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

[tommysgirl]

I gave my broodies their eggs on Sat as planned then I went OOS...I live in California and am in NJ right now...anyway DH is in charge of the coops and he ended up with hens where they don't go. Somone got on top of one of my broodies to lay her egg and in doing so broke one of the eggs I had set. I don't know how much goo got all over the place..(these are bantam eggs so hopefully there wasn't much) and I won't till I get home on Sunday

I guess it is silly for me to worry about it from here but what would you do once you got home to assess the situation? At that point would you just candle more frequently?. I have no sense of smell so can't sniff test. Should I toss any eggs that were gunked? DH is saving eggs for me and not refrigerating in case I have to replace the whole hatch but it won't be with the bantam eggs b/c those didn't come from my birds.

 

[chickenlisa]

Candled last night - day 5 for me. Only saw veining in 11 out of 30. A few that I'm pretty sure are clears, and many probably clear but not sure. This depresses me.

I candled last night too- day 4 for my shipped eggs...and I only tried to see into the light colored ones...half of my Speckled Sussex eggs (bought from someone on Ebay) look like there are blood rings or clear. I did see veins and a little baby started in the other half of the SS eggs.

Half of the Ameraucan eggs look good and 1 of the OE eggs shows veins too. The other Ameraucana and OE and BLRW eggs look clear , so far. Not sure about any of the Marans . My best flashlight doesn't see through those ones. So I"m a little bummed so far...but will leave all of it to check on day 10 or so...I did turn the auto turner on...most of the air cells looked pretty normal.

 

[wvcountrygirl]

Candled my duck eggs set on the 23rd. 6 of the 7 are doing great and one I'm not sure about. It's a darker egg so I probably can't see it's progress as well. But it's still in the incubator.
This was my first time incubating so I've been so amazed at these growing eggs! I think I want some chicken eggs next. I'm hooked!

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
Will do!

Quote:

I've never caponized. How long does the process take? Is it difficult? I assume one needs a caponizing kit.

How long it takes depends on how much practice you've got so far... My first go took me well over an hour and I'm very surprised the bird lived - but he did! Now it takes me about five minutes, but I've gotten a bit of practice, some advice from someone who was well worth listening to, and better tools. There's a Chinese guy on YouTube that does it in about two.
Difficult... hmmm... The best analogy I have it taking a cooked grain of rice out of a dark ping-pong ball through a coin slot.
Kit? I don't have one...never seen one 'up-close-and-personal'. I use an assortment of other surgical tools, acquired a few recommended pieces and have tested my way through my existing assortment until I found what works best for me, lol. A really bright headlamp is essential, although I did my first one with a penlight held in my teeth... My first (and only) loss to date was one of the meaties from New Years - their musculature is slightly different and one has to adapt.

it takes me 3 to 5 minutes too, but then again I do have some surgery experience and lots of butchering experience. So to me it's pretty easy peasy. I also use an assortment of surgical tools (though I do have a small collection of antique caponizing tools). One of the things I find mandatory for me (I have old eyes) is a lighted magnifying lamp. makes it much easier for me to see what I'm doing!

 

[chicken pickin]

our first ever shipment of chicks went out on the express truck this afternoon from our local, I am a fretting mother hen!

Oh you are brave. I don't think I would ever ship live chicks, Id be a nervous wreck. How old are the chicks you shipped?

GOOD morning!

Awwwww I love the baby!

 

[coopsbyty]

WHAT do I use to weather seal the chicken coop that is SAFE for the chickens? Trying to go organic isn't helpful I am thinking if I paint their coop with toxins right? I am so confused.... 

You can use liquid wax or food grade sealing oil like what is used for sealing butcher blocks. I think amazon has it. Only thing is you may have to reapply yearly if you are in a hot climate.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

OK, set number= 36

25 in the bator:





and 11 under first time broody...

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Quote:

I've never caponized. How long does the process take? Is it difficult? I assume one needs a caponizing kit.

How long it takes depends on how much practice you've got so far... My first go took me well over an hour and I'm very surprised the bird lived - but he did! Now it takes me about five minutes, but I've gotten a bit of practice, some advice from someone who was well worth listening to, and better tools. There's a Chinese guy on YouTube that does it in about two.
Difficult... hmmm... The best analogy I have it taking a cooked grain of rice out of a dark ping-pong ball through a coin slot.
Kit? I don't have one...never seen one 'up-close-and-personal'. I use an assortment of other surgical tools, acquired a few recommended pieces and have tested my way through my existing assortment until I found what works best for me, lol. A really bright headlamp is essential, although I did my first one with a penlight held in my teeth... My first (and only) loss to date was one of the meaties from New Years - their musculature is slightly different and one has to adapt.

it takes me 3 to 5 minutes too, but then again I do have some surgery experience and lots of butchering experience. So to me it's pretty easy peasy. I also use an assortment of surgical tools (though I do have a small collection of antique caponizing tools). One of the things I find mandatory for me (I have old eyes) is a lighted magnifying lamp. makes it much easier for me to see what I'm doing!
I need to come have coffee with you!

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I gave my broodies their eggs on Sat as planned then I went OOS...I live in California and am in NJ right now...anyway DH is in charge of the coops and he ended up with hens where they don't go. Somone got on top of one of my broodies to lay her egg and in doing so broke one of the eggs I had set. I don't know how much goo got all over the place..(these are bantam eggs so hopefully there wasn't much) and I won't till I get home on Sunday

I guess it is silly for me to worry about it from here but what would you do once you got home to assess the situation? At that point would you just candle more frequently?. I have no sense of smell so can't sniff test. Should I toss any eggs that were gunked? DH is saving eggs for me and not refrigerating in case I have to replace the whole hatch but it won't be with the bantam eggs b/c those didn't come from my birds.

Oh NOOO! But you're right....no use worrying from the East Coast. I think I would just remind DH to check broody Momma each night to make sure she's in the right place, and remove any extra eggs. Personally, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about the broken egg, just clean it up as best you can and move on. Sometimes my broodys will leave an enormous broody poo close to the hatching eggs, (I remove as soon as I spot it), but it hasn't seemed to effect hatches....so a broken egg doesn't seem so bad to me.

 

[getaclue]

WHAT do I use to weather seal the chicken coop that is SAFE for the chickens? Trying to go organic isn't helpful I am thinking if I paint their coop with toxins right? I am so confused....

Home Depot, and Lowes have a pretty good selection of Low and/or No VOC paints, which is considered green. For the durability, and price, that's about the best you can do.