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

[acemario]

My silkie that brooded last September had 7 babies of her own and adopted 3 more from my OEGB hen. The OEGB was a violent mother and was attacking my silkie's babies. She was an amazing mother and cared for her babies for 10-12 weeks lol. She wasa great mom for a first timer (6 month old Pullet when she went broody)

My OEGB would've been a great mom too. .. if she were the only one at that time. She was VERY protective.

My last broody hatch though was a BCM. She was NOT the best mom. She didn't teach them much and did kinda leave them on their own at a couple weeks old during the day (the hatched in late October). She wasn't protective or anything. I'm amazed that they survived her! I won't be letting her brood again.

Wow! What a good mom! Aren't the lessons we learn from chickens great? They can truly be metaphors for many life lessons!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Edited: because posting using my phone is kind of grrrr.

I begged the Hubby to let me join the NYD hal. In hindsight, it was not the smartest idea. They are still in the house! I still haven't told him I'm doing this Hal, I'm waiting until the Jan. chicks are either sold or outside.

Isn't easier to ask forgiveness?

My Silkies are good at hatching eggs but not always so good at being Moms. I shut them in a dog crate if they are too small or it is just too cold. They get supervised turnout until I'm sure she won't leave them.

My silkie that brooded last September had 7 babies of her own and adopted 3 more from my OEGB hen. The OEGB was a violent mother and was attacking my silkie's babies. She was an amazing mother and cared for her babies for 10-12 weeks lol. She wasa great mom for a first timer (6 month old Pullet when she went broody)

My OEGB would've been a great mom too. .. if she were the only one at that time. She was VERY protective.

My last broody hatch though was a BCM. She was NOT the best mom. She didn't teach them much and did kinda leave them on their own at a couple weeks old during the day (the hatched in late October). She wasn't protective or anything. I'm amazed that they survived her! I won't be letting her brood again.

Great picture!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Welcome to everyone joining us!

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

So I have four batches of eggs with four hatch dates in two bators, I just added another group of eggs so I had to stack them all in bator #1 so that they would not cool down too much while the new eggs heat up. It is pretty ridiculous all the sticky notes telling me which eggs hatch on which date, and I hoooope I don't get them mixed up when I remove some tomorrow!! One bator usually holds about 42 eggs in one layer.... I have over a hundred in one just overnight, so I hope the top layer does not get too warm, I turned it down just a tad and am using the one with the fan to keep the air circulating... don't know what I am thinking but I cannot help myself.

 

[emvickrey]

Thank you everyone! Now to see if I can sneak another bator into the house without the hubby noticing...

I wouldn't say anything. i just got it and when he saw it, it was too late. I would get eggs thru the swap thread and most of the time he didn't know till they hatched. He don't complain anymore. He knows it's a waste of his time and mine because I'm gonna do it anyway. I don't go overboard with it and my chickens gives me something to do and keeps my mind busy. Plus the chicks are so adorable.

 

[Joshua G]

My Silkies are good at hatching eggs but not always so good at being Moms. I shut them in a dog crate if they are too small or it is just too cold. They get supervised turnout until I'm sure she won't leave them.

My silkie that brooded last September had 7 babies of her own and adopted 3 more from my OEGB hen. The OEGB was a violent mother and was attacking my silkie's babies. She was an amazing mother and cared for her babies for 10-12 weeks lol. She wasa great mom for a first timer (6 month old Pullet when she went broody)

My OEGB would've been a great mom too. .. if she were the only one at that time. She was VERY protective.

My last broody hatch though was a BCM. She was NOT the best mom. She didn't teach them much and did kinda leave them on their own at a couple weeks old during the day (the hatched in late October). She wasn't protective or anything. I'm amazed that they survived her! I won't be letting her brood again.

I had two White Rocks do the same thing...
One attacked all her chicks, while the other was the best broody I've ever had and ended up adopting the "mean momma's" chicks.
All in all she took care of 15 chicks and could just barely cover them all.

I will say that Silkies are well known for their being great mothers.
Great pic!

 

[Cynthia12]

So I have four batches of eggs with four hatch dates in two bators, I just added another group of eggs so I had to stack them all in bator #1 so that they would not cool down too much while the new eggs heat up. It is pretty ridiculous all the sticky notes telling me which eggs hatch on which date, and I hoooope I don't get them mixed up when I remove some tomorrow!! One bator usually holds about 42 eggs in one layer.... I have over a hundred in one just overnight, so I hope the top layer does not get too warm, I turned it down just a tad and am using the one with the fan to keep the air circulating... don't know what I am thinking but I cannot help myself.

he he..couldn't help myself Lisa..

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

he he..couldn't help myself Lisa..

Love it! Haha! I hope I am not the only one that has tried this..... I really think it will work...?

 

[Cynthia12]

Well..ummm...Ok, I admit it..been there done that! But, I have to say, no sticky notes, I use a calender...

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

@Cynthia12--So I have sticky notes on the bator with arrows pointing to which section of the bator each set of eggs are in with the dates, I am so scared I will get this mixed up lol! I turned some eggs different directions too to help me remember. It's kinda ridiculous. I should not have more than 86 eggs total but I am going to have 134 just for a few days, I am positive a lot of my Oe's won't be fertile so I set tons of them., but I want to wait to candle for another day or two.

Did your stacked eggs get too warm or were they ok?

Now to get all these hatched and get cleaned out and ready for March 14! Lol!