and would love for someone to maybe tell me what breeds they think these chickens are. Even though I am still a little frustrated over this hatch, I'm thinking of putting a few eggs in from this two dozen and trying them out, they were all beautiful chickens and good layers, and I didn't get as many from this hatch as I wanted. lol I'm a half addict I suppose! S.O. said it was fine with him as long as I didn't put them all in lol he said that's our food!

I know this isn't the correct place for this, but I will post another thread with the pics and info, but if anyone could tell me the chances of me getting a few chicks I'd appreciate it. If I decide to then I have decided I will be COMPLETELY hands off besides my candlings and let things be, I know I messed some of my hatch up and realize now the mistakes I made.

 

[CherokeeFlats]

Number 6 is out, number 7 is out (came out right after I took this pic), number 8 has pipped



Looks like I'll have 100% hatch!!!!!

 

[ThaiDye]

I would put her in a tea cup watch she doesn't overheat and take her out and let her walk often and offer food and water

New Chick Care Links and Info​

DIP THE BEAK OF THE CHICK IN THE WATER BEFORE YOU TURN IT LOOSE in the brooder. A taste of water right away helps them to find more water soon. If your chicks are at all stressed, add about 3 tablespoons of brown or table sugar to each quart of water for extra energy. Most baby bird loss is caused because the bird doesn't start to eat or drink. Never let your bird run out of water. http://odysseyranch.com/Chick Care Tips.html

Homemade Electrolyte Recipe for weak/ill chicks
2 C. Water
2 TBL. Brown Sugar, honey or molasses
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
Mix until all dry ingredients dissolve & Keep refrigerated
You could also use electrolyte drinks Gatorade or Pedialyte, or
3 drops of POLYVISOL (liquid childrens A-B-D vitamins)
Slowly drip along inner edge of lower beak.
How To Raise Baby Chicks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens​

Thanks, Sally. I was wondering about what the teacup method was. She is still in the incubator. Should I move her to the brooder? Also, I have unflavored Pedialyte. Should I be using that instead of the ACV water? Lastly, I offer my chicks warm water, but you recommend keeping the solution in the refrigerator. Confused

PS: I am in So Cal where it is very warm, but my babies are inn the house (at least for a few days).

 

[mstricer]

Quote: I love you, Sally. You are an Angel of Knowledge

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well I give up. This was my second time with an incubator and no success again. I am not sure what I'm doing wrong. I was told it might be my humidity. I had it at 40% until lockdown and then put it at 60% (duck eggs). Temps were steady at 99.6F. I might try one more time, but if that doesn't work out I'm sticking with my silkie mommas.

Don't give up. It's all a learning experience. I really recommend you get the Brinsea Spot Check thermometer. Your temps might be off farther than you think.

I pulled them all out and put them on the cold concrete floor of my basement to cool them as quickly as possible. I had 3 pipped, and one seemed to be alive, but no peeping. I carefully popped the top of the egg with my flashlight and opened a hold int north pole. It was pipped and breathing, shallowly. No blood in the veins, so I pulled it upright so it could cool to a livable temp quickly. I placed it back in the now cooler incubator.

I eggtopsied all of the 74 other eggs for this hatch date carefully, and there was another pip that was alive but still lots of blood in the membrane, so I put it back in. There were another 4 or 5 that were still alive, but weakly. I left them, as well. I left any that still had a chalky membrane, despite no signs of life. There were maybe 8. The rest had gone. It was awful.

I'm so sorry.

Okay, I need some advice please. One of my babies is on her back & every time I right her, she ends up on her back again. What can I do (besides name her "Turtle")?

Also wondering about my friends eggs. She set them 3 days before me, but still no pips. She had some wigglers, but that is slowing down too. Her homemade incubator ran low for a spell. I offered to put them in my incubator. Would that help? Or is it time to assist? Today would be day 25 for her.

Sorry if this post is in the wrong forum, just thought I might get an answer faster here since this one is so very active with everyone hatching today.

When they flip on their back, it can be a sign of wry neck. See video here:
http://www.bucknrunranch.com/blog/2011/11/12/the-care-and-handling-of-baby-chicks/

At last I am seeing some progress. I have the one polish that hatched last night, one Barnevelder hatched this afternoon with 2 more coming. Also have 2 cream legbars just pip but with no other action for the past few hours..is this ok? I am still waiting on another 25 eggs...that were set exactly 21 days ago at this time. I have a fortune invested in these shipped eggs...fingers crossed. This is the Polish and the Barnevelder. The cloudy photo is the Polish after hatching yesterday...she kept falling onto her back and looked dead.

Yes, they can rest for 24 hours after pip before zipping.

