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

[ddhyland]

I've never seen wiggling but the chirping is usually a sign of pipping! My ears are tuned for that chirp and I get so disgusted when I run to the bator only to discover I was faked out AGAIN by those outside birds!

LOL - me too. Can't hear any chirping, have 2 3 week old peeps in the same room so I hear chirping all the time.

 

[ronott1]

This morning I decided to go ahead and put my 4 eggs in lock-down. I had set eggs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for this hatch. When I candeled this morning there was nothing buy chick and air cell, so pulled all the questionable ones (they were all definitely quitters

) which left me with the 4 possible hatching eggs. Just went and looked and 2 are wiggling around a lot. Does this mean they might hatch soon? Which is very early, so definitely had high temps during this hatch, right?

Are they chickens or ducks? They move to get into position and then pip the membrane that goes up into the air cell. That is when you can see pips. They will them pip the shell a couple of days later.

Ducks can be very early. There should be a range like 24 to 28 days for most of them.

 

[ddhyland]

Are they chickens or ducks? They move to get into position and then pip the membrane that goes up into the air cell. That is when you can see pips. They will them pip the shell a couple of days later.

Ducks can be very early. There should be a range like 24 to 28 days for most of them.

Not ducks, EE chicks.

 

[ronott1]

Not ducks, EE chicks.

They are often a day early.

What day is day 21 for them?

 

[JennaLynn122]

Yeah but imagine the other guy.

Right?
lol

 

[melina90]

Just had my first two hatched chicks! They came out of the maran eggs, so maran/araucana cross. Should be some nice olive eggers hopefully. The rest of my 25 eggs are peeping nicely by the sound of it. I will be hovering over the bator all day

 

[Happy Chooks]

Since this is my first time incubating, I'm wondering - does *everyone* see eggs wiggling or hear chirping before hatch day? Or is that more of a rare occurrence? So excited for this weekend to come! Although I still have to set up my brooder and get that ready. Otherwise I have all my supplies I think. OH except I need a bottle to screw on my nipple waterer and figure out how to hang that. Also need to get some puppy pads and make sure I have enough paper towel for the first day or two.

How's everyone else getting ready for hatching this weekend?

If you hatch in egg cartons, you will see much less wiggling than if they are on their side. Chirping happens about a day or so before they hatch, when they pip the internal membrane.

Couple questions, folks.

My son just let his juvenile box turtle go that was in a 10 gallon aquarium, so it is now free for whatever I want...what a good mini brooder that would make, I thought to myself! Here's my problem. I have a smaller heat lamp, I tried using a 60 watt bulb, and the temp inside the aquarium soared to over 120 degrees. So I tried one of those newer twisty lookin' bulbs, and it wouldn't rise above 80. Does anyone use an aquarium as a small brooder? If so, what kind of bulb do you use to make sure it's not too hot, and not too cold?? BTW, there is no way for me to raise the lamp.

Second question. I've noticed over the past few days my bator keeps getting hotter. I've had to turn the dial down almost two whole turns since it started. Is this because, now that the chicks are getting bigger inside the egg, they are producing more heat which rises the temp inside the bator? Or is my thermostat going bad or something?

Final question. I just had a friend of mine give me a hovabator (the styrofoam kind) she doesn't use anymore. Is this something I could use as a 'hatcher'? If so, could someone explain to me how to use a hatcher? I know that sounds like a silly question, but I've never had/used one before, so if someone could tell me all about how to use a hatcher and when, I'd appreciate it. Oh, and explain it to me as if you're trying to explain to a 1st grader LOL.

The hovabator would work great as a hatcher.

 

[Happy Chooks]

There were many fantastic entries for this contest! Thank you to everyone that participated.

It was very close, but the winner of the Interesting Places, Funny Antics and Poses of Other Fowl is.............


Sahwithchicks!

Congratulations!​

 

[mtolheisers]

We started incubating our 20 eggs on March 28th. So, we're in! Please add me. Thanks!

 

[ddhyland]

They are often a day early.

What day is day 21 for them?

Thursday and Friday.