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

[sbarab]

Egg Count 42 mixed eggs going into the bator. Two dozen from a local farmer and the rest from my own hens. My hens are BCM, EE, BA, BO, RIR and roos are all EEs. Fingers crossed that the chocolate eggs hatch.

 

[SoManyHats]

These gorgeous turkey eggs arrived safe and sound today. A huge thanks to @Jessshan8 for packing them well. I know I'm a week late for setting turkey eggs, so they won't count for the HAL, but I'm pretty stoked about putting them in the incubator tomorrow.

 

[Jessshan8]

These gorgeous turkey eggs arrived safe and sound today. A huge thanks to @Jessshan8 for packing them well. I know I'm a week late for setting turkey eggs, so they won't count for the HAL, but I'm pretty stoked about putting them in the incubator tomorrow.

Your Welcome! Sorry it took a year to get them to you! Yes peeps I said a year!

 

[calientepocket]

Thanks @jessshan8 the video was helpful!

 

[SoManyHats]

A few details for those hatching BCMs for the first time. This is based on my experience - if you have experience to add, please share.

When it comes to hatch time, your BCMs might not pip until way after all the rest. The shells are thick and the chick tends to blow off chunks when pipping and then when zipping. The membrane is also very thick, so if a chunk comes off when pipping, you may see that the membrane is still intact and the chick will press against that repeatedly before breaking through.

Zipping can take a long time - the one I hatched last night was the longest ever for me at over 3 hours once it actually started zipping. And zipping started over 15 hours after the pip. Many times they don't go through the membrane completely as they zip, so then when they are pushing out they have to rip those areas. That can also take awhile. Be patient and resist the urge to help!

I repeat - be patient! This is good advice for all eggs on lock down. But especially if you have BCMs that are hanging out doing nothing while the rest of your chicks are popping out, fluffing up, and running around.

 

[SoManyHats]

Your Welcome! Sorry it took a year to get them to you! Yes peeps I said a year!

It's not your fault your turkeys didn't cooperate.

 

[Razadia]

Ok, make that 26 chicken eggs. I didn't notice it before, but I guess I cracked an egg on the way home. When I turned them I noticed a crack on one. It was a pretty bad one with a ton of tiny cracks around it, which is why I think I may have done it. That's ok though, I still have 11 pretty EE eggs left, plus the 12 RIR, and the 3 maybe/maybe not fertile eggs bamadude gave me. So unless I messing up somewhere, that's 26 eggs.

Mom is trying to get me in trouble. We've been talking about getting guineas since I was a kid. Mom hates birds, but she still wants them for insect control. Since Meyer sent me a catalog after I ordered from them she got to see their guineas. We're all in trouble now.

Especially me, since I'll end up hatching their eggs in the long run.


Hey! I need your help!

I have been meaning to start a video series on hatching, but I can never seem to get myself focused enough to do it. I finally decided that it's now or never! I won't have eggs again for a while (until Easter and ordered chicks are old enough), so I want to follow this hatch with my video series while I have eggs.

So, here's what I need. The first video will be about basic incubator set up that can be used across all types and brands, like cleaning practices, hygrometer types, thermometer types, and a short guide to calibration for both. I'll use all the information I can for the video, so everything is welcome! I'll post a link to the video when it's finished. Let me know if you want your username in the credits. I'll also post the subject of the next video if anyone wants to continue to help keep me from loosing my train of thought!

 

[FrenchToast]

42 eggs set today

Oh no I don't see my name on the list of participants! I'm sure I signed up !!! Now what? ?????

 

[chattery41]

The eggs are in

 

[MisfitMarie]

Ok, make that 26 chicken eggs. I didn't notice it before, but I guess I cracked an egg on the way home. When I turned them I noticed a crack on one. It was a pretty bad one with a ton of tiny cracks around it, which is why I think I may have done it. That's ok though, I still have 11 pretty EE eggs left, plus the 12 RIR, and the 3 maybe/maybe not fertile eggs bamadude gave me. So unless I messing up somewhere, that's 26 eggs.

Have you ever tried unscented candle wax? I've saved some pretty messed up eggs by dripping plain candle wax over the cracks and sealing them.