Nothing happening here. Afraid this will be the second broody hen this season to set for three weeks for nothing

3 Marans and 5 Amercaunas went into lockdown (all shipped eggs). 4 Amercaunas have hatched between yesterday afternoon at 2pm and before 4am this morning, but not a peep or wiggle from the other 4 eggs (1 Amercauna, 3 Maran). Is it normal that eggs sitting in the same incubator would have such wildly different hatch dates? I have such a bad feeling about them. When candling day 18, only 3 of the 5 Amercaunas seemed to be moving around. It was hard to see anything happening/moving in the Maran eggs, although they definitely appeared very developed.

The shipped eggs were originally set March 9th around midnight in a styrafoam incubator. The eggs all lost either just over 12% of their original shipped weight or just at 12% (Marans were larger eggs and did lose barely 12%). They have all been in the same box running at 99.5-100.5 for the whole hatch, with humidity between 25%-45% for days 1-18 and with humidity of around 55% for the last 3 days. Our elevation here is about 800ft, so we are not at high altitudes. The box remained closed until just today to take out the 4 fluffies and move the quickly to a brooder box (lid open maybe 1 min. max). I did notice when the chicks hatched they walked over the tops of their unhatched friends a little. Would this cause the other not to hatch? It did wiggle the eggs a little, but didn't send them rolling accross the incubator or anything.

Since all the others have pipped and unzipped, is it too early to tell if others should be doing the same? Is it time for the float test? If so, how violently would they wiggle if they were alive and would they wiggle at all if they were napping? Right now I'm just waiting to see if they move. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would give it more time, probably just a break in them hatching. If nothing more happens by tomorrow morning, then tap on the eggs and see if you hear any cheeping, and candle them.

My hatch is finished! 17 out of 52 eggs.... Not so good, but I only one out of the 27 broody eggs hatched.

I think it was just a little cold at night for the eggs to hatch. I just added a roosters a few weeks before the hatch and I don't think the eggs where fertile yet. I know eggs can say fertile for several weeks after the rooster is gone, but how long does it take to get fertile eggs?

My shipped eggs from Lark Rise did incredible! 14 out of 16 shipped eggs hatched in the incubator. The best hatch I have had on shipped eggs!

Here are a few pictures their cute fuzzy butts!



I ended up giving the chicks to the broody mama with one baby! She is doing wonderful with them.

Congrats! You should enter this picture in the Newest Chicks contest.

New boys can practice LONG before they succeed. I had quite a few clears too, but I have 1 rooster to 17 hens, so he's spread pretty thin right now.

Help! I have a baby chick that hatched about 4 hours ago and he can't stand up. He try's to but as soon as he stands up he falls sideways and rolls on his back, then he is stuck and can't get up without assistance. What could be the problem? This is my first time so I don't know much about chicks Heath and such.

Might just be weak. I would treat for wry neck too, just to be sure. (it can't hurt)
http://www.bucknrunranch.com/blog/2011/11/12/the-care-and-handling-of-baby-chicks/

Cleopatra the spraddle leg baby seems like she MIGHT be making the teensiest bit of progress... I'm seeing her leaning forward and using her feet to propel herself forward when she moves now. She still sits back on her hocks once she is still, and she does not want to try to stand at all.. but this is better than what she's been doing.

Thanks to whoever gave me the link about all of the chicken leg issues. I have band aids just under her hocks and another above.. seems to be what is finally making her use her feet some... I see her toes moving now instead of just sitting limply...

You are welcome. Glad it is helping.

 

[Happy Chooks]

OT...But, What's the chances of fertile hatching eggs that were taken from the hens right when laid and put into the fridge for 1-2 days hatching?

We went over to my S.O's bosses house this evening and he showed us his chickens (some looked mixed and others look possibly pure?) Anyway, he walked into his kitchen and handed us two dozen chicken eggs for free. I didn't think much of it until I asked if I could see his chickens and seen the most BEAUTIFUL rooster I have ever seen 'in person', huge and actually friendly. Anyway, long story short I came home cracked one and they are obviously fertile. He had 3 roosters in with these hens.
I have pictures and would love for someone to maybe tell me what breeds they think these chickens are. Even though I am still a little frustrated over this hatch, I'm thinking of putting a few eggs in from this two dozen and trying them out, they were all beautiful chickens and good layers, and I didn't get as many from this hatch as I wanted. lol I'm a half addict I suppose! S.O. said it was fine with him as long as I didn't put them all in lol he said that's our food!

I know this isn't the correct place for this, but I will post another thread with the pics and info, but if anyone could tell me the chances of me getting a few chicks I'd appreciate it. If I decide to then I have decided I will be COMPLETELY hands off besides my candlings and let things be, I know I messed some of my hatch up and realize now the mistakes I made.

I'd be happy to have a look.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My 2 chicks that needed to have their leg taped are running around the brooder like nothing is wrong. I'll take the tape off tomorrow and see how they are walking on their own.

 

[Happy Chooks]

For ease of tracking, Best/Worst Hatch Rates will be calculated on those who set eggs to hatch between 3/28 and 4/1.

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I did another tap and listen check on my last two eggs. One of them started chirping! Hopefully I will have at least one more chick.

 

[mstricer]

You guys are doing a great job!