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

[starlingdaly]

Close call!! I forgot to lockdown yesterday and woke up to 3 pips in 35% humidity! And a surprise pip from an egg I almost threw out (but it's a Marans so I knew better lol) so hopefully the short low humidity with those pips didn't hurt anything. The membrane still looked white so fingers crossed for a perfect hatch!
Good luck everyone!!!

 

[WHmarans]

One baby out this morning when I woke up. It's a blue Olive Egger chick. The first blue chick I've seen personally.

One of the Legbar eggs pipped too! Those 4 Legbar eggs are the ones I'm most interested in because I sold all my birds a few months ago and these eggs are from a sweet cream colored rooster that I love and the biggest cream hen that lays huge eggs.
I guess it doesn't matter because I'm not keeping them... But I want to see those babies!

 

[Happy Chooks]

My hatchlings are all bantam and yes they typically come a day or two early.
Now I have a problem. 6 eggs at lockdown. 1 has hatched, one has a big hole about the size of a dime. One has a big hole too, but its in the middle of the egg. Two more have small pips. The last nothing yet.

If I open the incubator to help the messed up one wont I shrink wrap the others? The dry one is climbing around and bumping the others. Any thing I need to do besides leave them alone?

It will be fine. They enlarge the hole before zipping.

ARGHHHHH

Do something, eggs! This just sitting there, being egglike, is driving me batty. It doesn't help that the birds and cicadas outside chirp and peep and thrum. Tricky little beasties! I was sitting there, staring obsessively at the eggs, when I heard one, distinct, loud chirp. The humidity was suddenly 10 % higher. I thought "oooo, here we go!" Nada. Little fakers. I don't care if they aren't due yet, they could chirp or wiggle or something.

I did have a power outage this morning, but it was only for a few minutes, so I don't believe it affected them.

Come on, chickies! You can do it!

Patience!

Heart broken I used a pro series incubator that has the fan and egg turner in it and before lock down and taking them out of the turner to lie flat I decided to candle them real quick only to find a bunch of half developed chicks some look farther than others some were to full to tell so I left them all in the incubator but does anyone knw what may have caused this

Did you have a temperature spike? Lose power?

Realizing putting this thermometer here was a baaaaad idea. Do you think they can push it off? I have 3 tiny cracks already.

I'd probably reach in really fast and move it.

We have ducklings! This is the first time we've hatched ducks and we're really excited but also a bit sad.
11 hatched while we were out today. When we found out, 4 had drowned. Not sure what happened. Does anyone have experience with ducks who can give me tips?

Congrats on the ducklings! Sorry for the ones lost.

I was blessed to be there when my broody hatched the first of her two eggs. She lifted herself momentarily just as the chick pushed out of the egg! I was so excited. But then mama pushed the chick under herself just like she'd been doing with the eggs. How do they not get crushed under there?

The hens lift up and the chick can reposition. They will hang out under the wings too.

I HAVE A PIP!!! My first pip EVER! And she's chirping too! OMG how will I sleep?????

Horrible picture I know. My room is so dark. (Bator is on my dresser). Kids will be SO excited to wake up to this in the morning!!! Plus no school tomorrow. It pipped higher than I thought it would. Is that ok?? I know the air cell drew down lower than my last pencil mark... so the air cell looked perfect.

Pip is in a perfect spot!

I just candled my HAL eggs and I will locking them down tomorrow since they aren't due till Monday and there seems to be a lot of space still in the eggs. They all are still moving but have a lot of space... Any ideas?

That can be normal. The last few days it will fill in.

Oh no... I now have 2 pips but after close inspection, they pipped opposite of the aircell. :-/ Am I going to need to help them or do you think they will be fine? Never had this happen before.

I have had wrong way pippers hatch, but watch them closely.

I just took my dog out to go potty. I don't know what the heck was in our woods but he hears some thing and took off like a bat out of you know what. Heard a lot of leaves rusteling and him barking. He came back to me several times to check in before going out again to check if the coops and birds were ok. When he was satisfied that every one was OK we came back in.. What ever it was, probably won't be coming back anytime soon. If he would have caught it it would have been dead.. He has been trained to go after certain animals and leave others alone. He, Winchester, is my pride and joy.

