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

[Pozees]

When are we supposed to set for this hatch? I don't guess it really matters, I will have batches running constantly for the next two years (if I continue like I'm going!)

Yesterday, I loaded the biggest hatch to date in my bator, 71 eggs! I actually filled (nearly) both egg trays on one of the shelves. I have been using just the front egg tray on each shelf to keep up with what week they are on by sight. A local BYCer came over to bring me a couple of Greenfire Marans roosters and brought 3 1/2 dozen fertile eggs from her flock. They are mixed, but look very nice. I had set the other tray of eggs yesterday morning before she arrived and it contains my first sizable number of Silver Campine eggs - the hatch before it has my very first, two SC eggs and it is due the 14th - so I am really looking forward to that hatch.

Do any of you incubate your eggs upright, then lay them on their sides for hatch? I could fit more into my hatcher if I did, but I'm afraid they will not get into the proper position to pip and zip. My bator runs a little high and my eggs usually start to internally pip on day 19 and most of my hatches are done on day 21. I am tempted to try, but not with this batch, those SC eggs are too important to me.

On another note, yesterday was such a beautiful day!

DH and I transplanted a Redbud tree from between the house and AC unit, to the front yard. It has been growing well there behind the AC, the trunk is about an inch and a half thick and it is over 14 feet tall. It is mainly one central leader, but forks at about the 5 foot mark and both those branches are almost the same. I may prune one of them off later, after it is well established in it's new location. As you can imagine, we were pretty rough on the roots but did our best. I hope it makes it.

We also did some major pruning on my Weeping Willow which had already started to leaf out! Today, I hope to get a couple of the flower beds cleaned out and turned and ready to plant. I love spring! It is spring, if I keep insisting, it will have to be!

Wisher what a load of exciting news I just did the same as you, twice - I had a whole bunch of eggs arrive simultaneously, and set 92 Wednesday and 79 yesterday - I am inside out with anticipation! I know half or more won't hatch because they're shipped, and I'm at 5400 feet of elevation, but still very excited to have so many eggs set and finally have that cabinet earning its keep LOL. I cannot WAIT to see whether your first Silver Campine eggs hatch - as excited about your hatch as any of mine!

I used to incubate upright and hatch on sides, and after reading of others hatching upright I tried egg cartons and then wound up buying the yellow plastic egg holder someone posted a pic of from ebay, and so far I mostly like it, although when one pips down low on the egg it interferes with hatchability, and a few chicks have had a hard time getting themselves launched out of the shell once they zip and get the cap off. I am considering doing a half and half experiment with some local barnyard mix eggs.

I love Redbuds, and am envious it's warm enough there to transplant (March is a very good month to transplant almost everywhere I think) - yesterday's forecast was a total fail, was supposed to have been 62, never got above 25, overnight low was supposed to be 17, it was 9 when we got up right before 4 and always continues down from that time. We had freezing fog all afternoon, and apparently got a little more along with a little snow overnight, and it is just plain COLD outside!

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Good Morning everyone. I need to rush around and get some chores done now and try to get down a cup of coffee so I can run out the door to get the kids to Sunday School. Then off to TSC to look for some things, just noticed my poor goats have lice

We are going to take care of my poor goats today. And since we have to burn the bedding anyway, we are going to have a huge bonfire today YAY.

When I got my doelings at 5 weeks old, they were COVERED in lice. White goats, but it looked like they had a dark brown undercoat...it was DISGUSTING!!!! I tried Diatomaceous Earth first, and it did NOT work. Someone on a separate forum about goats recommended something called Equisect...fly spray for horses. I got it at Southerns States, I'm sure they carry it at TSC. It worked WONDERS. My babies were lice free the next day, but I kept applying the spray for a while to make sure any that hatched died, too. I highly recommend it.

 

[Pozees]

Chicken chic. They really knew how to dress back in the the good 'ole days.

 

[Gardeningmama]

Quote:
I'm beyond that point, lol! I've been using it faithfully for the past 3 years, and do love the stuff. This time calls for hard core chemicals, and I'm going to look into bombs. I just wish I had separate housing I could relocate them all to for one stinking week. Northern Fowl Mites supposedly die off within a week in an unoccupied coop, but I don't have anywhere to just put all of my chickens in the middle of winter. It's all good, I've got this covered...I'm in complete aggressive mode now, and I am going to win! BTW, my gorgeous white EE had a droopy apron for a couple of days, and rust color at the base of the feathers that I attributed to mud and breeding. When she started looking tired I investigated further. I can not explain to you the gagging sight that was, and even as we held her down and doused the whole vent area with Sevin, that sight was even more gagging. The white powder accentuated the pulsing mound of mites. She was the only chicken out of 30ish like this, I'm not sure why they attacked her, but I know I've got to do everyone else now, and the coops. Just be checking their vents folks...

 

[chicken pickin]

When I got my doelings at 5 weeks old, they were COVERED in lice. White goats, but it looked like they had a dark brown undercoat...it was DISGUSTING!!!! I tried Diatomaceous Earth first, and it did NOT work. Someone on a separate forum about goats recommended something called Equisect...fly spray for horses. I got it at Southerns States, I'm sure they carry it at TSC. It worked WONDERS. My babies were lice free the next day, but I kept applying the spray for a while to make sure any that hatched died, too. I highly recommend it.

