The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[The Chickeneer]

Good morning everyone! Hope all your eggs are doing fine

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Having an engineering degree and OCD's is not a happy mix for me to do much of anything with numbers. This is why I don't weigh eggs. Likely I'd be checking weights every 2 days resulting in minor 2-4% humidity adjustments to get that "optimum". Lawd, no thank you. I have a much simpler time with things to randomly grab two eggs day 7ish and candle to verify air cell is "about right" and things are developing. I do a half at random candling day 14 and adjust humidity then if needed. Worked great last year, found the air cells too small having run 43-45% humidity for 14 days so let it dry out with no water until day 18. Had a great hatch and no stress. Love the guesstimate visually and relax method.

This year I'm shooting for 35% and will see if all looks good day 14. Thinking I wont have to change a thing. The day 7ish random grab looked good and last years 45% was too high. Who knows, next hatch after Easter I may go with 40% but that's yet to be determined. Have some nice shipped eggs coming so want it perfect for 'em.

 

[Happy Chooks]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE !!! have a great Sunday. Sitting here watching DIY network and drinking my coffee
If anyone has a Sam's near them try some of their brand coffee. It's members mark Columbian in a red bag.It is some of the best coffee I have tried. And the bag is really good size and less that 15 dollars. I grind my own. But you can get it ground. It is awesome.

Their hazelnut coffee in the black bag is my favorite.

Quote: Cynthia - sorry, I don't mark my air sacs. Can't even tell you I've paid that much attention to them.

Joyful - yes, humidity sounds great.

Sorry, I had to do the same thing to, my first Barred Lavender OE project, He had a peacomb and a bearded. I don't know what happened, I went to feed the young birds and there he was in the splits and all the other birds are walking all over him like he's part of the ground. I put him alone and watch over night, Didn't work he looked like he was in pain. So my BF culled him yesterday.

I'm sorry you had to have a rotten day too.

 

[karimw]

Good morning! Nice sunshine here, though chilly and windy. They flock makes occasional forays out to blow across the field to the manure pile, but mostly they are staying in.
I just moved 33 chicks to the baby brooder, 12 brown, 31 black

6 more wet ones in the hatcher and maybe a couple more yet to come. I do expect to lose some with those small air cells, but they aren't due until tonight, so who knows.



Now I have to run back and catch up!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Good morning! Nice sunshine here, though chilly and windy. They flock makes occasional forays out to blow across the field to the manure pile, but mostly they are staying in.
I just moved 33 chicks to the baby brooder, 12 brown, 31 black

6 more wet ones in the hatcher and maybe a couple more yet to come. I do expect to lose some with those small air cells, but they aren't due until tonight, so who knows.


Now I have to run back and catch up!

Adorable! Congrats!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Last Day to enter the Caption Contest!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...h-a-long-contest-5-photo-caption-contest/0_50​

 

[Sally Sunshine]

ENDS TONIGHT!
GREAT PRIZES EASY TO ENTER!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/747810/2013-easter-hatch-a-long-contest-5-photo-caption-contest

Contest #5
2013 Easter Hatch-a-long
"Photo Caption Contest!"




Do you think you are funny? Want some Bragging Rights?
Your creativity, wit and humor could win you bragging rights AND some AWESOME Prizes! Enter the BYC Photo Caption Contest and your entries will be judged on the basis of wit, creativity, humor and originality! Our BYC Judges will choose 10 finalists, and then YOU vote for your favorites!

4 “short and comical” entries per contestant


ENTRY DEADLINE
Sunday, March 17th, 2013 Midnight PST

Voting will BEGIN Wednesday March 20th,2013 Midnight PST
And will CLOSE Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 Midnight PST​

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Great minds think alike! he he he

 

[LFchixranch]

I candled this AM, 4 chicken, 1 duck all have growth. Had to spin them to find the embreo but all have em

. But as for the air pocket either I am blind or my lamp is preventing me from seeing them. I haven't been paying much attention to the humidty as this is my first hatch and I am trying to go the least effort method

. If I fail misserable I know why.

Here are some pic's of my "Gathering stage"

I figured I'd use these frames as flooring or clading

A grocery store is remodeling and I've been dumpster diving. After I remove the hardware I can use these for multiple applications, wish I had more of em.

 

[RedIII]

For the most part, it does get easier. For this cockerel, he was a spare, so he was destined for the freezer anyway - BUT I certainly didn't want him to be hurt or suffer. There are the "special" ones that are the exception. A couple years ago, I lost my favorite girl (and first broody) to a bobcat. I cried for days. I tell myself that they had a great life while they were with me - and focus on the joys of those I still have.

My original hens are 4 years old now, so I'm trying to prepare myself that I will probably start losing them.

I know someone who has two Production Red's that are like 8 or 9 years old, now. They get around fine and lay one egg a week between the two of them, but they're still happy, healthy birds

And I've definitely lost 11 out of the 30 fancy local eggs... Most of them are clear.... Others have nasty blood ring and obviously dead embryo....

I'm thinking I should call her and tell her that all the polish eggs developed blood rings and quit around day 6-8.... And all the Mille fluer Cochins were clear) I'd want to know if I were selling hatching eggs.... Thoughts?

I would definitely contact the seller. I always update the seller on their eggs wheather good or bad so they know what is going on with their breeders eggs ect. I have had some super awesome hatches, a hatch that barely any made it out of the shells, a hatch that had clears and blood rings and only 2 chicks hatch but then one chick died right after, oh and a chick with a crossbeak that is genetic. I always tell the seller, not because in upset in anyway but because I feel they should know what is going on within their breeding stock and eggs.

I would want to know about things like that, if I were the breeder selling eggs. This is also why I'm doing a couple of test hatches before I actually start giving purebred eggs to other people. The eggs under my broody will be my first batch, and so far, the results have been worrisome. At least two clears, possibly several quitters. I'm going to be naughty and go check a couple of them again...........Day 17.

karimw, cute babies!