Yay, good dog! He is beautiful!

Well... I kept an egg in that I had dropped and caused a small dent/crack in. It went against my better judgement, and even when I candled before lockdown it had that bacteria-look to it and I just couldn't take it out for some reason. So not like me!
Anyways, I left it and guess what? The darn thing just hatched!

If in doubt, LEAVE it in!

I'll have to post a pic of Lucy tomorrow. I don't have any pics of her on my current phone. Moved them all to memory cards..


In sick chick news.... I have a big poo and she's eating now!

Nice job!

I have to much going on and I've missed over 1500 posts.

My great grandfather died last Monday and the funeral was over the weekend. All last week was crazy. I have other issues going on now and I really don't want to get on the computer at night. This is the first in awhile.

I did want to post that my quail hatched early. They were due on Saturday, but they hatched in the last hour. I have 8 out and 2 more zipping. These are my first quail and I am so excited! Oh my gosh they are adorable! I have 2 chicken eggs pipped as well.

My condolences, I'm so sorry.

I'm afraid I might miss some of my eggs hatching. I have to leave this morning for a few hours to go to a friend's house to see if she can help with another rescue chick.

Ya'll know Gilly the guinea I saved from SS the other day? Well, one of the employees called me yesterday and said three chicks from that morning's shipment were in bad shape, did I want to save them?

Well, DUH.

2 RIR's and one Auracana (I don't know how to spell it lol)

Unfortunately the Auracana died before it got home. It was on its last leg at the store, barely moving. RIP baby fluffy cheeks.

One RIR was being dragged around by its toe by all the other chicks in the store. It is hopping around on one foot, which is quite comical, really. I am pretty sure it will be fine in a few days, once it has time to heal now that it's separated from the mob of hatchmates at the store.

The other RIR...I have no idea what is up with it. Spraddle leg, maybe. It's hobbling around on its "elbows"? Hocks? That joint in its legs...all red, swollen, and I'm sure, painful. Its wings are spread at all times...I believe for balance, because it's always falling over. I don't know if there's any hope for the poor little baby, but one of my chicken friends has experience with spraddle leg and curled toes, so I'm going to take the chick to her this morning and hope for the best.

Anyone have any idea what is up with this little one?

I would try to hobble the chick. The joint is probably swollen from it scooting around. In my experience, with a slipped hock, the leg will be more behind them.

5 more Pips this morning!!!

My hatch is picking up speed. A couple of the eggs, including the first to pip have "second pips", but no one zipping yet. That's ok, I want them to rest and be strong when they finally do hatch. It is only the end of day 19 still anyway!

WAY better than last year!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: could indeed be a WC black polish, ask hubs for her number and give her a call, tell her you hatched babies with the kids! bet she would enjoy your call!

Your welcome, add some electrolytes to the waterer when u brood them, it will help

this is always in the hatching 101 article I will paste it just in case you dont have anything on hand you can make some....

DIP THE BEAK OF THE CHICK IN THE WATER BEFORE YOU TURN IT LOOSE in the brooder. A taste of water right away helps them to find more water soon. If your chicks are at all stressed, add about 3 tablespoons of brown or table sugar to each quart of water for extra energy. Most baby bird loss is caused because the bird doesn't start to eat or drink. Never let your bird run out of water.http://odysseyranch.com/Chick%20Care%20Tips.html

Homemade Electrolyte Recipe for weak/ill chicks
2 C. Water
2 TBL. Brown Sugar, honey or molasses
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
Mix until all dry ingredients dissolve & Keep refrigerated
You could also use electrolyte drinks Gatorade or Pedialyte, or
3 drops of POLYVISOL (liquid childrens A-B-D vitamins)
Slowly place small drip along inner edge of lower beak,
BE CAREFUL FEEDING CHICKS THEY CAN EASILY ASPIRATE LIQUIDS!

Dont forget to have Sav-A-Chick™ Electrolyte and Vitamin Supplement on hand!
AND ITS CHEAP at TSC its Balanced electrolytes supplement for newly hatched and adult chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other domestic poultry. Fortified with vitamins A, D3, E, C, K, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12. Convenient, single-use packets each mix into one gallon of drinking water. Use during hot weather or other stress to support optimal hydration and bird health. JUST IN CASE you have a weak bird! OR You can add sugar to the water in the first couple of days.​

how is the chickie!!!

