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

[Pozees]

Well, it looks like I am not going to make it

. The chickens I am waiting on to lay are not ready yet.

Would I still be able to join, even if I am a week later? Just for information etc?
You don't have to count me. I just may need some help.

Dadgum chickens! I can't speak for the Project Managers but I don't know of any reason you can't join - This is a the-more-the-merrier group of folks

 

[chickenlisa]

I spent yesterday and the day before boiling down maple sap. I have a few more gallons to boil down today. Starting tomorrow the weather is going to change and sap should start flowing daily. My fridge is going to be full of only eggs and syrup lol.

I love it! Maple syrup and eggs! I used to live in NH and miss that ready/abundant Syrup! My brother in western NY gets it from his trees (he 'rents' out his trees to folks who tap them and he gets syrup for his payment...so he said he'll get me a gallon of it. Mmmmm good!)

 

[mlm Mike]

Just got the big order of eggs a friend wants me to hatch I am going to let them sit until friday morning so that I can include them in the easter hatch along am I correct that if I set them then they can be included?

Yes, good luck!

Ok now remember this is a tween boy, please excuse his dirty toes. Lol


See the difference between his left and his right..This was done on Sunday (not the pic, that was tonight) he still has major swelling.

Ok back to chickens.... sorry... waiting for my four ducklings to hatch...getting bored..lol

Oh my. I hope he heals quickly.

Count me in! I'm a little late on the draw here, but just in time! I've already hatched two settings (4 survived the first one, and they're 4 weeks old now; the second had 14 and they're 2 weeks old... staggered hatches). I have 1 eggie due to hatch tomorrow, and 12 more coming out of the 'bator Friday night, for hatch on the 31st. Was wondering if I should shut it off, because I have Bourbon Red turkey eggs arriving the week of the 21st of April. Now, this! LOL! Perfect timing in getting in on the right date, and it will be empty in time for the turkey eggs! Yea!

Welcome!

You might like this presentation I made.
http://prezi.com/gdt7lc-kudfw/incubating-chicken-eggs/


I just did a successful incubation and hatch at the middle school where I work. This is the first time I've done this at school, and my third time incubating. I have a Little Giant still air but hubby added a fan to it for me. I also have a turner. One time when candling, I had a great shadow of chick feet that I think the kids thought was quite cool (I know I did). The biggest challenged I had was weekends of not being able to watch the temperatures (barely any heat after 5pm M-F so I wasn't sure what happened on weekends and I have no way to get into the building after hours). Out of 41 eggs, 4 didn't go into lockdown, 2 I assisted hatched on Saturday after taking everything home (23 hatched perfectly without intervention at school), and I ended up with 27 chicks total.

As for kids messing with the incubator, I'm not aware of any problems happening with this group of seventh graders. Everyone knew to keep hands off. Although I did find a note taped to the incubator saying that one specific chick should be named a certain name. LOL

CG

That's wonderful. Nicely done.

About to flood the thread with a few of the fuzzy butts that have already hatched here. First some of my backyard crosses from the rainbow project. Given their tufted cheeks and shape of combs, it appears my Ameraucana/Araucana roo is likely the dominant roo in my mixed breed flock. We'll see for sure when we see if any of them frizzle.











And a couple of the d'Uccle mille fleurs. They are so tiny, much smaller than the crosses.

Cute!

I got it out without breaking it!

Most of my Easter hatch eggs are here!! Still waiting on Dorking and Ameracuana eggs. Hopefully they'll be here tomorrow!

Great!


Busy thread last night, off to read the rest.

 

[Gardeningmama]

My eggs are supposed to be here today (Thursday) but it is 1am and the tracking still says:

• Expected Delivery Day: Thursday, March 27, 2014

Product & Tracking Information

Postal Product:

• Priority Mail 3-Day™

Features:

• $50 insurance included​

• USPS Tracking™​

DATE & TIME

STATUS OF ITEM

LOCATION
March 24, 2014 , 4:47 pm

Dispatched to Sort Facility​

FAISON, NC 28341
March 24, 2014 , 9:54 am

Acceptance​

FAISON, NC 28341
Poor eggs! I am worried they will not make it! They need to sit bottom up before going in the bator as is right as they are being shipped? Eeeep!
Last week USPS said my eggs were in Florida due here on Monday while they were sitting on my dining room table in Pa. on Saturday, lol!​

Quote: It does smell wonderful. Bath & Body Works put out a Maple Syrup Handsoap. I thought it sounded strange, so I bought. It smells yummy!

Quote: Definitely the more the merrier but to be on the Participant list there is a 2 day window on either side of the set date. BUT we love having more folks to yak with!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I disagree with this to a degree as well

some of us do not have auto turners and in turn cannot turn say what???? 96 x a day to get best results and less malpositions, so some of us that hand turn will of course have much more incidence of malpositions unrelated to inbreeding and such. and I fear this turning has a higher level than all those other reasons not? ...

OK, I'll bite. I disagree with this to a degree also

. I think my turners only do about 5 times a day (not sure) but I don't think it matters very much. If one thinks about how a hen turns eggs, which is way more often than a turner, she doesn't have Xs and Os. She doesn't even look at them. She just scooches around. Some get turned 10 degrees, some 45 degrees, some 180, some not at all. I once had a setting that went terribly wrong when the temps kept swinging from 92 to 108 for days. A couple hens had just gone broody so I gave up less than a week in and ignored the thing since I didn't plan on ever using that incubator again and went about all my other projects. I forgot to pull eggs and turn the incubator off.
2 healthy chicks hatched in spite of the temp swings and NO turning for the last 2 weeks.

I found a nice FAQ called Incubation and Embryology from the Uof Illinois Extension! Clik Here

~~5. What is the average life of the male chicken? A male chicken would live on the average of 3-5 years.

