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

[Happy Chooks]

Well just went out to give fresh water to the birds since we had a small break in the weather. While out tending the flock it began snowing, before I was through it was coming pretty heavy.

Found my Salmon Nsked Neck rooster dues during the night. So he's gone now to the big chicken flick in chicken heaven.

Just opened tge door to that run and let his ladies run with the big Black Jersey Giant rooster for now. They weren't the best layers and I'll know their eggs (brown) so I won't hold those for hatching.

I have either three or four due to hatch Friday from him and three or four more next week.

I also have a son in the brooder from the NYD hatch, he's a tricolor, red, buff, and barred. Him I'll be watching. Trying not to do too much barring it seems to take over easily.

So sorry!

I have a question and hopefully someone here can help. I have the hovabator figured out inside and out and have a set of eggs due to go on lockdown on Friday. This is however, the first time I'll be using the little giant still air as a hatcher. I have it up and running and a thermometer in it but my question is, what should my thermometer be reading at this point. It's just sitting on the metal mesh and I want thinking about it but it's pretty close to being under the heating element and is reading roughly 98/99. I also checked that spot with a thermometer that you use to check for fevers. I moved the fever thermometer to the middle of the bator and checked and it only read about 96 ish. When i put it through a vent home on top though, it reads around 106. So, my question is, where should I be taking my reading from, what should it read sitting on the mesh and what area should I put the eggs (only 14) when I lock down. I'll probably eventually get a fan or another hovabator eventually but in the mean time, i need this to work lol. Thanks everyone!

Temperature isn't critical at the end of incubation, but it should be 101.5. Mine usually fluctuates +/- a degree in either direction. Humidity and air flow are most important right now. Pull all plugs (if you have them in) and get your humidity up.

 

[mlm Mike]

patman75,coop410silkies,chattery41,ChickenFox,bekkanblue,chiromom23, and Tropic Rooster

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long!

Participant list up to date to post 1762

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I nearly thought thta set day was passed!~!! Glad it isnt...wanna be i nthis HAL!

I keep thinking I'm going to miss the turkey set day.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: I'm sure there will be a reminder in the thread. You could also set an alarm on your calendar.

 

[ocap]

just placed 3 brahma and 8 australorp eggs in the incubator.
silkie hen is completing her brooding on the 28th
wonderful weather here today, gone tomorrow
wing bands are ordered, delivery date March 6th

 

[ShelbyCoral]

Very sorry to here this. I am over in Michigan, if no one wants to take the turkey, I can see if I can make room for it here

All poultry are pets here.

Thanks, not many people here in Ohio think of their poultry as pets.

 

[ShelbyCoral]

hey shelby its chickenfreak10 nice to see you here i saw that you had that on ig i would totally take a turkey but the prob is im in colorado

Hey!! Its alright! If we can't find her a home that wont butcher her we will just try to keep her. We decided not to sell everything. We are keeping the goats, the 2 geese, 9 chickens, and 6 quail. Hopefully we can keep my girl Natasha. We are keeping Storm, Peanut, Lady, sasha, Star, Artemis and the 3 black showgirls. Thats it. I will have to sell Isaiah.... My nubian buck but everyone wants him so that would be easy, its just finding good homes.

 

[Joshua G]

I'm so excited! I talked to the FFA teacher at our school. He's putting out their Ameracaunas so he can give me some hatching eggs and is lending me their incubator so I don't have to invest in one before I try. I have a mix of Maran eggs coming too!! So excited!!

Awesome!!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I'm sure there will be a reminder in the thread. You could also set an alarm on your calendar.

Oh if I miss the date it will be for a lack of not frozen eggs. We are having record low temps here. As in it is colder than it has been for the past hundred years or so for the same date in Feb. Negative temps at night and highs during the days that don't break the freezing point of water.

My turkeys had been laying pretty good but now it is an egg every other day instead of 2-3 eggs a day. As of right now it looks like I might have 4-5 days the week before turkey set date to collect the eggs without them freezing in less than 2 hours. Currently I do not gather eggs every two hours that is a January only task. After January I burn out on the 2 hour rotation.

 

[Cynthia12]

So sorry!

Temperature isn't critical at the end of incubation, but it should be 101.5. Mine usually fluctuates +/- a degree in either direction. Humidity and air flow are most important right now. Pull all plugs (if you have them in) and get your humidity up.

Yes! Another great reminder..pull those plugs! I don't even use them during incubation at all so forgot that one.