Just A Reminder...

WE HAVE ONE More PRIZE for a Contest!

ANNOUNCING a Mini CONTEST
to be HELD FRIDAY EVENING 9pm Eastern time!
Watch for the post ON THE MAIN HAL Thread at 9!

PRIZE: BYC 6 Month GFM

​

yup @Gardeningmama dont forget to post it tonight ha ha ha ha ha ha

Without planning to I joined in the hatch a long. Just locked down 16 quail eggs.

not hatching this time but

GL2A

and i think my EE hen is eggcited for easter she laid an egg that goes from light blue to light green to light olive with brown spots

this is one lovely egg!!

Quote: Show me an example of this poor roo you have!!! I can make a note to hold one next year! send me a PM @Cynthia12 with a pic and I can save the email for next year!

Did you make this!! its so perfect!! Can I use it sporadically please!!!

I think mine are done. I have 31 chicks out of 43 that went to lockdown.

AWESOMENESS!!

Dont Forget



Quote:

Pip pip hooray! I have a pip in a SS egg!

PIP PIP HOORAY!! I love that!!

Quote: I am so sorry Rey awwwww

It's the last day to vote in the Brooder Contest!

VOTE here : https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-brooder-contest-2014-easter-hatchalong/0_100

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I agree this is a tricky one, most times they dont give at all

never had luck

but here is the info... from Hatching 101 orthopedics section

Chick in a babyfood container to help "bring legs" together
​

CHICKEN ORTHOPEDICS ~
https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/72885/boot-for-curled-toes-on-3-month-old-chicken-update-w-pics
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it.html​

http://poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html​

Curled Toes
http://www.chickenchatter.org/view_topic.php?id=2586&forum_id=30

​

Understanding Splayed Legs and incubation distress that easily leads to splayed legs​

This condition has been associated with high humidity during incubation, but the results of our research indicate that higher temperature conditions during the last phase of embryo development may have a bigger impact. Splayed legs are also observed when newly hatched chicks are placed on slippery floors.

http://www.worldpoultry.net/Breeders/Incubation/2011/8/Incubation-distress-easily-leads-to-splayed-legs-WP009251W/​

​

Culling ~​

Small Animal Euthanasia at Home http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/index.php
How to cull chicks http://www.waldeneffect.org/how_to_cull_chicks/
How to Dispatch a Chicken.http://poultrykeeper.com/general-chickens/how-to-kill-a-chicken

​

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Sexing Chicks
http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/sex_linked_crosses.html
http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Feather_sexing_practice.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/sexing-different-breeds
​

 

[abmaddox1981]

These are the 5 that are dry

 

[chickenlisa]

I have Speckled Sussex chicks hatching like popcorn today(day 21), with the 2 day 19 chicks still in there. There is another SS egg pipped and an Ameraucan egg with a pip too.

I have 8 Silver Birchen Maran eggs and 3 Wheaten Maran eggs, a BLRW egg, and an OE egg...no pips on those eggs at all.

Do Silver Birchen Maran eggs take longer to pip maybe?
The Wheaten Marans and BLRW have saddle shaped air cells..so I'm worried about them hatching, even though 2 BCM chicks did hatch from that bunch of eggs. (They were shipped from Tx and came out badly shaken up.)

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I routinely give all my hatched Chicks a waterer with vitamin and electrolyte solution for twenty-four hours.

http://www.jefferspet.com/vitamins-electrolytes-plus/camid/LIV/cp/A2-V5/

At 1.99 it makes a gazillion gallons of great stress fluid. It also contains Probiotics

I don't bother with a sugar water as they still have yolk reserves.

I AGREE and have the same practices



I always use growgel in the incubator right from the start of hatch, then when chicks are fluffy they go in brooder and begin with the PRO VITS seen below from jefferslivestock.com and they continue with this in water until the chicks are out of the brooder stage, I also start adding small amounts of fermented med chick starter, after that about 2 months old I will do another vits in waterers, I will add that type in a comment area below. I continue with the fermented med chick feed until close to laying

HERE are the provits, this stuff goes a long way, its a little scoop per gal of water, very good product its both probotics and vits!

