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

[JDchicks]

I'm so excited about this hatch! This will be the largest number (and variety) of eggs I have ever set!

 

[carriebain]

You can sell them. All chickens get Mareks.

You need to vaccinate them withing 24 hours. Some say you need to vaccinate again at something like 10 weeks old too.

The vaccine is only good for a short amount of time when you activate it so you have to work fast!

Thank you, I am nervous about administering the vaccine. I tried once and the chick started bleeding from the mouth and died very quickly after.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Well I finally get time to post the pics of my goose eggs I am hatching for the hatch along. I set them on the 20 th.

At first glance, I thought maybe we were bar-b-queing these eggs. Now I'm convinced that you have some really cool incubator...

 

[ronott1]

Update on my incubator temps:
They are much better this morning. Right now (13 hours after set), two of my temp gauges are showing 100, one 99.7. So I'm happy at this point. I'll watch to make sure they don't go up much more than that.

I really appreciate the encouragement from all the night owls!

Perfect!

When you set more eggs it takes longer for the eggs to warm up. If adjusting, wait two hours between adjustments. Do not adjust much.

 

[Hayduke27]

Ok, so this is my first hatch, I plan on having a total of between 30-40 eggs in the incubator, not sure of the final count just yet. I have the incubator stabilizing right now, and the temperature is just about settled on 99.7, so I am feeling pretty good about it. My question is this: the humidity is hanging at 20%. This is the natural humidity, I have not added any water yet. Should I try to bump that up a touch to 25%, or is 20% good enough until lock down time?

Second question: I have a styrofoam incubator with a fan. There are water troughs in the bottom I can fill with water to adjust humidity levels. However, I have read that sometimes a wet paper towel is the way to go. Any opinions?

I'm counting the hours...

 

[tjbuckshotbarn]

I have had chickens(hens) for over a year, but I am new to hatching. I have read all the learning center hatching 101 and I think I'm ready to do this. Please add me to the hatch a long!

 

[ronott1]

Ok, so this is my first hatch, I plan on having a total of between 30-40 eggs in the incubator, not sure of the final count just yet. I have the incubator stabilizing right now, and the temperature is just about settled on 99.7, so I am feeling pretty good about it. My question is this: the humidity is hanging at 20%. This is the natural humidity, I have not added any water yet. Should I try to bump that up a touch to 25%, or is 20% good enough until lock down time?

Second question: I have a styrofoam incubator with a fan. There are water troughs in the bottom I can fill with water to adjust humidity levels. However, I have read that sometimes a wet paper towel is the way to go. Any opinions?

I'm counting the hours...

20% is too low and research has shown it will cause chicks that stick. Try hitting 30 to 40%

One or two of these added to the incubator on it's side will raise humidity about 5 to 7%. You may need two or three to get to 30%.

This is still dry incubation--which is defined as being below normal incubation humidity--Which is 55%.



notice the notches cut in the lid.

 

[Cynthia12]

I am in!
I'll be setting some Marans and some Silkies.

 

[mlm Mike]

I have had chickens(hens) for over a year, but I am new to hatching. I have read all the learning center hatching 101 and I think I'm ready to do this. Please add me to the hatch a long!

Great! What are you going to set?

 

[Cynthia12]