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

[AmyLynn2374]

I think my air cells look too small for day 18

. What do you think? Should I keep the humidity low for another day??

It's hard to tell from top view, but the couple I can see from the sides look decent.

I was told to post this again to get a few more opinions. How many days along would everyone guess this egg is?

I agree w/junibutt I'd say no later than 14 day development.


These were my eggsgoing into lockdown last night.

all 36 make it. My son and I took bets on how many would hatch and how many would be boys. I said 30 would hatch with 12 being boys, he's no so optomistic. He said 16 would hatch and 13 would be boys....lol

 

[farmhand]

Quote: So if we started on the 14th, today is lockdown day?

 

[chicken pickin]

So if we started on the 14th, today is lockdown day?

Correct

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So if we started on the 14th, today is lockdown day?

Yup.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

So if we started on the 14th, today is lockdown day?

Yep today is lockdown!! I'm so excited going to do mine as soon as it's dark so I can have one last look to see what's going in them. 19 of the 21 I set were good and on track at day 14.

Ooh I can't wait

 

[Happy Chooks]

This is the really fun part! I wonder if anyone will be able to keep up?

Not likely!

It's certainly difficult!

ive had the worst luck with my splint today. i thought i could go around without my crutches and hop around on one foot and i fell in the yard. i took a shower earlier and wrapped my foot in a bag in attempt to not get it wet and the splint is all wet. i just went to check on the eggs and hopped on one foot over to the bator and fell yet again. i keep hurting myself by not using what i need....LOL but when i use the crutches i trip

well i have to call the doctor tomorrow anyway because of the wet splint. yay.

You need to be careful, you don't want to end up with 2 busted feet and end up in a wheelchair. Go slow....

This is what's going on lockdown tomorrow...and a fun snack from today...

Adorable snack!

I have Black Copper Manans and Olive Eggers (Ameraucana x BCM). Will I be able to tell the chicks apart when they hatch?

All but 3 are looking good.

Since they are multiple generation olive eggers, you may have a really hard time telling them apart. Once they are grown, look for an odd comb.

still no power. They estimate it back on by four in the morning.

Ah bummer. Temperature isn't super critical at the end, so as long as you can keep them warm enough, they should be okay.

for you!

They are suppose to be 18 days developed... But I've had the temperature a little too low sometimes.. Should I wait a little longer to put them in lockdown?

Tough call, I'd probably put them in lockdown anyway. I agree, they look no more than 14 days. Good luck!

We are now on lockdown!!!

We have heard chirping already!!

OK guys i tried to get eggs to hatch but i don't have an incubator and i don't know anything about hatching, so could i have some advice and knowledge about incubating?? whats lock down? and is the Easter hatch along every year? if so i will be hatching my own eggs next year

and i'm getting a 10 egg incubator soon

Someone already linked the hatching article for you. Lockdown is the last 3 days of incubation, where you stop turning the eggs and increase humidity for hatching. The Easter Hatchalong has been going on every year for 6 years now.

I hear peeping!!!

Quote: I've had wrong way pippers hatch themselves. Be patient!

I think my air cells look too small for day 18

. What do you think? Should I keep the humidity low for another day??

I've never traced air sacs, but they look fine.

These were my eggsgoing into lockdown last night.

all 36 make it. My son and I took bets on how many would hatch and how many would be boys. I said 30 would hatch with 12 being boys, he's no so optomistic. He said 16 would hatch and 13 would be boys....lol

 

[AmyLynn2374]

So I was thinking the other night about power outtages and such while incubating eggs and what I would do and I have a question. Has anyone ever tried to use something like:

in the bator, around the perimeter not on the eggs as I know these get burning hot. I would think they are similar in concept to the hand warmers used in the shipping boxes during cold weather shipping.

 

[wornoutmomto3]

Incubator Wars!

Day 17 Update
​

Welcome back to the all the hatching excitement! Let's recap for any who may have missed all the early excitement! Contestant #1, Mom, set 26 eggs in a store bought incubator with automatic turner. During the first two candling sessions a total of 5 eggs were pulled for either being clear or loss of life. Contestant #2, DSx3, are using a homemade incubator in which they must turn the eggs by hand several times a day. They started with three eggs but lost one during the second candling session. A mystery egg found its way into their incubator which turned out to be infertile. After accusations of "fowl" play a challenge was issued to prove the strength of eggs. A challenge that was surpassed as DSx3 balanced the youngest member of their group(56.5lbs) on top of 20 uncooked eggs.
Contestant #3, started out as a broody hen named Speckles. Only a few days in she decided to quit the hatching business and was succeeded by Amber, another broody hen. While not the brightest of broodies she gave it her best until something scared the whits out of her. The original 8 eggs was reduced to 3 after a night alone in the cold ended the development of 5 of those eggs.

We are now 17 days into the hatch! Contestants #1 and #2 are waiting with baited breath for this evenings final candling before lockdown tomorrow afternoon.

Hold on, folks! News has just reached us from the coop. It would appear that Speckles is at it again! The young hen has been found adamently guarding/brooding a set of "golfball" eggs.

She has been in the nest for nearly 24 hours, refusing to move and hasn't layed an egg of her own for at least 48 hours. She was even unfazed when a young goat kid slipped into the coop for a visit.


It would seem to appear that this young hen may have returned to her brooding ways just in time for the end of the competition. The Judge will monitor the situation closely. Should this indecisive hen decide to stick with the brood she may be "given" a few chicks to raise, after the hatch is complete. Only time will tell.

As for now, we also wait on pins and needles for the sun to set. We will need dark for candling success. Until then, Good Day and Happy Hatching!

 

[Happy Chooks]

So I was thinking the other night about power outtages and such while incubating eggs and what I would do and I have a question. Has anyone ever tried to use something like:

in the bator, around the perimeter not on the eggs as I know these get burning hot. I would think they are similar in concept to the hand warmers used in the shipping boxes during cold weather shipping.

I never thought of that. I think it would be worth a shot.

 

[SoManyHats]

And now, the explosion of this thread begins.

Yup! We all just need to sit in front of the bators with our internet gadgets and read this thread while we wait. Seriously can't walk away for five minutes without 10 more posts… and it's just going to get more exciting!

I'm trying to get my temps up in my hatcher, and then mine will be on lock down this afternoon!!! Come on chickies!!