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

[SilkieSensation]

How do you sign up I would like to join.

WOOOOO HOOOOOO. Count me in!!! I have no idea what I'm gonna hatch but it shouldn't be hard to figure it out. Both of my bators are completely full now and got 9 fuzzy butts hatching as I'm typing this. YAY. e

welcome!

Hi All! Today's digest is up! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/859008/the-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long-daily-digest

[COLOR=FF0000]The Daily Digest link has been updated in the first post. Thanks Ron![/COLOR]

Just set 5 dozen eggs tonight ran out of room and had to put together a coolerbator for some of them. Getting another dozen and a half tomorrow that I will set as well plus any I get from my own flock. Also just got a response to my add for a cabinet incubator my fingers are crossed that I will be able to afford it Could really use it. I currently have three Hovabators running full force and never seems to be enough room. edited to note I set a day early because so far all my eggs have been overdue.

have you calibrated? whats up that you are overdue? temp is first thing that comes to mind, do you have any issues with chicks hatching? I set about 6 dozen for orders today as well. I have everything for the cabinet but the wood. I cant keep using these small coolerbators when I have to hatch so much. I am so cheap to buy plywood Good Luck with them!

I've been trying to help with this 1 Sally. Looks like low temps & high humidity. I suggested some adjustments that were implemented today that should help.

 

[Happy Chooks]

@TeaChick


Personally, I think it is hogwash that you are expected to write a research paper during hatch-a-long season.

Unless you are writing a paper about chickens. Or the psychological effect of emu-green on participants of this hatch. Just sayin'.

Very good point! Sheesh, people have priorities ya know.

 
I am getting quite excited--When I left for work this morning 5 New heritage Delawares had hatched.

In tow hours I get to head home and see how many have hatched now.

e

wellllllll

I have about 45 chicks that were hatched and smooshed in the coolerbator today!  lol I grabbed a bucket threw some paper towels in it grabbed hand fulls of chicks and put into bucket to take to brooder....  Me thinks I need to set up two more brooders

And YOU thought I was bad with 26 meaties? Holy cow!

 

[sasimpson77]

I've been trying to help with this 1 Sally. Looks like low temps & high humidity. I suggested some adjustments that were implemented today that should help.

Yes Silkie you have been a big help and I am slowly raising my temps also got a couple more thermometers with probes beginning to feel like I have more thermometers then eggs in the bators lol.

 

[ronott1]

wellllllll

I have about 45 chicks that were hatched and smooshed in the coolerbator today! lol I grabbed a bucket threw some paper towels in it grabbed hand fulls of chicks and put into bucket to take to brooder.... Me thinks I need to set up two more brooders

12 hatched out of 19 so far. Lots more pips. Only two eggs do not have a pip and one of those has a chick chirping in it.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Yes Silkie you have been a big help and I am slowly raising my temps also got a couple more thermometers with probes beginning to feel like I have more thermometers then eggs in the bators lol.

I toss 1 thermometer on top of my eggs aprox in the center of my still air bators & aim for 102°F. I try not to over think it too much...lol

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: well yes because you dont sell meaties! You keep them! hhhhhmmmm ummmmm well for a little while

I am doing a quality control hatch so I set a ton of them, fertility is pretty awesome I would say! lol, I will keep them for a month to watch combs, feathering and such and when I can bare no more I will send them on their way, I didnt loose a single white faced spanish at hatch I planned on some losses as some eggs were over 12 days but I swear even their eggs and chicks are strong and hardy! I have buyers lined up but I think I may have just a tad extra

 

[Whoops]

Hmmmmm - I think I have a local source for some eggs, so I will try to give this a shot!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: just remember its better to have a tad higher temp than anything lower than 99.5, I run my bators at 100-101 with great success with calibrated equipment. I need to do the salt calibration on my new hygros though...

Eventually I am just skipping the digitals and going to do a wet bulb hygro and wick.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

I may have hatch more than I thought

I just took another small bunch out, I think there are four left to zip, I left quite a few in the bator to dry off, but I have these in the bucket heading to brooder and then the brooder image (brooder has a trio of week old CCL in it as well) I will set up two more brooders and separate tomorrow, does them good to cuddle and fluff each other up right! ha !

 

[SilkieSensation]

 



Yes Silkie you have been a big help and I am slowly raising my temps also got a couple more thermometers with probes beginning to feel like I have more thermometers then eggs in the bators lol.

just remember its better to have a tad higher temp than anything lower than 99.5,  I run my bators at 100-101 with great success with calibrated equipment.  I need to do the salt calibration on my new hygros though...

Eventually I am just skipping the digitals and going to do a wet bulb hygro and wick.   

We're both running still air, so closer to 102°F on TOP of the eggs works best. That puts bottom of eggs around 97°F & center 99-100°F.