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

[Wrightsx4]

Good morning! My DIY incubator has developed a problem that causes the temp to drop randomly and it doesn't stop until I "fix" it. I really can't take vacation until they hatch so I'm hoping one of my hens becomes broody! I can't permanently fix the issue while it's in use. Has anyone with a homemade incubator ever had their thermostat (hot water type) develop static where it causes the light to flicker and buzz? I unplug it and turn the dial back and forth a bunch of times and it stops but it comes back when it decides to. It's like an old radio knob static (potentiometer?) for comparison. I don't think spraying contact cleaner on it would be good for the eggs...

 

[hiddenacres]

If an egg has veins on day 11 it's alive correct?

 

[Wrightsx4]

Yes, there should be a little bean shape moving around, but sometimes all I see is the veins. I don't think the veins stay visible long if the chick has died.

 

[SoManyHats]

Good morning! My DIY incubator has developed a problem that causes the temp to drop randomly and it doesn't stop until I "fix" it. I really can't take vacation until they hatch so I'm hoping one of my hens becomes broody! I can't permanently fix the issue while it's in use. Has anyone with a homemade incubator ever had their thermostat (hot water type) develop static where it causes the light to flicker and buzz? I unplug it and turn the dial back and forth a bunch of times and it stops but it comes back when it decides to. It's like an old radio knob static (potentiometer?) for comparison. I don't think spraying contact cleaner on it would be good for the eggs...

Mine did this my last hatch when the humidity got high, but the temps stayed steady and I had a very high hatch rate. It's doing it again now, and the temps are all over the place. I think I'm going to give my remaining two (out of 30) eggs to a broody if she's still sitting by tomorrow.

 

[Pozees]

The last chick is out!

The chick is not sticky, the feet look good. It is on it's stomach and moving around normally. No Wry neck either!

I do have pictures of some of them from this afternoon. I have 20ish from this hatch. They are Blue genetica so I have Blue, Splash and Black. The UofA X Crele Pene OEs are either black or black with a white spot. This time It looks like I have a blue one with a white spot!

These are just adorable, Ron, and a blue with a white spot? Really interested to hear what color it ends up. Glad to hear about the last chick hatching okay!

Sounds good. Not sure why it seems dry to you with all of the wells filled. I personally wouldn't fill them all. Really, not needed.

Same here, it's plenty arid here as well as Utah, and the only humidity I add during incubation is the humidifier in the room. Not that I have excellent hatch rates, but I set a lot of shipped eggs, and have had mainly expected hatch rates on those. My own I've had less than expected and believe I need to improve nutrition, so just boosted protein and started offering soaked/fermented food again, which some gobbled and others merely sampled the first time.

Candled my eggs tonight and of 48 eggs, only two were infertile. 46 marching on to Easter!

Nice!

I set 40 eggs for Easter can't wait

Look at Colorado representing! Welcome!

Good Morning!! Caramel drizzle coffee how I missed you!! A must try if you like coffee!!

Have a great day!!

Sounds delish!

I moved Ron's Partridge Penedesenca and Jason's White Empordanesa to the hatcher this morning, due to hatch Wednesday and Thursday, cannot see into the shells so they all moved. While I had the incubator open I took out the two trays I set the 28th for the Easter HAL and candled, and of the 79 eggs set, 8 candled clear, so a hair under 90% viable so far. Only 18 of these eggs were laid here, 25 from a local keeper although I have to drive those down a very bumpy dirt road to get them home. 36 of the eggs were shipped from NC, 5 were clear. I have ordered from this seller in the past and had good development with a disappointing hatch, I believe that was my fault though, I think I bumped a temp knob and messed up the hatch.

I have 6 of Jason's eggs under broodies - one had all 6 for the first two weeks, then Saturday as the hen (Shirley) was on break, another (Little Mama One) was covering for her, and when Shirley came back LM1 stole 2 of them for herself LOL. I trust them both, they are experienced hatchers, and will let them be except for checking for additions once a day. After tonight's check I'll leave them be altogether to make sure I don't interrupt a hatch.

 

[Wrightsx4]

I've had excellent hatches in mine too. I think when I cleaned it I must have gotten some bleach mist on the thermostat. One of my roosters was sitting it the nest for quite a while yesterday (he does that) and we joked about him hatching the 12 eggs for us. If my proven broody Betty would only do it when needed...she is a wonderful broody and mom.

 

[michaelf]

My last broody is hatching her eggs now. She has 2 so far out of 6. I also have chicks hatching in the bator I have 6 in there now. All these split hatches are killing me. I have more to hatch next week also. It seems everytime I get more space in the incubator ,more eggs fall back into it. Lol!! Same thing with my other bator also. at least i can sell them almost as fast as I hatch.. Literally!!