"Provides a source of vitamins, direct-fed microbials (probiotics) and prebiotics (inulin) that selectively help the good (beneficial) bacteria only."

​

Vets Plus Poultry ProVita
www.jefferspet.com

http://www.jefferspet.com/vets-plus-poultry-provita/camid/liv/cp/0040957/

GROW GEL / FEED Newly hatched chick! ​

WHY I always add little soda caps full of grow gel when my first chick is fluffed in the incubator.
Does it do anything? I thought they had the yolk!
Read PAGE 6 http://www.thepoultrysite.com/focus/contents/ceva/OnlineBulletins/ob_2007/Article-No12-May07.pdf​

​

GROW GEL Gro-Gel Plus is the perfect solution to getting your poultry off to that all important great start. For baby poultry to grow and live efficiently they must readily start to eat and drink. Gro-Gel Plus provides immediate nutrition and hydration for all baby poultry in a very concentrated and digestible form. Research has shown that it has improved livability and mature body weights substantially thus saving you bird loss and money in the long run.





And as OZ suggested I use that for my adults get in waterers, 1 gram enough for gal waterer, or at the link is the manufacturers label which tells you how to make a liquid concentrate in a gallon jug and then I think its an oz per gal. I do it this way and keep the jug in the fridge aside my lower level sink, it works easier and quicker for me, plus my hubs would think I was a druggy had I keep small backs of white powder all over the place! adding what he adds.... ozexpat "It lacks 2 things that I want to give my birds - Biotin and Selenium I add some ground up human tablets I buy in bulk - just 5 tabs per 100lb of feed for adult birds."
http://www.jefferspet.com/vitamins.../camid/LIV/cp/A2-V5/

 

[PAchickenlover]

My hatchlings are all bantam and yes they typically come a day or two early. Now I have a problem. 6 eggs at lockdown. 1 has hatched, one has a big hole about the size of a dime. One has a big hole too, but its in the middle of the egg. Two more have small pips. The last nothing yet. If I open the incubator to help the messed up one wont I shrink wrap the others? The dry one is climbing around and bumping the others. Any thing I need to do besides leave them alone?

It will be fine. They enlarge the hole before zipping.

ARGHHHHH Do something, eggs! This just sitting there, being egglike, is driving me batty. It doesn't help that the birds and cicadas outside chirp and peep and thrum. Tricky little beasties! I was sitting there, staring obsessively at the eggs, when I heard one, distinct, loud chirp. The humidity was suddenly 10 % higher. I thought "oooo, here we go!" Nada. Little fakers. I don't care if they aren't due yet, they could chirp or wiggle or something. I did have a power outage this morning, but it was only for a few minutes, so I don't believe it affected them. Come on, chickies! You can do it!

Patience!

Heart broken I used a pro series incubator that has the fan and egg turner in it and before lock down and taking them out of the turner to lie flat I decided to candle them real quick only to find a bunch of half developed chicks some look farther than others some were to full to tell so I left them all in the incubator but does anyone knw what may have caused this

Did you have a temperature spike? Lose power?

Realizing putting this thermometer here was a baaaaad idea. Do you think they can push it off? I have 3 tiny cracks already.

I'd probably reach in really fast and move it.

We have ducklings! This is the first time we've hatched ducks and we're really excited but also a bit sad. 11 hatched while we were out today. When we found out, 4 had drowned. Not sure what happened. Does anyone have experience with ducks who can give me tips?

Congrats on the ducklings! Sorry for the ones lost.

I was blessed to be there when my broody hatched the first of her two eggs. She lifted herself momentarily just as the chick pushed out of the egg! I was so excited. But then mama pushed the chick under herself just like she'd been doing with the eggs. How do they not get crushed under there?

The hens lift up and the chick can reposition. They will hang out under the wings too.

I HAVE A PIP!!! My first pip EVER! And she's chirping too! OMG how will I sleep????? Horrible picture I know. My room is so dark. (Bator is on my dresser). Kids will be SO excited to wake up to this in the morning!!! Plus no school tomorrow. It pipped higher than I thought it would. Is that ok?? I know the air cell drew down lower than my last pencil mark... so the air cell looked perfect.

