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

[foxvalleyfarm]

Here is a better picture. Any leads on age at death and cause would be very helpful.

 

[WHmarans]

Here is a better picture. Any leads on age at death and cause would be very helpful.

I hope someone can guess better for you but if most of your eggs are still developing was there any chance of tiny fractures in the shell? I had one with tiny fractures that quit early.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I hope someone can guess better for you but if most of your eggs are still developing was there any chance of tiny fractures in the shell? I had one with tiny fractures that quit early.

The other 9 are great. I check all my eggs very well for cracks and the like before putting them in the bator. This one was slow to develop. I'm just worried because I have a duck that is following the same type of pattern...

 

[NotAFarm]

It snowed today for the gazillionth time since October........


okay, maybe not the gazillionth time............it just seems like the gazillionth time.....

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

It snowed today for the gazillionth time since October........ okay, maybe not the gazillionth time............it just seems like the gazillionth time.....

Pretty

 

[crazy4eggz]

How do you know it's a quitter? We are new to this and a bit nervous. We saw lots of good movement on day 10 and now not seeing anything but the chicks that are in there are definitely bigger. We set on the 29th so I think that makes lockdown tomorrow/today. God help us, these kiddos are hoping for Easter chicks.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

How do you know it's a quitter?  We are new to this and a bit nervous.  We saw lots of good movement on day 10 and now not seeing anything but the chicks that are in there are definitely bigger.  We set on the 29th so I think that makes lockdown tomorrow/today.  God help us, these kiddos are hoping for Easter chicks. 

With early ones like mine the veins kind of vanish and there is no movement when there had been. Later ones the movement stops and if you can see veins they shrink and finally vanish as well.

 

[Happy Chooks]

It snowed today for the gazillionth time since October........


okay, maybe not the gazillionth time............it just seems like the gazillionth time.....

I'm sorry. It's pretty at your house though.

Quote: I'm not sure really. I would guess that it quit in the first week sometime.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

I'm sorry.  It's pretty at your house though.

I'm not sure really.  I would guess that it quit in the first week sometime.

I think I noticed the movement has stopped around day 6 any ideas on the cause tho?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

GOING FISHING! HAVE A FUN WEEKEND ALL!!

I have to see how you fared! fish on?

Are you my mother?!

Haha... A couple of my peeps with my youngest sons favorite stuffed animal. (he calls him "roo roo") Gotta love Foghorn!

this is adorable!!

LUNKER??? @Scrambles55

Sally, I'll bet you're a hoot to be around! Your family probably loves it! Friends, definitely love it.

I would say I am not, I rarely get visits from my older sons, they are way too busy for the likes of their hermit mother

they are too busy working, fishing hunting and doing all the things I no longer do. Sometimes I sit and wonder if they even remember who taught them all the things they do.

Thank God I have my new set of kids, I call litter one and litter two ha ha ha the little ones keep my mind busy so I dont get too upset over the big boys.

I had mentioned wonder husband got us something to cheer us up over the singing incubator from hell failure that we all keep thinking is certain. I had wanted to wait till I could get a photo and here it is:



4 little ducklings! We had not planned on taking on chickens and ducks in the first year but life is short and tomorrow isn't promised and such and squeee they are are adorable. We only had them out of the brooder for a little bit. We try to spend some quality time each day with the pets.

I promise the brooder doesn't sing to them and the heating is right! LOL

My 6 year old daughter actually slept right next to the brooder tonight. I can't promise that her and I don't sing to them. My son, the one on the left with the wild hero hair talks to them all the time, like he does the chickens. He is so sweet with them. Mostly though he tells them about minecraft..... not sure why they need to know about it but it bothers him greatly that minecraft does not have ducks, just chickens and I guess they need to know that?

This images is wonderful!

Phew! That was fun. Saw a lot of fun, silly, and pretty cute photos on that random posting contest. So grateful for folks that re willing to go so far for us to have an enjoyable time here on BYC..and the Hatch A Longs!

Your the bestests! I cant tell you how fun it has been since we started the thread too! I love jokes and fun.... Who doesnt enjoy a smile? really!

I love going out to collect eggs and get all these colors!

These are a few from yesterday.

BEATUTIFUL, your hands look like mine! or mine like yours! ha !

Update on my set:

Candled last night, and I am SOOOOO happy to say that there was movement in EVERY SINGLE EGG!!!! If they all make it to hatch, I'll have 57 babies running around!!

Oh I almost forgot! Remember those goose eggs I snagged from my mom's house while I was house sitting? I have 5 out of 8 developing and the ones that were clear actually did have early quitters in there two very early and one that was about 3/4 of an inch long. the photo is from april 8th,(so 7 days on incubation) and there are two batches set, some from late march and some from early april. My mom is shocked, the majority of these geese are very old! i think the youngest one is one I hatched 5 or 6 years ago! the others were ones that someone was giving away because he had a terminal illness and didn't want his geese to go uncared for

it was heartbreaking, but his geese do have a great home now. Anyways pretty excited for goslings! I am putting another 8 in an incubator today, and my mom has another 8 that we have no idea what to do with because all my other incubators are full!

AWESOME!!!!

