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

[meesh480]

I was supposed to pick them up at the post office but according to the USPS tracker, they are out for delivery. Do I need to make sure they're in a humid place or is sitting out on the counter ok?

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I think I will wait until the last minute to post my egg numbers-I already know I am going to keep pulling more eggs from the coop to add to the pile. I can't seem to stop myself from justifying why I should not just hatch ALL THE EGGS.....I am already bator sitting and hand turning, why not throw them all in there? Please someone tell my why...where is that voice of reason?

I Don't think it is going to be on this thread anytime soon....

 

[mlm Mike]

Kaylish, madicakes, sundancenbare, farmhand, HugHess, DeGarmom, and paris_r

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long!

participant list up to date to post 3322

 

[mlm Mike]

Please, if your egg count changes post the new number in a NEW post. If you edit your original post your update will probably be missed.

 

[Mama Bay]

I also do the straw and putting it through the hole, but I have a sponge under the hole to catch the water.  Don't have to worry about making it stretch to the wells.

Great, so I need a sponge, and a straw or tube! I hope to get it just right for tomorrow

 

[bantambury]

OK GUYS DELIMMEA TIME
haha so far I have almost 3 dozen eggs to hatch, but im starting to regret my ideas....15 of these birds are mother/son or brother/sister breedings. im not wanting to have any of these guys in my coop bc its jut a test hatch to see how the babies come i can sell the eggs.
now im worried that i wont be able to sell the chicks/started birds...im scared of people not wanting roos. I wanted to see how the chicks would grow up to 5 months, but if im worried about roos do I just sell chicks?

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

I was supposed to pick them up at the post office but according to the USPS tracker, they are out for delivery.  Do I need to make sure they're in a humid place or is sitting out on the counter ok?  

Stalk the UPS truck and grab them the moment they arrive. Inspect them all for breakage. Candle them to check for cracks that would otherwise be invisible. For small cracks, some people have luck sealing them nail polish. I usually unload anything cracked, but is entirely up to you. If you do seal them, watch them very closely for spoilage. Eggsplosions are probably the most awful smelling things ever, so if they don't look like they are developing over time, remove them quickly. You will notice that shipping dislodges the air space in the egg. It will be rolling around like the bubble in a level as you move the egg during candling. We let shipped eggs rest so that this bubble will fix in the correct position again. I also weigh my eggs at this time, in order to track weight loss, but it's not necessary to weigh to get a good hatch.. Put the eggs so that the widest point is facing up, in a cool spot in the house. I put mine in a spare room, but any place that isn't super warm is fine, and if your whole house is basically the same temperature, the kitchen counter is fine for them! Let them sit for 24 hours and candle them again. The bubble should not be able to travel across the egg anymore. If it still can, let them sit for another 12 hours and check again. Shipping also causes the air spaces to be malformed into a "saddle" shape. If the edges of the air space dip down on the sides, make a note of the egg - you may have to assist it later. As soon as the little bubbles are staying at the wide end of the eggs, you can set them and let the fun begin!!

I have had great luck with eBay eggs. I like to talk to the sellers before I buy, so I get a feel as to how they treat their eggs. My first batch of eBay eggs for the season is in my incubator. One of the set was infertile, but the rest are growing wonderfully!!

Good luck with your hatch, and enjoy the Hatch A Long!!!

 

[ronott1]

OK GUYS DELIMMEA TIME
haha so far I have almost 3 dozen eggs to hatch, but im starting to regret my ideas....15 of these birds are mother/son or brother/sister breedings. im not wanting to have any of these guys in my coop bc its jut a test hatch to see how the babies come i can sell the eggs.
now im worried that i wont be able to sell the chicks/started birds...im scared of people not wanting roos. I wanted to see how the chicks would grow up to 5 months, but if im worried about roos do I just sell chicks?

You can sell them as straight run. Sometimes people do not understand and may come back with cockerels and want a refund.

I would still sell them as straight run chicks though.

 

[bantambury]

You can sell them as straight run. Sometimes people do not understand and may come back with cockerels and want a refund.

I would still sell them as straight run chicks though.

ok. I mean I wanted to see them grown, but that wouldn't matter if I kept a few, right? I can always ask for update pics too?

 

[ronott1]

ok. I mean I wanted to see them grown, but that wouldn't matter if I kept a few, right? I can always ask for update pics too?

My breeds are mostly dual purpose so I let them grow out and then process the boys.

I would as for update pictures if they are willing.