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

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I hope you dont need to touch them except remove to brooder! lol You are looking fine, let the humidity get back up and wait! remember the timeline from before, it takes a while from internals to externals and then a looong time most times to zip! your well rehearsed this time!

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Ok, I didn't really participate in this hatchalong, but since mine hatched right about the same time, I thought I'd share:

I set 64 quail eggs on 4/4. Incubatin period is 16-18 days, so like clockwork the first one hatched on 4/20. Since then 25 have succesfully hatched. 2 were culled because of deformities, and I still have 4 in the bator, but don't think there is any further development in those.

Of the 64. I discarded 10 that were clear on day 7. Then I float tested before lockdown on day 14 and 21 didn't move. So out of the 31 that went into lockdown with movement, 25 are alive and healthy. Not a bad hatchrate for shipped eggs! 25 of 54 viable eggs is pretty good.

 

[tnspursfan09]

My final tally is 23

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Hatch total is 19.

12 ducks (one of which dies right after hatching)
5 golden cuckoo marans
2 turkeys

So that was a wash. I set 42 eggs. I need to figure out what's up with the marans. I think I need to give them some supplements. The eggs are fertile, but I checked some eggs I gathered the other day and they look like store bought eggs they are pale. The turkeys I expected to do poorly, I'm going to leave it up to broodies to hatch them from now on. The ducks did great, I had 12 out of 17 hatch.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

You very likely will have to help. Watch for yolk not absorbed and general lack of vigor. Get vitamins ready too.

Some may stick so watch for that and read up on the assisted hatching guide!

 I hope a bunch make it for you!

I hope you dont need to touch them except remove to brooder! lol   You are looking fine, let the humidity get back up and wait! remember the timeline from before, it takes a while from internals to externals and then a looong time most times to zip!  your well rehearsed this time! 

My hatcher has no humidity issues except that it tries to go too high. I hope I don't gave to help at all and that all 9 hatch. I need a trio or so but like having options. I need ideas on dropping the humidity besides rice. I had rice but it was molding...

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: why do you have issues with it being high?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
...I need to figure out what's up with the marans. I think I need to give them some supplements. The eggs are fertile, but I checked some eggs I gathered the other day and they look like store bought eggs they are pale. The turkeys I expected to do poorly, I'm going to leave it up to broodies to hatch them from now on. The ducks did great, I had 12 out of 17 hatch.

Vitamin/mineral supplements and an animal source of protein (better amino acid balance) is best for breeders.

The color of the yolk is most likely the time of year. Chickens don't assimilate carotenoids so they end up in the eggs making the yolk darker. Free range birds in warmer weather when greenery is growing will help as will other things with carotene in them like squash, carrots, etc..
IMHO, the color of the yolk doesn't have a lot to do with fertility. Store eggs have pale yolks because those birds never see pasture.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

why do you have issues with it being high?

I guess because it's got sand in the bottom. It holds temps amazingly well. Just the humidity is high

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

My final hatch numbers...

# eggs hatched = 7

2 Blue Polish, 1 SS, 3 OE, 1 Pumpkin Hulsey

That's 38% for my hatch. Not the best, but it's generally in the range I expect on shipped eggs

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: oh, does the sand suck moisture from the air? clueless on sand, I hate sand in my shoes thats all I know