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

[cindynkidsd]

So I have 5 still in on day 23. Can see movement inside. How long do I give them? Will they hatch you think?

 

[Aaisha]

can i join hatch a long?

 

[chickenlisa]

YEs-- the marans have a thick paint and that seems to effect incubating, especially if shipped. I have low hatch rates on shipped eggs; a little better in my incubator, and far better under a broody!! Some poeple carefully remove some of that paint top to bottom like water melon stripes using a nail file very carefully and disinfect the shell after all that handling. SOme marans breeders have no problem hatching -- for me the darker the egg, the harder to hatch.

Ok, that makes sense then for my Silver Birchen Marans- they were SO dark and only 1 out of 10 hatched (and that was assisted after she pipped externally but made no progress after a long time. She's fine and in the brooder now...but I egg-topsied the rest of the eggs that made it to lockdown (7 in all did, 1 hatched, 2 I took out a few nights ago and 4 I took out now and checked.) The 4 today were dead in shell, 1 upside down and 3 positioned correctly. None had internally pipped, or fully absorbed the yolk sacs. The 2 a few nights ago had 1 undeveloped chick and 1 fully developed one like today's 4 eggs. I am so disappointed- in the same hatcher at the same time, I had 9 Speckled Sussex pip, zip and pop out quickly and all unassisted. I had 2 BCM hatch out unassisted, from shipped eggs and saddle shaped air sacs. I also took out a fully developed but dead, unhatched BLRW, who had internally pipped but never pipped externally. It's air sac was a huge saddle shape and I wasn't even sure it was ok when I put it in at lockdown, but I did see movement...
All in all, I have 18 chicks so far from 31 at lockdown...3 of them are from my BYM and I have 2 more still in the incubator unpipped...day 21 today.
I am bummed about the Birchen Marans mostly, and I still want to try again. I also want BLRW eggs to try those too...I"ll start looking on the BST threads and locally...I have to wonder why they went so far, but never pipped, while the other chicks did at the same time in the same bator.

 

[HarrietB]

Further to this, ive just had a little help, he is is a bit of a funny position, so ive only loosened the egg a little and have popped him back in so he can have a wriggle and get himself into a position to hatch. does this seem okay, Im reluctant to whisk him out just incase! Do we know how they can get a ruptured yolk? he has been in lockdown for the past few days

Im stumped, i cant see beak or feet!!! Im going to leave him for a few hours to see if he can put himself right. plus he looks to be a blondie when he should be a black copper maran!! typical there is always one!

 

[Marthab1953]

Ok I had 34 out of 42 at lockdown, chicks hatch total. The last 2 are still in incubator.

22 Bantam Polish
5 Lavender Ameraucana's
7 Araucana

 

[sherlocklabs]

Final Results:

7 set, 6 hatched (Thursday 4/17 and Friday 4/18)

It was a lot of fun participating in this Hatch-a-long!! I hope to do it again!

Setting Midget White Turkey eggs later this week (I am really looking forward to trying this variety of turkey!)...this will be it for the incubator this year....2 sets of chicken eggs and a set of Turkey eggs.....wish me luck!!

 

[Sueg4332]

My hatch is over. Will have finally numbers soon. Had to help the last wheaten marans out of shell 6 of them they are drying in bator. TOTAL coming soon.

 

[maryhysong]

Well we are late for the party! I had set eggs late, on 3/30 then on april 15 I turned the eggs and went to bed without turning the bator back on. Thought I'd killed everyone. Well candling a couple nights later showed some were still alive. so I am still waiting. Dropping to 68 degrees overnight has delayed them. Maybe tomorrow....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Last day to enter Contest #5: Decorated Egg Contest

Go here to enter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ntest-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50

Decorated Egg Contest!
5th Annual 2014 Easter Hatch-a-long!

​

Now's your chance to show off your​

eggs-traordinary egg dying and artistic ability!​

Quote: This egg that is zipped? if its this far zipped get it out its ready,
you may need to wash it with warm water and dawn, but dont get water in nares!
if it ruptured yolk see the assist article, there is a example of chick that has ruptured yolk

Quote: SEE ABOVE POST, if that is the same chick!
GET IT OUT! it will have foot and neck issues if it dont already!
IF ITS ZIPPING as in a long line around the egg and doesnt come out in 1 to 1.5 hours IT NEEDS ASSISTANCE! THEY DONT ZIP unless they are ready. ZIP IS opening a zipper, just like that... yours is WAY WAY ZIPPED!

 

[Doctor Pammie]

Finally woke up to our first chick! A little Olive Egger! She went immediately to the other egg that had pipped and chirped encouragement! Now the little Welsummer is out, too. One more Olive Egger has pipped and we are squarely into day 23. Wondering if using the automatic cool down feature of the Brinsea delayed hatch? Both chicks came out completely perfect--no issues and very strong immediately out of the egg. Originally set 24 eggs, all of them mail-delivered. Fingers crossed that a few more will pip before it's all over!