The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[SilkieSensation]

I got work done today



Cleaned the lower level, and the garage.
FINALLY got the chicks out of the closet and into the garage,
cleaned the big grow out and serama shed, and now I cant breathe

to the point I may have to break out the kids nebu I really need to where a mask when doing coops. When does one learn?

I had my nebu out all day yesterday. Stress sets off my asthma & my ex spent 2 days straight blowing up my phone begging to come back. NOT gonna happen. I wear a mask every time scooping the coop and cleaning it as well as cleaning my cat boxes. just to be on the safe side from emphysema...

I am terrible, I could never be a nurse for sure, I hate gloves, masks hats scarves, necklaces, heck I dont like shoes!!

I don't do shoes either if I can avoid them.

I would like to join, I can set turkey or chicks eggs (homegrown) but our boys would rather have duck, is anyone selling duck hatching eggs? I'd prefer one of the heritage breeds (welsh harlequin, silver appleyard, magpie, Campbell or Ancona) regardless we'll hatch something! I am looking forward to starting this tradition with our boys (1.5 & 3.5)

I have anconas available. PM me if interested.

 

[Gardeningmama]

Quote: Thank Ya Ma'am!!!

That big boy is an enormous LF Splash Cochin roo I hatched out of Sally's eggs. The other is one of her Brahmas...HUGE!!!

Wanted to share my win from our meetup's raffle last night ^^ An adorable hand-knit chicken sweater!
Betty needed treats to be bribed into modeling xD

Cute, Cute!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh yeah, that's a boy! And that other one is a huge girl!! I do have a pullet..pretty sure it's a pullet, LF cochin out there. Interesting coloring. I've been trying to get a splash anything..can't seem to happen for me. These two are beautiful.

 

[Cynthia12]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/children-raised-farms-develop-immune-systems-18224860

 

[Penny Hen]

Do you have photos of said fish tank brooder? Or will you take one once you convert to hatcher? DH keeps saying he could build me one out of the plethora of extra fish tanks he's collected due to his tropical fish addiction, but I just can't seem to conceptualize how that would work. I'm a Rubbermaid tote brooder type.

Sure I will get a shot of it soon. I originally set it up to brood some quail that I am planning on hatching at Cinco de Mayo. This is an aquarium that was in a shed and the bottom was cracked. I put a layer of 3/4 " sheet foam in the bottom after taping the cracks with duct tape. On top of that I covered it with a piece of thin Masonite (wood with a plasticized surface). Since this was scraps I was working with it wasn't quite wide enough so I added a back wall of sheet foam and will add another piece of Masonite so it is easily cleaned. Then I will silicone calk the edges so dirt doesn't collect between the foam and the glass. I will put some of the non-slip drawer liner material that you can get at Dollar General.

I made a cage top out of hardware cloth that fits tightly on the tank and made a door in the middle of the top. I will either wire a light fixture to the cage top for the hatche. Later I will use this small lamp I dug out of the basement just as soon as I get it clean and painted and a new bulb. That will turn it back into a straight brooder if I decide that's what I want,



For use as a hatcher I will wire a thermostat in to turn off the light when it reaches 100˚. I will use a ceramic based light fixture wired to the cage with a styrofoam or masonite spacer to prevent shorts. on top of the cage wire I will lay two sections of very thick layers of styrofoam (about 4 to 5 inches). I will use a small metal bowl of water and I have got to work out still the best way to keep them out of the water. I am thinking of one members suggestion of putting the eggs in garment bags to separate the breeds but also it will keep them from stumbling near the water too. I may just cut out another square of hardware wire to serve as a divider from the water bowl. The good part is that as a hatcher/brooder I won't have to move them. I will just take the styrofoam covers off.

 

[Cynthia12]

Wow Penny, you go girl. You are quite the handy person. Not me, good thing my DH likes to build.

 

[Cynthia12]

Good night, sleep well...

 

[Penny Hen]

She's perking up. I have her in the brooder, but have it separated by wire from the other chicks. They would stomp on her. She is chirping now. I put her in a small cup at first, with a paper towel, and where the light could shine..almost on her. She felt so cold in the legs and feet..and..duh, she isn't a silkie, no feathers on those legs or feet, must be a polish, has the top like some of the silkies with the vaulted heads. Nope, not a silkie. I think she may make it!

Awesome!

 

[getaclue]

Please add me. Black Australorp eggs for sure!

 

[blacktop240]

I will be hatching Bielefelders and barthuhners. The wife agreed to let me get them because A they are fairly rare and B she thinks they look awesome... Such a relief. A little later I'll be getting sulmtalers... Can't wait the Bielefelder Roos can be 10+ lbs... Those will be some beefy birds!