Thank you! I will look for it at TSC.

I was going to use sevin dust to rub on them and sprinkle in their house. But I will definitely try something that is recommended and works. I feel so bad for my goats. I haven't noticed any itching at all or anything odd, there hair looks nice not brittle. I just happened to be petting them yesterday and decided to give them a look over and low and behold there they were. I think they are the biting kind not the sucking kind though because they were more hanging out in the hair not on the body if that makes sense.

 

[Arielle]

When are we supposed to set for this hatch? I don't guess it really matters, I will have batches running constantly for the next two years (if I continue like I'm going!)

Yesterday, I loaded the biggest hatch to date in my bator, 71 eggs! I actually filled (nearly) both egg trays on one of the shelves. I have been using just the front egg tray on each shelf to keep up with what week they are on by sight. A local BYCer came over to bring me a couple of Greenfire Marans roosters and brought 3 1/2 dozen fertile eggs from her flock. They are mixed, but look very nice. I had set the other tray of eggs yesterday morning before she arrived and it contains my first sizable number of Silver Campine eggs - the hatch before it has my very first, two SC eggs and it is due the 14th - so I am really looking forward to that hatch.

Do any of you incubate your eggs upright, then lay them on their sides for hatch? I could fit more into my hatcher if I did, but I'm afraid they will not get into the proper position to pip and zip. My bator runs a little high and my eggs usually start to internally pip on day 19 and most of my hatches are done on day 21. I am tempted to try, but not with this batch, those SC eggs are too important to me.

On another note, yesterday was such a beautiful day!

DH and I transplanted a Redbud tree from between the house and AC unit, to the front yard. It has been growing well there behind the AC, the trunk is about an inch and a half thick and it is over 14 feet tall. It is mainly one central leader, but forks at about the 5 foot mark and both those branches are almost the same. I may prune one of them off later, after it is well established in it's new location. As you can imagine, we were pretty rough on the roots but did our best. I hope it makes it.

We also did some major pruning on my Weeping Willow which had already started to leaf out! Today, I hope to get a couple of the flower beds cleaned out and turned and ready to plant. I love spring! It is spring, if I keep insisting, it will have to be!

THe concensus on one thread ( heritage tI think) was to incubate and hatch the same way. Maybe put the most valued upright and then upright --- I'm thinking of the campines of course!! and lay others on sides.

Chicken chic. They really knew how to dress back in the the good 'ole days.

In the days before television . . . .they did anything for entertainment!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I have used sevin on my sheep after shearing-- weird it was only one year they had creepy crawlies.

I have it from a reliable source that sulfer dust is a good option. I would like to not use sevin if I can find a better alternative.

 

[ronott1]

When are we supposed to set for this hatch? I don't guess it really matters, I will have batches running constantly for the next two years (if I continue like I'm going!)

Yesterday, I loaded the biggest hatch to date in my bator, 71 eggs! I actually filled (nearly) both egg trays on one of the shelves. I have been using just the front egg tray on each shelf to keep up with what week they are on by sight. A local BYCer came over to bring me a couple of Greenfire Marans roosters and brought 3 1/2 dozen fertile eggs from her flock. They are mixed, but look very nice. I had set the other tray of eggs yesterday morning before she arrived and it contains my first sizable number of Silver Campine eggs - the hatch before it has my very first, two SC eggs and it is due the 14th - so I am really looking forward to that hatch.

Do any of you incubate your eggs upright, then lay them on their sides for hatch? I could fit more into my hatcher if I did, but I'm afraid they will not get into the proper position to pip and zip. My bator runs a little high and my eggs usually start to internally pip on day 19 and most of my hatches are done on day 21. I am tempted to try, but not with this batch, those SC eggs are too important to me.

On another note, yesterday was such a beautiful day!

DH and I transplanted a Redbud tree from between the house and AC unit, to the front yard. It has been growing well there behind the AC, the trunk is about an inch and a half thick and it is over 14 feet tall. It is mainly one central leader, but forks at about the 5 foot mark and both those branches are almost the same. I may prune one of them off later, after it is well established in it's new location. As you can imagine, we were pretty rough on the roots but did our best. I hope it makes it.

We also did some major pruning on my Weeping Willow which had already started to leaf out! Today, I hope to get a couple of the flower beds cleaned out and turned and ready to plant. I love spring! It is spring, if I keep insisting, it will have to be!

I have two Genesis1588s and an octagon 40 filled with eggs currently. That is a lot of eggs.

 

[chicken pickin]

I have used sevin on my sheep after shearing-- weird it was only one year they had creepy crawlies.

I have it from a reliable source that sulfer dust is a good option. I would like to not use sevin if I can find a better alternative.

I agree, even though I use sevin, Id prefer not too. It does work well but the chemicals make ne a little nervous.

 

[Flowers of Abba]

Chicken chic. They really knew how to dress back in the the good 'ole days.

What on earth was he doing besides looking miserable! Hahaha SO funny! So I filled my bater with fcbm, serama, olandsk dwarf, and quail. It will keep me busy this next few weeks waiting for the hatch along!