The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Razadia]

When they come to do NPIP do they look at what you have your birds in ect? I've been thinking about it but I'm afraid they'd say something about how my birds are housed. I have the majority of my birds in Round or dome shaped pens made out of hog panaling. And my larger flock of EE's is in a chain link dog pen about 10'x10'x6'.

When a tester comes to your house, they are supposed to assess the overall health of the flock as well as drawing the blood on specific birds. They really don't care what you house in, and may even give you tips for better ventilation, ect. The vets that have been at my place have always been helpful -I believe these guys have 'seen it all', so as long as your birds have access to clean water, ect, you should be fine.

This is what I was thinking, except they're testing ALL my birds. They're even going to test my ducks. I have a lot of stuff to between now and Monday. Cages need to be cleaned, one cage needs to be built. I have so much to do.

 

[rarebear]

Good morning everyone!

Out of 24 eggs, I got ONE chick

He's a fatty and very alert. So I'm happy about that. But really... 1.... out of 24...

And the one that I got was from shipped eggs I put under the broody hen I have. So frustrated. Cant wait for my new incubator to get here.

But here's a pic of the new chick. He's a fluffybutt.


I think I posted this yesterday.. if so, Sorry for the double pic post.

I just had a horrid hatch, lost 40 eggs but had one welsummer girl hatch...she was healthy. She was so lonely so we found a hatchery bird for her so she would have a friend.

 

[ChooksChick]

Good morning, everyone!

Today's tip:

When candling early or candling dark eggs (like many excited participants will be doing) you can use a bright flashlight with a strip of foil wrapped around the beam, with black electrical tape on the outside. This helps keep the greatest amount of light inside, thus flowing through the egg. This also allows the collar to shape to the egg, which prevents that crack of light where most flashlights meet the egg- this crack of light keeps us from seeing as well as we otherwise might because our eyes can't fully dilate.

One more thing- our best vision is actually our peripheral sight, and thus if you look an inch or so to one side when you cant be sure you're seeing movement, you can actually tell whether there's movement a lot better!

Happy hatching, everyone! Off to the muddy mess that my breedery has become!!

 

[Cynthia12]

That's fantastic, Smithyard!!! Love the pics! I know its not easy sometimes. Here's my broody from 2 summers ago! RIRs.

I love mama and baby pictures.

 

[Cynthia12]

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Ha, too cute, that first picture should be in the caption contest..I can almost hear that baby thinking now...whew, that better have been worth it all!

 

[Cynthia12]

I did a quick candling this morning. 15 out of 15 barnies/blue barnies are developing and 10 out of 18 developing on welsummers and barnevelders. The wellies/barnies had a cross country voyage with several detached air sacs due to the post office - they were packed well by the seller.

Looks like I have some clears in some of my eggs, but some of them are so dark, I can't be certain, so they stay in the bator.

Sounds like you're off to a good start!

 

[noahsmom]

Good morning, everyone!

Today's tip:

When candling early or candling dark eggs (like many excited participants will be doing) you can use a bright flashlight with a strip of foil wrapped around the beam, with black electrical tape on the outside. This helps keep the greatest amount of light inside, thus flowing through the egg. This also allows the collar to shape to the egg, which prevents that crack of light where most flashlights meet the egg- this crack of light keeps us from seeing as well as we otherwise might because our eyes can't fully dilate.

One more thing- our best vision is actually our peripheral sight, and thus if you look an inch or so to one side when you cant be sure you're seeing movement, you can actually tell whether there's movement a lot better!

Happy hatching, everyone! Off to the muddy mess that my breedery has become!!

Wonderful tip! Today is candling day for me I'm going to use this. I went and bought a 100lumen LED flashilight and the difference of this light compared to my other normal ones are amazing, but I know I am letting out some of the light when I cup the egg with just my hand.

Good Luck with your muddy mess! Our yard has become this too, the area around the coop is just nasty, we are about to set in some drain pipe though and I hope it will help some

 

[gryeyes]

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Ha, too cute, that first picture should be in the caption contest..I can almost hear that baby thinking now...whew, that better have been worth it all!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've finally got my humidity where I want it. I'd started with a humidifier on high in the room and was watching it slowly rise in incubator. With paper egg cartons they gradually take on moister so was taking a few days to slowly rise. That and the amount of water the humidifier was going trough was a pain to keep up. Kept running out and a pain to fill several times a day, got as high as 28% but wanted to run 35%. Today I turned down the humidifier and put a small kids cup of water in incubator and then covered half the top with saran warp. 35% RH exactly and should only have to fill humidifier and cup every few days now. So much easier and right where I wanted it.

 

[TheH Klan of 10]

<I><*chuckling with agreement*></I>

On the one leaning on his back....
Ya l we were thinking something like....
Hey girls!!

Or "just chillaxin"