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

[meesh480]

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!!!

Thank you so much. I am staring out my window for the delivery man. I live in Arizona and I am worried they will spoil in the back of the USPS truck. The package has instruction to pick up at post office but apparently they didn't read it. Today the high is 86 degrees and I hope it doesn't effect my eggs.

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

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....

There is no reason here! SET ALL THE EGGS!!!

 

[bantambury]

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.

ok, cool!
I know some of these guys are dual....bc my neighbor ate a roo she hatched from me! LOL she said it was about the size of a partridge hen, maybe bigger

 

[Kaylish]

They are really great!

I also have some Basque hens in that pen. And a very pretty Olive egger pullet--UofA blue X Crele Penedesenca.

You can see her and the Basque hens here:



The one one on the left of the white hen is a Basque hen and the one on the right is an OE.

The Basque are beautiful! ...and I may need to add some OE to the order when I get my Pita Pintas.

Just went out to get eggs and... I might have a broody!! She screamed at me as soon as I walked in the coop and apparently the other hens didn't want to mess with her because they laid their eggs on the floor beside the nest box. If she is broody, that means... SET MORE EGGS!!

Gotta love the broody!

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.

I ran a super small medical feeding tube thru one of the small vent holes and taped the end into the water well. Then when I need to add water I don't have to open the bator; just use the syringe to add water thru the tube.

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....

The voice of reason? What is this that you speak of?

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

Thank you! I'm so glad I was able to join!

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Thank you so much.  I am staring out my window for the delivery man.  I live in Arizona and I am worried they will spoil in the back of the USPS truck.  The package has instruction to pick up at post office but apparently they didn't read it.  Today the high is 86 degrees and I hope it doesn't effect my eggs.  

Totally stalk that truck. They get hot in the back. UPS doesn't always share with USPS. If you can, always go USPS for shipping. Their tracking is terrible, but your eggs will be at the post office and not on a truck somewhere. My post office calls me as soon as they get in - usually between 6AM and 7:30AM, so i can grab them and they won't sit.
I don't order eggs to be shipped in August, simply because they get baked in transit! (Learned that the hard way!)

 

[BlessedFeathers]

I have decided to join the hatch-along! With all the contests, it looks like fun

 

[ronott1]

The Basque are beautiful! ...and I may need to add some OE to the order when I get my Pita Pintas.

Yes!

I should have fertile OE eggs now. Pita Pintas next week.

 

[JDchicks]

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.

I use a tubing from the pet fish section at walmart. Its flexible. Plus I use a pastry tip as a funnel for the tube. Makes it easier to pour water into.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I'll be setting 11 eggs in my Little Giant Still Air incubator.

 

[NikkiCole5]

i have not read anywhere on metzers site or scientific papers suggesting temps that low. 

 
typically such low temps will cause major hatch delays and a high incidence of deformed chicks.


 

They do not say that low is good, I was just saying that they do say lower is better than too high and I was saying my two hatched out healthy