The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Doing a staggered hatch so some are in the incubator and some aren't yet but I have LF white faced black spanish eggs, my own barnyard mix eggs, silkie and showgirl eggs, plus I kept not winning ebay auctions so I went ahead and ordered 3 black and 3 blue breda chicks from greenfire farms. not exactly hatching lol but they were so cute I couldn't resist. anyways I am super excited to get all the eggs in the incubators and even more excited for chicks- though I won't be able to keep them all- I will be adding a few new ones from this hatch. I need more coops!

I'm doing a staggered hatch as well! My first bunch was set on 2/23 and should hatch around the 16th. Both the eggs I've already set and the eggs I'm setting this week are mixes I've gotten from the farmer up the street.

 

[tadpole98]

trade it for a chicken!

 

[Wisher1000]

If the eggs are shipped eggs, I incubate and hatch in the upright position. In a hen's nest I see the eggs every which way. Scientifically, the embryo knows up from down and positions itself accordingly. SO I do manage them to have large end elevated. SOmetimes very hard with the marans eggs-- I use a roll technique to set the egg correctly.

Yes, Arielle, I think we talked about the "poke and roll" method on another thread! How do you separate the ones that you are tracking? Like the ones that came out of the darkest eggs?

I use my coolerbators to hatch in. Much easier to clean the plastic lining. I also place paper towel on the bottom before locking down the eggs. Makes for much easier cleanup. Just pick up the PT and all the poop and shells comes with it.

Humidty in my hatchers is 63% at lockdown and then once I get a few pips I up it to around 67-68%

I hatch all of mine in an egg tray. Personal preference. I just don't like the hatched ones playing soccer with the unhatched ones.

Do the paper towels get and stay damp? Do you have a way to separate them by egg color, or breed, or anything else?

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Well, we did it. And it wasn't even accidental. My sister was hoping for a discount on some Indian Runners, so she called TSC this morning (our local Lapeer store had received its first shipment of chicks & ducklings last week). The nice lady told her that yes, they had ducklings left, and they were on Special today!!!

Holding her breath, she asked how much? Hoping for perhaps a 50% discount from the original $4.70 price, or maybe even down to $1 each!

The TSC lady asked someone, and then answered.....$0.50 cents each!!!!!!!

My sister was THRILLED and we rushed off to the store before anyone else could buy up the last ducklings...

Arriving at TSC we followed the peeping to the back and saw two bins FULL of little Runner and Pekin ducklings!!! Most of the chick bins were empty, but these two were literally SWARMING with ducklings! Another employee walked by asking anyone around "Do you want some ducklings? Special sale today - Buy 2 get 2 free!"

We looked at each other in amazement and delight!

I don't know HOW we managed to keep to the original plan and walk out of there with only 6 little Runner ducklings - for only $0.25 each!!!!

The March Madness has begun...

 

[noahsmom]

Well, we did it. And it wasn't even accidental. My sister was hoping for a discount on some Indian Runners, so she called TSC this morning (our local Lapeer store had received its first shipment of chicks & ducklings last week). The nice lady told her that yes, they had ducklings left, and they were on Special today!!!

Holding her breath, she asked how much? Hoping for perhaps a 50% discount from the original $4.70 price, or maybe even down to $1 each!

The TSC lady asked someone, and then answered.....$0.50 cents each!!!!!!!

My sister was THRILLED and we rushed off to the store before anyone else could buy up the last ducklings...

Arriving at TSC we followed the peeping to the back and saw two bins FULL of little Runner and Pekin ducklings!!! Most of the chick bins were empty, but these two were literally SWARMING with ducklings! Another employee walked by asking anyone around "Do you want some ducklings? Special sale today - Buy 2 get 2 free!"

We looked at each other in amazement and delight!

I don't know HOW we managed to keep to the original plan and walk out of there with only 6 little Runner ducklings - for only $0.25 each!!!!

The March Madness has begun...

What a steal!! I have to stay away from reading about the ducks to much, I would love to have some ducks but that is a whole other ball game besides the chickens (That I haven't even gotten started in yet). lol! Have fun with them!