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Ok my fellow hatchers, I need advice.

Since I'm hatching so many different types of chicks, I need a way to identify them (with 60 eggs, I won't remember which chick is what breed, etc.) I tried using zip ties last year but I wasn't happy with them...especially when I had to snip them off because of getting tight on chick's leg. So I want to get leg bands, but I don't know if what I want are even made.

I want a type of leg band that will expand as the chick grows so that I don't have to keep changing them. Is anything like this available??

IF NOT, how do I know what size leg bands to buy? When I looked online, they always had sizes, and I have no idea what sizes i would need!

BTW, since at least half of my chicks will be black, I can't use food coloring to put a dot on heads.

TYIA!!!

 

[ozexpat]

Ok my fellow hatchers, I need advice.

Since I'm hatching so many different types of chicks, I need a way to identify them (with 60 eggs, I won't remember which chick is what breed, etc.) I tried using zip ties last year but I wasn't happy with them...especially when I had to snip them off because of getting tight on chick's leg. So I want to get leg bands, but I don't know if what I want are even made.

I want a type of leg band that will expand as the chick grows so that I don't have to keep changing them. Is anything like this available??

IF NOT, how do I know what size leg bands to buy? When I looked online, they always had sizes, and I have no idea what sizes i would need!

BTW, since at least half of my chicks will be black, I can't use food coloring to put a dot on heads.

TYIA!!!

spiral leg band size



#4

1/4"

Small Baby Chicks, Adult Quail, Small Pigeon, Doves, Bobwhite, Coturnix Quail, small Pigeon, adult Bobwhite Quail
#5

5/16”

Chicks, Adult Quail, Pigeon, Partridge, Pheasant hen, Tumblers, medium Pigeon, Homers, Wood Duck
#6

3/8”

Pheasant Cocks, Month Old Chicks, Chukar Partridge, Large Pigeon
#7

7/16”

Ringneck Pheasants, Mallards, Wild Ducks, Bantams, Large Pigeon, Feather Leg and Runt Pigeons
#8

½”

Grouse, Young Geese, Male Ringneck Pheasant
#9

9/16”

Anacana, Campine, Hamburg, Houdan, Silkies, Cornish, Langsham and Cochin Bantams, Leghorn hens, Gamebirds, Wild Ducks, Pheasants
#10

5/8”

Wild Turkey, Adult Guinea's, Wyandottes, Minorcas, Cross breeds, adult Guineas
#11

11/16”

Peafowl Hens, Araucana, Rock hens, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Red hens, Leghorn cocks, medium Ducks: Runners, Swedish, Harlequin
#12

¾”

Turkey Hens, Smaller Race Geese, Larger Chickens, Wild Geese, Rocks, Geese, Jersey Giant cocks, Orpingtons, larger Ducks: Pekins, Rouens, Muscovy
#14

7/8”

Large Breed Geese, Turkeys, Honkers Large Cockerels, Canada Geese, Jersey Giant Cocks
#16

1”

Turkey Toms

 

[MontanaDolphin]

spiral leg band size



#4

1/4"

Small Baby Chicks, Adult Quail, Small Pigeon, Doves, Bobwhite, Coturnix Quail, small Pigeon, adult Bobwhite Quail
#5

5/16”

Chicks, Adult Quail, Pigeon, Partridge, Pheasant hen, Tumblers, medium Pigeon, Homers, Wood Duck
#6

3/8”

Pheasant Cocks, Month Old Chicks, Chukar Partridge, Large Pigeon
#7

7/16”

Ringneck Pheasants, Mallards, Wild Ducks, Bantams, Large Pigeon, Feather Leg and Runt Pigeons
#8

½”

Grouse, Young Geese, Male Ringneck Pheasant
#9

9/16”

Anacana, Campine, Hamburg, Houdan, Silkies, Cornish, Langsham and Cochin Bantams, Leghorn hens, Gamebirds, Wild Ducks, Pheasants
#10

5/8”

Wild Turkey, Adult Guinea's, Wyandottes, Minorcas, Cross breeds, adult Guineas
#11

11/16”

Peafowl Hens, Araucana, Rock hens, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Red hens, Leghorn cocks, medium Ducks: Runners, Swedish, Harlequin
#12

¾”

Turkey Hens, Smaller Race Geese, Larger Chickens, Wild Geese, Rocks, Geese, Jersey Giant cocks, Orpingtons, larger Ducks: Pekins, Rouens, Muscovy
#14

7/8”

Large Breed Geese, Turkeys, Honkers Large Cockerels, Canada Geese, Jersey Giant Cocks
#16

1”

Turkey Toms

Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Now I gotta find 'em online and buy some. They expand, right? So I don't have to worry about cutting off circulation?