The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[18Peeps]

Hey all! I'm not quite done yet. I have one that pipped last night around 7 that had made no progress this morning.

I set on 3/9 and still have several eggs that show no sign of internal pip or anything. When I candled, almost all of the egg is dark except for a few little parts below the air sac. What does this mean? Could they still be alive or are they dead? 3/4 Olive Eggers and 3/4 Wheaten Ameracaunas are all looking the same. (the 2 of those 8 hatched yesterday and Saturday night.

I am hoping they are still alive, but when I candled and didn't see an internal pip and some air space below the air sac, I got nervous... suggestions?

When I saw no movement after candling and heard no chirping after tapping as suggested in this forum, someone suggested floating them in water.

I found this video helpful:

Mine were not alive, they had been backwards in their shells, but I wish you the best and hope yours wiggle!!

If you know they are backwards, this might help too...it's a step by step guide to assisting in the hatch:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

I'm rooting for you and those eggs!

 

[18Peeps]

When I saw no movement after candling and heard no chirping after tapping as suggested in this forum, someone suggested floating them in water.

I found this video helpful:

Mine were not alive, they had been backwards in their shells, but I wish you the best and hope yours wiggle!!

If you know they are backwards, this might help too...it's a step by step guide to assisting in the hatch:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

I'm rooting for you and those eggs!

Oh and one more things...seems obvious, but in the moment of nervousness, it might not be. Do not float test them if they have cracked through the egg or pipped in any way. It will fill with water and they will drown.

 

[18Peeps]

Well I think I'm done.

nothing has hatched and momma Lily doesn't seem to want to stay on the nest any longer

14 set
1 clear, 1 smashed(by evil rooster)
12 'lockeddown'
0 hatch

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Cynthia12]

Ok, everyone. Just for your records. We had a TERRIBLE hatch.

17 set
4 clear
2 quitters
7 developed with weird egg sacs, and I know why, and I'm really ****** at my husband.

4 hatched.

So, 13 viable, 4 hatched, = 30% hatch rate, our absolute worst ever.

You aren't alone. I also had one of my worst hatches! We can try again, right?

 

[Cynthia12]

We had another chick hatch last night and another egg pip. Gonna give it time to hatch, the check the remaining 7 eggs for signs of life before calling it done. So 16 chicks at the moment and one pending...

Good luck!! You never know..

 

[Cynthia12]

was amazed this morning 3 more new chicks, well 4 one didn't make it. I only saw 2 pips when I went sleep. There is another pip in there now a olive egg. The chicks seem smaller and weaker as time goes on.

Wow, still hatching eggs around here...good luck to you too..if it were me, I would so be hanging over that Olive egg..I tried all last year to get some pretty olive eggs..got some this year, and had some hatch! Can't wait for a girl to lay me a nice Olive colored egg! I want more! :d

 

[Cynthia12]

You have 2 different colors & slightly different shapes. I'm guessing 2 different hens.

X's 2.

 

[Cynthia12]

I set 24 eggs and none of my eggs hatched. So sad... I cracked open 16 of them and there was no development. Really disappointing.

Final Count-- Zero.

Oh noo, so sorry. I've had it happen in the years that I've hatched. No matter, it's always disappointing when you have just a few, or..none!

 

[gryeyes]

today is the final day for submissions to the "Design a Chicken Tiara/Crown Contest" so all y'all creative folks getcher nimble fingers going! Don't forget to model your creation on an actual chicken!

 

[Cynthia12]

I'm so sorry for those of you not getting any to hatch. Don't give up! Hatching is a learning experience, and once you get it right, it is SO worth it.

Congrats to all of you with chicks.

If you feel strongly about someone that should get the Best Hatch Participant Prize (not including myself, Sally or mlmddh) then please send me a PM. I'd like to announce the winner of this prize this afternoon.

I will try to check in on this thread today, but mostly, I'm going to be trying to get these contests wrapped up and hopefully announce some winners.

Keep entering your final hatch numbers so we can get them recorded.

A HUGE Thank You to Sally and Mike for helping me with this hatch. I could not have done it without you.

And a great big thank you for doing this. I love the Hatch A Longs. So happy there are folks out there like you guys that are willing to do this for us!!