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

[Corny Caleb]

BTW so does anyone have any questions about the first emu that hatched? I was really busy and couldn't get around to answer them all

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Quote: I don't even know what type of ducks I have. They were auction finds. I kept the lights on in the barn/coop, but it doesn't do the ducks much good (didn't do the chickens any good either, but the winter was overly harsh this year). The only time they come in the barn is when it's like -20 out. They seem to actually like sleeping in the snow.

 

[Anikaanimalgirl]

BTW so does anyone have any questions about the first emu that hatched? I was really busy and couldn't get around to answer them all

yeah! first comment. ummm... is he up and running yet? and if so... how fast?

 

[pickitfarm]

The Dork eggs have a couple with pips. They are slower than the Dels. I am hatching in two Genesis incubators and am happy with the mix. Dels are early, Dorks are a bit slower. UofAs hatch on time but over two days and crele Penedesencas X UofA OEs seem to hatch a bit later than the UofA chicks.

Lots of fun! and fluff....

Ron you have hatched so many eggs since I have been coming to this site and it is just so cool how you continue to be excited each and every time.

I am letting DH take charge of hatching, (with my directions though) until I can get over the loss of 4 chicks.....but it was exciting to see the chirps, pips and zips. One of my last ones did everything overnight no pip when i went to bed got up the next morning and it had zipped completely and the cute thing was it just popped up out of it shell. Somehow it was able to get out and the top part of the shell fell perfectly back in place over the bottom.

 

[LBKS]

So I AM in trouble now, these hens take jinxing VERY seriously. 3 of the 4 went right back on the nest after I kicked them off - Broodhilda almost took my fingers off every time I put an egg in. I learned my lesson, no more jokes! LOL!

Now to hope that they stay dedicated. The other ladies will have to pick up the slack on laying, right?

 

[PAchickenlover]

So I AM in trouble now, these hens take jinxing VERY seriously. 3 of the 4 went right back on the nest after I kicked them off - Broodhilda almost took my fingers off every time I put an egg in. I learned my lesson, no more jokes! LOL!

Now to hope that they stay dedicated. The other ladies will have to pick up the slack on laying, right?

 

[mlm Mike]

Good Morning!
Here is the final total if this week's staggered hatch. Don't ask me how many, I lost count...lol It started off with a bresse mix on Mon & ended with a Tolbunt on Thurs & a palm poult on Fri with a bunch of rainbow babies in between.

The list to start off next week: bbs marans, blrw & a wellie due Sun, ancona ducks & turkeys due Wed.

After that: rainbow layers the 30th, a lone scovy & rhodebars the 31st, calls the 1st, rainbow layers, calls, & polish/cl the 7th, calls the 12th, turkeys the 14th & turkeys the 17th.
And I have to set a few ducks & turkeys today for the HAL...LOL

Congratulations!

I really don't think you should be calling your hen the "B" word. That's just rude. Granted, she growled at you and likely cursed you in chickenese and is being very anti-social, but still.....

Left for work yesterday and had a single pip when I got home I had 9 pips fell asleep woke up to see 3 hatch in 5 minutes and by the time I woke up again this morning there were 10 Woo hoo and now there is one more I still have 4 more pips Pretty sure the 7 left were some from a batch that I started in a cooler and then moved to the redwood as soon as I got it so theycould be a day or two behind I have about 36 that are the same story so I could get another 50 yet woohoo Go babies go

That's great!

Bator is ready! Setting duck eggs (mutts of unknown breeding) at noon today!

I wasn't going to set ducks, but just this past week my bunch started laying. This will be my first time hatching ducks. Hopefully I have better luck with them, then I do turkeys.

Good luck!

There is a big crack in my incubator but luckily the place I bought if from is going to replace it, I have it less than a month. Hopefully it will be here before next Saturday so my eggs will be started on time for the Easter hatch-a-long.

I hope it arrives in time.

count down:
one week, two hours and 24 minutes for my time zone (chicken eggs)

I have 5 Delawares out and two SG Dorkings. The UofA blues did nothing and had no pips this morning when I got up. I just checked, a couple hours later and one hatched and I see 7 or so pips!