Quote: LOL can you imagine going to your car? this is worse than MIL tying her Rotti to the Van mirror in the outerbanks when we stopped for lunch! I felt about the size of an ant, ohhhhhhh my what a fuss the lady had when we went back to the van because she couldnt get in her car.... Correction to above X MIL ha ha ha .... I have to admit, the lady was hilarious, and when XMIL said "why didnt you just get in the passenger side instead of waiting and hour for us to finish our lunch?" I just about died with laughter. XMIL was terrible and she was queen and no one else mattered. I was about 23 at that time, it amazes me how much we keep quiet when so young, had she done it now I would have her arrested!

Well, it seems I will be a first time grandma this December. So looking for to spoiling the little one!

CONGRATS again my friend!! But I still say your are too young and gorgeous to be a gammy!

Quote: love them!

Happy Sunday!!

This is one of our blue eyed bunny babies



Morning all, hope everyone has a wonderful blessed day!!

pink ears and blue eyes!! sweet!

Excited today, Get to try out my new Ruger 380 at the range.

Wish me luck!

How did it shoot? I wish my kids were a bit older so we could at least do some target at the club

As hatch day approaches, please remember to post your total number hatched in this thread. Also, if you could include the breed(s) that would be great!

Thank You and happy hatching!

CONGRATS!!! I enjoyed everyones entries!! how fun!

I'm so mad! One of my first time customers just flaked on 5 dozen hatching eggs!

This is why we have a 50% non refundable deposit policy in place, if they are serious they will pay you instantly! its has worked very well for us, and saved some otherwise wasted eggs and time!

Quote:

seriously?
Good grief woman, if you worry about that no wonder you shudder!!

bawahhahhahhaaaaa
We can only do what we set our limits at! STOP SETTING A LIMIT!

Do I need to tell you about the little engine that COULD??? chugga chugga???

Voting has begun! Choose the winner for the Brooder Contest!

To place your votes, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...e-brooder-contest-2014-easter-hatchalong/0_50​

Pulled 13 clear eggs from my Easter HAL, I should candle my broody's eggs tonight, she's got 11.

Current hatch almost complete. 7 turkeys and 7 chicks...we are over the moon with the turkeys they are sooooo cool.



Also....DH's started runs. It's going to be 3 breeder runs and 1 grown out pen. I need to get moving on the coop build now.

AHHHHH!!!!! yay work is gettin done!!! go Blarney go!!!

Singing Incubator From Hell Update: Still movement in some of the eggs, though it is getting much harder to see. The humidity has been wicked high and being in GA it is already very high so the air cells have not grown much since the 7th! I don't think I will even add water to the thing at lock down at this point. Would you?

This amazes me!!! go chickies!!!

I'm BAAAACKKKKkkkkkk.... Fishing was fun! Caught lots of mini catfish, bullheads, squaw fish, smallmouth bass and one beauty of a walleye!! My biggest so far. Rumples is still the diligent broody. One more week and hopefully, we will have pips and peeps.

I have not candled, but all smells good.

squaw fish? like a snow squaw whilst fishing?

Ok so I just got done with my day late candling and only 1 early quitter all the other questionables from last week are moving!!! 31 good out of 36 set for the Hal.

I am home happy to be home but sad at the outcome of my journey to Colorado the world lost an amazing man and I have a huge hole in my heart. I am happy that I will be here for the easter hatch.

I am so sorry for your loss

i vote we find another topic than guns...

how about... um? chickens??

I have thirty out so far.

I enjoy the topic LOL and you "shotum" down! why you party pooper you!

Don't forget to enter the "Guess How many eggs will hatch contest!

Submit your guess here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...tch-5th-annual-2014-easter-hatch-a-long/0_100

5th Annual 2014 Easter Hatch-a-long!




Contest #16
Guess How Many Eggs Will Hatch?


10,585 eggs were set for the Easter Hatch-a-long
But, How Many Will Hatch?

ONE GUESS! & NO EDITS!
ALL EDITED POST's WILL BE Disqualified!
​

It's the last day to enter:


Contest #3: Poultry in the Snow

Go here to enter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...w-2014-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50#post_12971199

Babies EVERYWHERE

love babies!!! I am baby queen!!

NEW CONTEST ENTER HERE:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...lly-beans-5th-annual-2014-easter-hatch-a-long

5th Annual 2014 Easter Hatch-a-long!




Contest #17
Guess How Many JELLY BEANS!

ONE GUESS! & NO EDITS!
ALL EDITED POST's WILL BE Disqualified!

PRIZE:
BYC 6 month GFM!

​

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?

moving at day 17 up is common. chirping can happen with the internal pips!! how exciting good luck with your hatch!

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.

As the embryo grows in size, it produces more heat than it requires and commercial hatcheries may even need to cool the eggs when is such capacity.

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

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!​

CONGRATS!!! THIS IS AN AWESOMELY COOL IMAGE!!!

I'm so excited with my précis for Saturday! Here are last Sunday's babies

I just have to share a couple hatch this week by the broody.

Here is a better picture. Any leads on age at death and cause would be very helpful.

its an alien form in there!!! that image reminded me imediately of these little inch long glow in the dark aliens the kids got out of those machines at the groc store!!

it looks early death