I'm guessing if that's true, it's from people feeding the roosters layer feed.

I have 2 broody geese setting on a nest, but I don't have a gander. Could they hatch duck eggs or would they squish them?

I had several of my chicken eggs hatched by a friend's turkeys, so I doubt the geese will squish the duck eggs. Go for it.

What if it is August?? (In the Northern Hemisphere

)

That would be a fun ride.

...
The class must have been held in the winter in illinois.

Yeah, not summer break.

Yeah, I used to be reassured that all was turning when I heard the song. But, it kept up with the song even when it wasn't working...Right now I'm beginning to wonder about the accuracy of the built in thermo....

I doubt all thermometers until I verify. Ron likes the Brinsea spot check. I like it too for accuracy, but if the temp is out of range it won't give a reading and you don't know if it's too high or too low.
Most thermometers are only accurate within 2 degrees (and some aren't that good). That's too big of a swing for incubating.
This place has some good products. http://thermoworks.com/
I use this one with adjustable calibration and 5 second response. It's spot on with the Brinsea spot check too.
http://thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html
other stuff
http://thermoworks.com/products/humidity/

There are quite a few challenges for hatching in a classroom.

The best method and one that actually had eggs hatch, was to bring in the incubator and set the eggs. Take the incubator home and bring it back in on day 7 for candling and etc. until it is brought back while the chicks are hatching.

Issues:

Noise and vibration
adjusting the settings
heating and cooling turned of at 5 each night and weekends
Drafts from door being opened a lot
Sometimes sunlight from windows

I hope you do run a hatch for your class!

I ran a hatch for a couple 'College for Kids' classes last summer.

I think I will set tomorrow. I am to eager to be controlled.

I think I'm going to set older eggs tomorrow and then add fresher eggs the next day.

I got it out without breaking it!

Bonus.
I hate leakers sticking in turners.
If I had a stinker, I'd probably pull all the other eggs and take the turner out to the compost pile to extricate.

 

[Gardeningmama]

 

[Sally Sunshine]

POST THREAD IS HERE: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-fun-night-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long​

Random Funny Posting
AND
Mini Contests FUN Night!
5th Annual 2014 Easter Hatch-a-long PARTICIPANTS ONLY

Clear Your Schedules
&
Mark Your Calendars!
Friday April 11th


​

Donations are
STILL NEEDED for Mini contests!
If we dont get enough for Mini Contests we will still hold the random posting and offer all prizes for that alone.

We thought it would be fun to bring back some cool mini contests during a fun in posting night, its not necessary but with what we have planned it should be really fun to get involved with, so please donate and please MARK YOUR CALENDARS for that day/eve! see thread for times!

please message Sally Sunshine with donations!
Reminder this is run by hatchers and WON by participating hatchers only!
Listed below are some $5. and up ideas, reminder donator will also pay shipping to get the product to winner!

Hatching eggs of any type in sets of 6+, 10+ 12+, etc.
(please include a link if you have one to the image/s of your flock if not we will simply link your profile page)
BYC GFM Memberships donations (you simply purchase a 6 or 12 month GFM for winner)
BYC Chillin with my Peeps clothing

Amazon is an endless source of items, books, chicken stuff and most can be sent to Canadian residents as well! Last year some of us found some cool chicken books, recipe books, coffee mugs and so on!
Incubation tools are always a great item too, example weigh scales, thermometers and so forth!
Used items in GREAT shape may also be donated!
Hand made items are always great!
HERE is the link to LAST years prizes and donations!
We hope we can come up with even more for the mini contests!

NOTE: if you’re purchasing from Amazon or another webstore please be sure to send us the link to the item you’re donating so we can get the information!

NOTE: Gardeningmama will be setting up emails in the days following with the winner and donator to follow through that everyone gets their items!

 

[mlm Mike]

Same here- I got my Speckled Sussex eggs and my Birchen Maran eggs today- waiting on my Rare Assortment from Texas (to NJ) and hopefully they arrive in great shape tomorrow. Will set them all on Friday then...getting so excited for a bunch of eggs in my incubator!

Good Lcuk!

I want to play again, count me in!

Welcome!

Count me in, this will be my first year to join in.

Greg

Welcome!

Mike, have we beaten 300 yet?

Here's what I did tonight. I have a boatload of lemons, and I saved a recipe a long time ago for Lemoncello. I've never made it, and thought, what the heck! So tonight I started the process. I tell ya, my friends are already talking about inviting me over for dinner.

WE have not beaten 300. We are at 284.

I want in! I ordered 12+ meat bird eggs today that should be here by Friday!

Welcome!

Well, it looks like I am not going to make it

. The chickens I am waiting on to lay are not ready yet.

Would I still be able to join, even if I am a week later? Just for information etc?
You don't have to count me. I just may need some help.

Of course you can still participate in the threads!

I stepped on a nail 2 summers ago. OUCH. An long old rusty nail through the bottom of my foot. I went straight to the Drs and got a Tetnus shot.

Ouch!

Hello all.... I got yesterday my 25 fresh hybrid brown hatching eggs, there resting now till saturday. I plan to setup my RCOM 20 this evening and have it run till saturday morning and then set 20+ eggs.
Can I join?

Hopefully I have on easter 15+ brown chicks and 1 or 2 white ones....... altough the odds are the opposite!

Welcome!

 

[sasimpson77]

You can actually set tomorrow (Thursday) & have them count for the hatch-a-long. My chicks are going in tomorrow because I want them to hatch a little ahead of the poults they will be tutoring.

Ok great thanks Silkie I was hoping I would rather not let them sit to long be for going in.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Ok great thanks Silkie I was hoping I would rather not let them sit to long be for going in.

My chicks went in about half an hour ago. I won't be home at noon & I'm good at forgetting things...lol