The first one to hatch is Black.

Well EMU egg B. is really CHEEPING, so he may hatch sooner then I said. So keep your eyes out for the link again.

That's fantastic!

Just got my hands on some Barthuner eggs for the hatch and additional Basque. Confirmed the original order of Basque and Swedish Flower Hens as well as the Colloncas, Huastec and Quechuas. YIPEE! Now that we have three incubators.....LG, Farm Innovator and Genesis, we will be able to incubate in two and hatch in the third. The Farm Innovator already has a dozen Blue Wheaton Ameraucanas in it.

That's a really interesting collection of breeds.

BTW so does anyone have any questions about the first emu that hatched? I was really busy and couldn't get around to answer them all

Where are the pictures?

So I AM in trouble now, these hens take jinxing VERY seriously. 3 of the 4 went right back on the nest after I kicked them off - Broodhilda almost took my fingers off every time I put an egg in. I learned my lesson, no more jokes! LOL!



Now to hope that they stay dedicated. The other ladies will have to pick up the slack on laying, right?

Go broodies! Yep, the other ladies better step up.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Ok, now to be serious Here is a productivity chart for Ducks. Timely since we need to set some of them today!



I don't know why but the chart makes me want ducks....

Thanks for posting that Ron! I don't need a chart to want ducks.

I might actually have a broody now that I am collecting eggs for another person's hatch. Three girls sitting on eggs, but only one doing it from two days before - and she grabbed some food/water and went right back on. I have some older eggs (up to 11 days) I am going to toss under her so the fresh ones can go out. Time to risk life and limb touching her nest - if I type funny after this you know why!

I know how rough those broodies can be. This is what happens when you mess with my Heritage Barred Rock when she's broody. She takes out CHUNKS!

Well EMU egg B. is really CHEEPING, so he may hatch sooner then I said. So keep your eyes out for the link again.

Just got my hands on some Barthuner eggs for the hatch and additional Basque. Confirmed the original order of Basque and Swedish Flower Hens as well as the Colloncas, Huastec and Quechuas. YIPEE! Now that we have three incubators.....LG, Farm Innovator and Genesis, we will be able to incubate in two and hatch in the third. The Farm Innovator already has a dozen Blue Wheaton Ameraucanas in it.

You've got a great system!

So I AM in trouble now, these hens take jinxing VERY seriously. 3 of the 4 went right back on the nest after I kicked them off - Broodhilda almost took my fingers off every time I put an egg in. I learned my lesson, no more jokes! LOL!



Now to hope that they stay dedicated. The other ladies will have to pick up the slack on laying, right?

I like your nesting boxes too! I hope they stick with it!

 

[ronott1]

I don't even know what type of ducks I have. They were auction finds. I kept the lights on in the barn/coop, but it doesn't do the ducks much good (didn't do the chickens any good either, but the winter was overly harsh this year). The only time they come in the barn is when it's like -20 out. They seem to actually like sleeping in the snow.

For lighting, you need to find out the day light hours a your place and set an auto timer to add light in the morning or evening. If in a Barn with bad lighting, you will need to run the lights in the day too.

I ran mine from 4:30 to 9 in the evening this year. They need 12 to 14 hours.

It is counter productive to run the lights 24 hours a day.

Caveat 1: You need to make sure you run the light every day
Caveat 2: be careful doing this with Point of Lay pullets
Caveat3: They may slow down in the Spring when you turn off the lights. They pick up quickly though.

 

[ronott1]

Ron you have hatched so many eggs since I have been coming to this site and it is just so cool how you continue to be excited each and every time.

I am letting DH take charge of hatching, (with my directions though) until I can get over the loss of 4 chicks.....but it was exciting to see the chirps, pips and zips. One of my last ones did everything overnight no pip when i went to bed got up the next morning and it had zipped completely and the cute thing was it just popped up out of it shell. Somehow it was able to get out and the top part of the shell fell perfectly back in place over the bottom.

It is exciting! I have 31 in one incubator hatching and 17 in the other. They are so cute too!