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

[SnowChik]

Well, I'm super bummed that my first time participating in the HAL ended with my absolute worst hatch ever. Only got 3 out of 80...

Had to help 2 of the 3 out of the egg (cochins), and we'll see if they make it. Not sure about their chances...

I found out what happened though...was hatching large fowl Cochins for a friend and I guess there was both a temperature spike and drop while the eggs were in storage (they never told me about it.) I knew about the other issue-the parents are very old and she was hoping to get a last batch of babies out of them. Now I'm going to have to give her the bad news that her birds need to be retired...

The only positive is that I have an utterly adorable and perky Crevecoeur who is doing awesome. I have another hatch of Crevecoeur due later this week, so hopefully he'll get some buddies if the other two don't make it.

A very sad way to end my HAL. I have learned my lesson-I will never hatch from old birds again! Even if my friend begs me...it's just too heartbreaking a process to see these little guys struggle.

Congrats to all the folks who had good hatches! Love those little fuzzy guys! To all those like me who had a disappointing hatch...I feel your pain!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Read up on assisted hatching on hatching 101 with Sally Sunshine: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[AmyLynn2374]

One of mine were like rhis for quite some time yesterday. I thought it was shrink wraped, but dropped some water in the pip. Made me feel better but im not sure what te water did. Lol i would wait another 4 hours and than assist if theres no progress.
It ended up hatching this morning

I think this is where people confuse "shrink wrapped" with "glued/sticky chicks" The air drying out the inner membranes and moisture that are (naturally) around the chick causing them to become sticky and glued isn't the same thing as a "true" shrink wrap. Often just the exposed membrane is stuck due to dryness and just needs to be moistend and possibly removed from any stuck areas. I had one that went through this on my hatch. I wet the membrane removed the small area that was literally glued to his head, and put him back and he hatched on his own, but until I did that little bit, he couldn't turn his head. That pic^^^ looks absolutely normal and healthy. Nice white dry outer membrane. The other picture...not so much.

 

[Wisher1000]

I still have four eggs in the incubator, but I don't think they will hatch. I will toss them tomorrow.

Grand total - 68 out of 80!

 

[chickengirl777]

He is not exactly in North East Arkansas, but maybe close enough. He sells hatching eggs but may we worth a message to see about hens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/801724/black-copper-marans-hatching-eggs-12. 

Thanks!

 

[chickengirl777]

Google "Missouri Poultry Yearbook"

edited to add:
someone else gave you the link

Thanks!

 

[SoManyHats]

My hatch is officially over. 10 chicks is my total.

Out of the 40 that I set, 12 were clears. 15 made it to lock down (1 was iffy going in), no progress on 4 of them and one pipped internally then died. This has been a rough hatch, but I got ten chicks and I have 22 more eggs in my other incubator, which I get to candle tonight!

By the way, the chick with the eye problem, the eye is actually bleeding a little. So I'm thinking it got injured while the chick was struggling to get out. I'll watch it and hope it heals.

Now I need some sleep!

 

[chickengirl777]

...

In the following link there is a breeder in SE MO in Fredericktown.

http://agriculture.mo.gov/animals/pdf/poultry_yearbook.pdf


Thanks!

 

[venymae]

We have had two eggs partway zipped since 8am, (one looks all the way zipped, but not hatching). It is driving me nuts! No movement from them for the last 5 hours. Come on out bebes!

 

[gevshiba]

My hatch is officially over. 10 chicks is my total.

Out of the 40 that I set, 12 were clears. 15 made it to lock down (1 was iffy going in), no progress on 4 of them and one pipped internally then died. This has been a rough hatch, but I got ten chicks and I have 22 more eggs in my other incubator, which I get to candle tonight!

By the way, the chick with the eye problem, the eye is actually bleeding a little. So I'm thinking it got injured while the chick was struggling to get out. I'll watch it and hope it heals.

Now I need some sleep!

I've used Neo Poly B in chicks eyes with good results. As long as the ointment doesn't have steroids. No D or dex.