The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[mlm Mike]

solomine, AsterRetirement, and Nonyah Biz

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long!

participant list up to date to post 4200

 

[Tuhmu]

So three of my eggs I set are call duck eggs, I'm fairly sure.... I found an extra egg the last couple days in the corner where one of my hens (very stubborn) has always laid her egg. So it's going to be a surprise!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: So true. Plus, it's way more fun to hatch them.

I had set the humidity at 70% on the incubator to test it but when I tried to put the pump on a higher level, it dumped all the water in the bator and humidity went up to 85%. At that point I had decided to let it run overnight. In the morning humidity was still around 80% and time to set the eggs was approaching so I thought will its no longer possible to test it for high humidity at this point. We will deal with it at lockdown. So I blotted some water that had collected in the channels and left the incubator open for an hr & set the humidity at 40%. Actual humidity at that point had gone down to 53%.

That's when I set the eggs, after setting the eggs, it went up by a little bit (56%) but since then it has been slowly going down. After 42 hrs, it is down to 47%. I know its still high but I don't think it matters that much at this point. At this rate it should be down to 40 in a day and a half. I will report how the pump works at that point. I will lower humidity down to 35% whether or not pump is working.

They'll be fine. Humidity isn't too critical this early.

Quote: Ditto.

Quote: That would work fine.

Quote:

You had THAT many eggs in your pocket?

Is it too late to enter? I just happened to set some Faverolles/ Ameraucana and some silkied Am/Fav eggs and Lavendar Am / Fav eggs on the 13th.

Nope, not too late. How many eggs did you set?

One more question? I have one bator full of shipped eggs. I have about half that the air cells appeared lose ( i new bare with me), meaning they did not roll, but some appear to giggle or move slightly. I did let them set 24 hours on arrival not even looking after I unpacked. Figured they been through enough moving. After 24 hours set them in bator turner and let set another 24 hours. Then started turning them. I have candled about 12 today, just spot checking. Most don,t seem to be moving, but It appears a few still seem to have a slight giggle or movement. I know its just let them incubate, but any suggestions? I believe after everything I have read, I just wanna lay them down for the hatch, and the rest is up to the good Lord? Except, maybe for an assisted hatch which I have never done.

All of the ones with moving cells have development. Its day 4, should I stop movement for a bit more?

I would gently start turning them.

Quote: I'm not Ron, but curled toes is usually low temps during incubation. I'd get a super accurate (Brinsea Spot Check) thermometer.

Stressed about my eggs....

Last night was stormy and windy. The power went out around 11 PM and didn't kick back on until 4:00 AM. I have two full incubators right now.

I immediately covered the incubators in blankets and placed glasses of near-boiling water inside each one.

It was an icy cold night, and the baby chicks that I am holding for a relative started peeping up a storm around 2 AM. I actually took them all out and wrapped them up in my robe while I tried to study for my final exam this morning by candle light... It was hard to focus. They quieted down immediately, though...and went to sleep. I figure they were cold. The house seemed to cool down quite quickly.

I had two final projects due by midnight (I am a full-time student and a couple of my classes are online), but I wasn't able to submit them because the power went out. Luckily, my instructor was kind enough to let me turn them in this morning.

Sorry... just had to rant a bit. Finals week has me sleep deprived and feeling stressed and cranky. The power gong out has me worried about my eggs.

I've had hatches with power outages and they did just fine. It's pretty early in development, so it will probably just make them a day late in hatching.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

my set up I have a bunch of eggs going in to lockdown on Wednesday and then sometime soon, some lavender split ameraucana eggs coming bator and hatcher have been busy nonstop since January! I haven't overfilled it yet but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens soon! Lol

 

[bantambury]

I myself would try to do three times a day, gently. Love the egg variety, where did you get thdm from?

ok, thanks!
thank you so much! the 12 teeny eggs are seramas from @TJChickens . she has gorgeous birds! all the others are my eggs. the colors in the pic aren't true than in person though. I there are pretty much my "projects". im hatching eggs from a roo covering his mom and sisters (the three big brown, 6 blue and 3 OE) and the other 8 are from my sizzle X Japanese line. I love these guys!
the three smallish, Carmel colored eggs are my "Jappies". Japanese bantam X silkie. this is is a brother sister pair

pretty much all the chicks im hatching are to sell, and a test to see how they hatch and grow up. im planning on selling eggs this summer. I just wanted to make sure the chicks come out ok since it is brother to sis, son to mother.

Always turn the eggs a ODD number of times so that they are resting on the opposite side each night.

ok, ill try that then...ill do one around 6 AM, one around 2 PM, and another around 10 PM

solomine, AsterRetirement, and Nonyah Biz

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long!

participant list up to date to post 4200

thanks mlm! you all work so hard!

 

[CowboysAngel]

Help me remember that I have eggs in the incubator at home.  We just got a shipment of chicks at the store I work at and they are sooo tempting!!!

My hubby brought home chickies a couple of,days before I got my bator up and running... Helps keep your mind of the waiting for more to hatch!! Lol

 

[CowboysAngel]

I'm probably not turning down the cochins, but I read they are easily picked on and I only have standard size chickens.  So I don't know.  We need a show quality chicken, though.  Maybe some of the maran eggs we have in the bator will give us something good!

When my hubby saw how small my New cochins were compared to our hens he built them their own coop and run...then he got me the two roos and decided each pair needed their own coop and run... If there's an award for "best chicken addict support husband" my hubby would definitely be in the running!

 

[mlm Mike]

Ok so I had to set my chicken eggs on the 8th. Was that too early...

Unfortunately that was too early for the totals to be included in the number set and number hatched contests.

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Well I decided I really don't have the brood space for more then what I've set already because of all the test hatches that I'll be brooding starting Friday so my set in stone set numbers are as follows

7 runner duck eggs
30 chicken eggs including bantams

 

[MightyDucksVT]

Okay! So I set 18 Ancona duck eggs on the 7th....most are looking good as of last night. I can't wait for these fluffybutts to hatch!

I saw that the participants list was just updated...does than mean egg set totals too? I don't mean to be a bother, I just wanted to make sure this got recorded. Thank you to all working hard to make this years hatch-a-long GREAT!