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

[lilmynx13]

oh yeah ... i been eagerly awaiting this.. fluffy babies fluffy babies ou.. better than chocolates!!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote: I think early-ish April but that would mean I would have it running the whole time and no one would be able to fill the water pots.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Count me in! I'll be able to do it as long as those dang birds start laying fertile eggs!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I think early-ish April but that would mean I would have it running the whole time and no one would be able to fill the water pots.

I add water at the start of hatch, then don't add any more until Day 18. Does your bator hold temp pretty steady?

 

[sasimpson77]

I am in so excited I will be doing mostly Barnyard mixes I have three Bators going to fill every available nook and cranny in them I am getting a 4th incubator 1st week in march so I can shift some over there also have 35 eggs due to hatch this weekend so that will open up that many slots.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote:

I think early-ish April but that would mean I would have it running the whole time and no one would be able to fill the water pots.

I add water at the start of hatch, then don't add any more until Day 18. Does your bator hold temp pretty steady?

Yeah its pretty steady with the temperature but I have a Brinsea Mini Advanced and one of the water pots is always suppose to be fill until day eighteen and then both of them are suppose to be filled until hatching is done, or at least that's what it said in the manual and how I've always done it.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Well I am getting my incubator today and will probably set a test batch this weekend so should be ready to do another batch for this. I am in. Just not telling hubby yet. Probably will be setting my EE eggs unless I breakdown and get some from somebody.

Stopping in to say "Hi"

Not sure what I will have going in the incubator , I know it will be loaded.!

I will be popping in here to cheer you all on.

We got some yellow, red, yellow striped, red striped, Rhodebars (3 black with head spots, 3 black without, one red wild type). Several have gorgeous spots and/or eyeliner TO DIE FOR

and two very strange ones...black and white tuxedo/penguin looking (roo is RIR and mom production red!)...was not expecting that. I acquired my laying flock with my house, so not 100% sure of their breeds.

I am hatching a Rhodebar breeding pen for Easter but unsure of my own genetics so that is why I am getting all shipped. But if you want friendly layers, these eggs would be fabulous...they are all 3-7 year olds, lay 3-5 eggs from 6 hens daily, through the winter with no light. My roo is super gentle, waits for the girls to eat first, and never aggressive even when I picked him up and removed his spurs last night.

My RIR covers 2 barred rocks, 2 reds, and 2 EEs. My BO doesn't lay.

I hatched 50% at Christmas (first hatch, humidity too high) and 92% last week. I have shipped once during very cold weather and 3/10 hatched.

OK, I will stop talking about my chickens now. But I HAVE to do it here...everyone in my house gets the glazed eyes. And the kids do this to me when I talk about my babies >

I just remembered, we are going on vacation in April so I shouldn't get more birds, especially chicks. This rules out the hatch-A-Long for me...

DARN IT! I keep trying to inport a photo of the emu egg that I set yesterday, and my computer just wont let me. (soooo annoying) I think it might be out of space

BUT I WILL POST A PHOTO LOL.

P.S. I have just three days until I can wiggle check one of the emu eggs that has been in the incubator before this one.!!

Quote:

And if you know oz time is of the essence when making a planned trio with eggs out of the country, please also see the hatching 101 article and use the notice to egg shippers when requesting your eggs! Check out his thread! AMAzing,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ck-out-of-here-a-diary-of-a-crazy-chicken-man

also the letter

The following Word File can be used when ordering shipped eggs, it is our suggestion that you copy/paste/edit to help you get the best eggs possible. Letter written by ozexpat

An open letter to egg shippers.doc 27k .doc file
​

Ok, I have 2 really random questions. First off, (and I know there may be several answers to this, but I need it anyway as there's a certain breed I'm trying to rule out which I won't mention just yet) what would you say is the world's hardiest breed of chicken?

Edited to remove second question... I stopped being lazy and look at my old PMs.

I'm in! Now the hunt begins for my dream - English chocolate Orp eggs

Quote: I think early-ish April but that would mean I would have it running the whole time and no one would be able to fill the water pots.
I have to run dry most days! but I gotcha, dont know your bator but you do! boooo whooooooo MKK

Count me in! I'll be able to do it as long as those dang birds start laying fertile eggs!

brahmabreeder!! YAYA!!!

I am in so excited I will be doing mostly Barnyard mixes I have three Bators going to fill every available nook and cranny in them I am getting a 4th incubator 1st week in march so I can shift some over there also have 35 eggs due to hatch this weekend so that will open up that many slots.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I plan to join the hatch. I may even do a test hatch before then; I think there's time if I get them in by Monday. I hatched earlier but my rooster was on strike so I only got one chick! It has been so frigid for so long, I don't think he's in the mood.

I think it may be time for a refresher on how to recalibrate an hydrometer. I have had several different hydrometers and I don't see anything on any of them that looks like an adjustment. Lately, I have been weighing the eggs at set, 7 day, 14 day, and at lockdown. This is a very time consuming method, although it is perhaps more accurate. I also trace the size of the air pocket and compare that to the diagrams for proper air pocket size at 7, 14, and 18 days.

Sally Sunshine - you are a fountain of information. Do you know how to do it?

Hatching 101​

Darn my link is unlinked!! give me moments pleaseeeeeeeee

Hatching 101​

article paste......​

How Does a Hygrometer Work?
http://weather.about.com/od/weatherinstruments/a/hygrometers.htm

Shown here is a WET Bulb Hygrometer and wick
Wet bulb is exactly what it states. It is the temperature relative of the humidity in degrees.
A Hygrometer Wick is placed over the stem of the thermometer and the other end of the sleeve is placed in a jar or pan in the incubator.

​

HOW TO CALIBRATE HYGRO with SALT TEST
http://www.sciencecompany.com/Understanding-Relative-Humidity-and-the-Hygrometer-W136.aspx

http://www.hermitcrabassociation.com/pages/calibrate.html
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/herpresources/ss/hygrometer_3.htm


​

 

[abmaddox1981]

Just got back from getting my new babies!!!!

 

[ocap]

just calibrated my thermometer using the ice water method and a zip lock with water in the incubator. The thermometer that came with the incubator is reading 0.4 high, so there is the reason for the late hatching. I need to set the thermostat for a 99.9

more have hatched today, we are at the end of day 22 and 7 live so far, 30% good for a first try in this incubator. also all the chicks that hatched are from one cockerel, the other three breeder pens are batting zero