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

[swampducks]

What should the humidity be at the beginning for chicken eggs? I haven't put any water in the bater yet, I don't have a hygrometer, the living room thermometer indicates 35%, my hova bator is one level up in the loft, the floor plan is open so I suspect the air around it is near that 35%. I read all sorts of things on the FAQ page and can't keep anything straight in my head. I remember reading a blog post by some guy who does dry incubation and had great results (I believe he does add water toward the end, but only tablespoons?) I haven't hatched anything in a few years so I may as well be a newbie at this.

 

[chicken pickin]

Last box of shipped eggs picked up this morning. Got them home unwrapped and set in incubator turning trays and resting until late this afternoon. Will be setting an additional 35 eggs.

112 eggs total. I think. Lets see:

77 + 35= 112. Yes, that's it. Most I've ever set at once.

Wow that's a lot of eggs!!!

Reposting this for anyone who is not sure what eggs to set....

Right on!!!

 

[jbkirk]

Oh my gosh... I totally wrote down the twelfth, and just realized the 14th is the actual date!



Now, the question is, do I scratch the lucky future chicks I accidentally set today and have two days to collect Orpington eggs, or do I stick with these guys?

If you stop it right now and then start it on the 14th you can just have it go in to lockdown a day early and it won't hurt them.

 

[jrfadfarm]

I'm so excited! We got a new rooster, hopefully he's seeded my girls, and we'll get at least 1 fertile egg for the hatch along. But the nice woman where we got him, is giving us eggs for the incubator. And rabbits!

Woot! Scheduling around setting the eggs tomorrow...this is cool!

 

[paris_r]

The genes are very different between reptiles and chickens. They are not the same, like we are not the same as chickens.

The hen determines gender in chickens but the man determines gender in humans.

Watch out for reports on the internet. It is like the article about determining gender by egg shape. The gender is determined long before the egg is shaped and the shape is determined by the hens egg shell gland.

In chickens, parthogeneic development is almost 100% lethal. They usually die within 5 days of development.

yes, i know all that about data off the internet---- look at the sources on the data-the parthenogenic data is from an OHIO STATE web site. See here:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00071666508415546#.VQL5eWTF8vE
and this does address your last statement and specifically the word 'almost'. that is why i mentioned breed specificity. the other article is a DICIRECT link to a peer reviewed (scientific) article--you cannot get anything more reliable as a data source.

your first statement is irrelevant. yes some of our genes are different, but amazingly many of our genes are the same. but what genes have to do with phenotype is about the same as what diseases have to do with symptoms -many different will have similar results.

edited by staff

 

[paris_r]

I just set my 6 GRAY PEACOCK PHEASANT eggs! hatch rate on most shipped eggs is low, but according to some here, pheasant eggs are really low especially in a table top styrofoam incubator. none the less, i have set 6 as my broody hens have been broody too long. I did prespray them a day ago with ascorbic acid. they are on an auto turner. I was gong to hatch these in March but weather demanded shipping being delayed. here is a video of a gray peacock pheasant

 

[SoManyHats]

Ahhh… I have pips…. come on little chickies!!

 

[ronott1]

While we are finishing up setting our eggs, take a break and check out the contests! We are having lots of laughs on the caption contests:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-contest-2-6th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long

And there are some great stories on the short story contest thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...tion-contest-6th-annual-byc-easter-hatchalong

Go enter all the contests!

Contests!

Contest #1: Guess How Many Eggs Will Be Set!
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-eggs-will-be-set-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #2: Random Posting Contest
3 random dates and times have been chosen. If your post is nearest to the secret time, you win!
Winner #1: SoManyHats
Winner #2: chicken pickin

Contest #3: Photo Caption Contest #1
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...al-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50#post_14819326

Contest #4: Easter or Hatching Fictional Short Story Contest
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...y-fiction-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #5: Broodies and their Babies
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ir-babies-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #6: Natural Egg Photo Contest
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...egg-photo-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #7: Cutest Baby Fowl
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/955900/contest-7-cutest-baby-fowl-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #8: Funniest Chicken Picture Contest
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...y-picture-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #9: Flapper Contest
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...est-for-the-2015-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50

Contest #10: Poultry with People Contest
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...th-people-6th-annual-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50

Contest #11: Dustbathing Contest
To enter, go here:https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...contest-6th-annual-byc-easter-hatchalong/0_50

Contest #12: Photo Caption Contest #2
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...est-2-6th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/0_50

 

[chicken pickin]

Ahhh… I have pips…. come on little chickies!!

 

[JekkaLynn]

I am setting
38 - Eggs from Wheaten Marans and Black Copper Marans hens covered by a Black Copper Marans Rooster and a Blue Americana Rooster and. The BC was the boss rooster so hopefully he would have fathered most of them.
10 - Americana/EE
9 - Black and Blue Jersey Giants
3 - Lavender Orpingtons
_______________
60 - Eggs total for the HAL

(I also have 2 dozen quail and 1 dozen Black Australorp eggs set but they will hatch a good couple days before the HAL so they don't count)

YIKES...THAT'S A LOT OF FUZZ BUTTS...