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Well, we did it. And it wasn't even accidental. My sister was hoping for a discount on some Indian Runners, so she called TSC this morning (our local Lapeer store had received its first shipment of chicks & ducklings last week). The nice lady told her that yes, they had ducklings left, and they were on Special today!!!

Holding her breath, she asked how much? Hoping for perhaps a 50% discount from the original $4.70 price, or maybe even down to $1 each!

The TSC lady asked someone, and then answered.....$0.50 cents each!!!!!!!

My sister was THRILLED and we rushed off to the store before anyone else could buy up the last ducklings...

Arriving at TSC we followed the peeping to the back and saw two bins FULL of little Runner and Pekin ducklings!!! Most of the chick bins were empty, but these two were literally SWARMING with ducklings! Another employee walked by asking anyone around "Do you want some ducklings? Special sale today - Buy 2 get 2 free!"

We looked at each other in amazement and delight!

I don't know HOW we managed to keep to the original plan and walk out of there with only 6 little Runner ducklings - for only $0.25 each!!!!

The March Madness has begun...

Wow. My husband wants ducks, but our TS has yet to get any. We are planning to go into town on Thursday to get some chicks and ducklings if they have any the breeds I want.

 

[tadpole98]

Well, we did it. And it wasn't even accidental. My sister was hoping for a discount on some Indian Runners, so she called TSC this morning (our local Lapeer store had received its first shipment of chicks & ducklings last week). The nice lady told her that yes, they had ducklings left, and they were on Special today!!!

Holding her breath, she asked how much? Hoping for perhaps a 50% discount from the original $4.70 price, or maybe even down to $1 each!

The TSC lady asked someone, and then answered.....$0.50 cents each!!!!!!!

My sister was THRILLED and we rushed off to the store before anyone else could buy up the last ducklings...

Arriving at TSC we followed the peeping to the back and saw two bins FULL of little Runner and Pekin ducklings!!! Most of the chick bins were empty, but these two were literally SWARMING with ducklings! Another employee walked by asking anyone around "Do you want some ducklings? Special sale today - Buy 2 get 2 free!"

We looked at each other in amazement and delight!

I don't know HOW we managed to keep to the original plan and walk out of there with only 6 little Runner ducklings - for only $0.25 each!!!!

The March Madness has begun...

did you buy me some while you were at it?!?!

 

[TheH Klan of 10]

Well, we did it. And it wasn't even accidental. My sister was hoping for a discount on some Indian Runners, so she called TSC this morning (our local Lapeer store had received its first shipment of chicks & ducklings last week). The nice lady told her that yes, they had ducklings left, and they were on Special today!!! Holding her breath, she asked how much? Hoping for perhaps a 50% discount from the original $4.70 price, or maybe even down to $1 each! The TSC lady asked someone, and then answered.....$0.50 cents each!!!!!!!

My sister was THRILLED and we rushed off to the store before anyone else could buy up the last ducklings... Arriving at TSC we followed the peeping to the back and saw two bins FULL of little Runner and Pekin ducklings!!! Most of the chick bins were empty, but these two were literally SWARMING with ducklings! Another employee walked by asking anyone around "Do you want some ducklings? Special sale today - Buy 2 get 2 free!" We looked at each other in amazement and delight! I don't know HOW we managed to keep to the original plan and walk out of there with only 6 little Runner ducklings - for only $0.25 each!!!!

The March Madness has begun...

WOW! That's awesome! I woulda come out with 20 lol

 

[CherokeeFlats]

WOW!
That's awesome!
I woulda come out with 20 lol

x2. I'm right there with ya on that one. I love my ducks!!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I made baskets using plastic needlepoint mesh from the craft store. I zip tied it for sanitary reasons-- easy to clean in water. I made it to fit my LG specifically, and created different sized compartments, to accommodate various numbers of eggs set. I did try a lid of plastic mesh, however didn't like the worry--plastic close to heating elements. And I couldn't see what was going on!! I used small cookie wracks-- love the view!

NO way to know which came from which egg--hopping over is a problem too without a cover.

Compartments for the darkest eggs.

I now limit my hatches. Broodies bring back too many mutts as it is!!