Pip is in a perfect spot!

I just candled my HAL eggs and I will locking them down tomorrow since they aren't due till Monday and there seems to be a lot of space still in the eggs. They all are still moving but have a lot of space... Any ideas?

That can be normal. The last few days it will fill in.

Oh no... I now have 2 pips but after close inspection, they pipped opposite of the aircell. :-/ Am I going to need to help them or do you think they will be fine? Never had this happen before.

I have had wrong way pippers hatch, but watch them closely. [CONTENTEMBED=/t/857062/the-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/10600_50#post_13299680 layout=inline] [/CONTENTEMBED]

I just took my dog out to go potty. I don't know what the heck was in our woods but he hears some thing and took off like a bat out of you know what. Heard a lot of leaves rusteling and him barking. He came back to me several times to check in before going out again to check if the coops and birds were ok. When he was satisfied that every one was OK we came back in.. What ever it was, probably won't be coming back anytime soon. If he would have caught it it would have been dead.. He has been trained to go after certain animals and leave others alone. He, Winchester, is my pride and joy.

Yay, good dog! He is beautiful! Thanks, he is a good dog! Checked on all the pens this Am and everyone was fine. Whatever it was he must have scared the crap out of it because it didn't come back.

Well... I kept an egg in that I had dropped and caused a small dent/crack in. It went against my better judgement, and even when I candled before lockdown it had that bacteria-look to it and I just couldn't take it out for some reason. So not like me! Anyways, I left it and guess what? The darn thing just hatched!

If in doubt, LEAVE it in!

[CONTENTEMBED=/t/857062/the-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/10600_100#post_13299730 layout=inline] [/CONTENTEMBED] I'll have to post a pic of Lucy tomorrow. I don't have any pics of her on my current phone. Moved them all to memory cards.. In sick chick news.... I have a big poo and she's eating now!

Nice job!

I have to much going on and I've missed over 1500 posts. My great grandfather died last Monday and the funeral was over the weekend. All last week was crazy. I have other issues going on now and I really don't want to get on the computer at night. This is the first in awhile. I did want to post that my quail hatched early. They were due on Saturday, but they hatched in the last hour. I have 8 out and 2 more zipping. These are my first quail and I am so excited! Oh my gosh they are adorable! I have 2 chicken eggs pipped as well.

My condolences, I'm so sorry.

I'm afraid I might miss some of my eggs hatching. I have to leave this morning for a few hours to go to a friend's house to see if she can help with another rescue chick. Ya'll know Gilly the guinea I saved from SS the other day? Well, one of the employees called me yesterday and said three chicks from that morning's shipment were in bad shape, did I want to save them? Well, DUH. 2 RIR's and one Auracana (I don't know how to spell it lol) Unfortunately the Auracana died before it got home. It was on its last leg at the store, barely moving. RIP baby fluffy cheeks. One RIR was being dragged around by its toe by all the other chicks in the store. It is hopping around on one foot, which is quite comical, really. I am pretty sure it will be fine in a few days, once it has time to heal now that it's separated from the mob of hatchmates at the store. The other RIR...I have no idea what is up with it. Spraddle leg, maybe. It's hobbling around on its "elbows"? Hocks? That joint in its legs...all red, swollen, and I'm sure, painful. Its wings are spread at all times...I believe for balance, because it's always falling over. I don't know if there's any hope for the poor little baby, but one of my chicken friends has experience with spraddle leg and curled toes, so I'm going to take the chick to her this morning and hope for the best. Anyone have any idea what is up with this little one?

I would try to hobble the chick. The joint is probably swollen from it scooting around. In my experience, with a slipped hock, the leg will be more behind them.

[COLOR=008080]5 more Pips this morning!!![/COLOR] [COLOR=008080] My hatch is picking up speed. A couple of the eggs, including the first to pip have "second pips", but no one zipping yet. That's ok, I want them to rest and be strong when they finally do hatch. It is only the end of day 19 still anyway![/COLOR]

WAY better than last year!