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

[wornoutmomto3]

Incubator Wars!

Update

It is day 3, already, of the Easter Hatch A-Long Incubator wars. Let's recap, there are 3 contestants each using a different incubator. Each one working to have a more successful hatch rate than the other. It has been an exciting roller coaster incubation so far.

Contestant #1, Mom, using the store bought incubator has been having a rather relaxed time of it. The automatic turner has been doing all the work for her. Talk about easy living. But wait, there was a minor hiccup with the secondary thermometer. It appears that it is battery powered and the battery has died. She needs that second temperature reading, folks. That Little Giant she is using is prone to hot and cold spots which could spell disaster for those developing chicks. A quick battery change and she is back in the game.

Contestant #2, DSx3, have constructed their own incubator out of a styrofoam cooler, a lightbulb, and a few various items they found around the house. These young men have had an uphill battle so far. The morning of day 2 found the eggs had not yet been turned. It appears that they had all forgotten. A quick schedule rearangement got them back on track. Not for long though. It would seem cooler, over night, temperatures in the house have caused the temperature inside the incubator to drop dangerously low. Let's hope a few quick changes can get them back in this game.

Contestant #3 has quit!

I repeat, contestant #3, young Speckles the hen, has quit! Oh no, those poor eggs! Wait, wait a minute, folks. Something seems to be happening in the nest box. Oh my goodness! You have got to be kidding me! You won't believe it folks! Amber, a little red hen, has taken Speckles place sitting on the eggs. This is unprecidented. These two hens have pulled a tag-team move in the incubation of these eggs. Well, I guess having some help when you have to do all the work can come in handy.

Wow! Talk about EGGciting! With 18 more days until hatching who knows what could happen next. Stay tuned, folks, as we have seen so far; anything can happen. Good day and Happy Hatching!

 

[Cynthia12]

Okay been fall online most the day. Now it is going to rake me forever to catch up on reading again....
Anyway I tried the the chili pepper mix on my Brahma hens. A much shorter recipe, because I didn't have the ingredients
I use chili pepper crushed
flax seed
egg shells .... thats all
I fed it to my non layer brahmas 3 days ago And today I got 2 eggs from them.....
I just couldn't believe it , I am anixously while for tomorrow to see if any of the others lay....
Thanks to who ever posted if they keep laying I am a believer for sure

I did the same thing..almost. I heard again, on this thread, that red peppers will get the pullets to start. I didn't add all the others things you did. I do give them manna once a week, and other protien treats here and there. Anyway, these girls have been checking out the nest boxes and squatting for a week, I usually see an egg in a day or two when they do this. Not. So, decided to give it a try. ron.... Next day I got a soft shelled egg on the bottom of the coop where one of the girls had been roosting, next day, a real egg..next day..another girl started to lay..I'm sold on the hot peppers!

 

[Cynthia12]

Cool, so this is how awesome I am with incubation: Candled my eggs on day 5, and the results are:

10 quitters
5 clears
4 that may still be alive, but could have died last night. Can't tell yet.

Seriously, I think I am cursed. I have done everything I can to carefully turn the incubator three times a day, keep the humidity around 30% (more of a dry hatch) and keep the temps around 99.5

Only day 5? Keep those questionable ones in there!

 

[Happy Chooks]

It depends on what late means.

Day 5 is way to early to see much. By day 10 with polish eggs you can safely toss them. Sometimes on day 5 you can see a bit of murky to the yolk that will become veins and an embryo. Other times you can see strong veins starting.

What I do is start to sort them into good and then questionable. I often have a couple of questionable eggs move into the good section of the incubator. Sometimes what looks like a blood ring develops into a chick too. I learned the hard way because I open all the eggs I remove. I was very sad to crack open an egg and see a live but soon to be dead embryo...I am so much more careful now.

Been there, done that too. It's not fun.

Is it too late to announce our status & predictions for the HatchAlong? We have 7 incubating (started them the 16th) & predict we'll hatch 4 by Easter Sunday. This is our first time ever incubating eggs, so we'll be thrilled if any hatch!

We will be starting the Guess How Many Will Hatch Contest as soon as we get all of the egg set numbers.

So I have a Circulated Air Hovabator - 2362-E, I haven't crossed referenced the thermometer yet, but it's staying right around 99.5-100. I'm just triple checking that this is the correct temp circulated air incubators? I was reading that still air needs to be at a different temp? The more I read the more confused I get.

That is perfect!

If its not too late to join, count me in please. I set eggs on Saturday March 14th.

Not too late, how many eggs did you set?

Sorry, I'm just going to go ahead and ask a billion questions. I can't handle another hatch like the one I just finished.

The brinsea spot check readings go up to 102 and down to 99. Do I average these out? Or should I be taping the seams or covering with a towel to keep things more steady? I'm using the plain LG still air.

That is perfect for a still air incubator. It will cycle high and low, but the average is the correct temperature. I run mine at those same temperatures.

Well, my final straggler from my test hatch finally hatched out tonight! The other two died, unfortunately - probably right after they went into lock down. But my total for the hatch was 10 out of 12.

I am sad that this little thing is three days younger than all the others - and it's the only white chick in the bunch. I'm worried it will be bullied. I guess we'll see tomorrow. It's going to spend the night in the nice warm incubator.

Congrats! Let it get some strength and it should be fine!

Where is the best place to get one with free or low cost shipping. I went to Brinsea's website and they want $10 for shipping. They do have a promotion code btw for 10% off. Code is "whisper"

I bought mine off of Amazon.

@HappyChooks Sorry to be a pain, but my # of set eggs needs updated. I took out my automatic tuner and added three more eggs on the 14th, so I actually ended up setting 10 eggs.

Gotcha. Thanks for checking the list!

Quote: Yep, but the offspring would carry the lavender gene. If you bred the offspring, you would get some lavender birds.

Cool, so this is how awesome I am with incubation: Candled my eggs on day 5, and the results are:

10 quitters
5 clears
4 that may still be alive, but could have died last night. Can't tell yet.

Seriously, I think I am cursed. I have done everything I can to carefully turn the incubator three times a day, keep the humidity around 30% (more of a dry hatch) and keep the temps around 99.5

It's still too early Red! Don't pull any eggs yet!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Incubator Wars!

Update

It is day 3, already, of the Easter Hatch A-Long Incubator wars. Let's recap, there are 3 contestants each using a different incubator. Each one working to have a more successful hatch rate than the other. It has been an exciting roller coaster incubation so far.

Contestant #1, Mom, using the store bought incubator has been having a rather relaxed time of it. The automatic turner has been doing all the work for her. Talk about easy living. But wait, there was a minor hiccup with the secondary thermometer. It appears that it is battery powered and the battery has died. She needs that second temperature reading, folks. That Little Giant she is using is prone to hot and cold spots which could spell disaster for those developing chicks. A quick battery change and she is back in the game.

Contestant #2, DSx3, have constructed their own incubator out of a styrofoam cooler, a lightbulb, and a few various items they found around the house. These young men have had an uphill battle so far. The morning of day 2 found the eggs had not yet been turned. It appears that they had all forgotten. A quick schedule rearangement got them back on track. Not for long though. It would seem cooler, over night, temperatures in the house have caused the temperature inside the incubator to drop dangerously low. Let's hope a few quick changes can get them back in this game.

Contestant #3 has quit!

I repeat, contestant #3, young Speckles the hen, has quit! Oh no, those poor eggs! Wait, wait a minute, folks. Something seems to be happening in the nest box. Oh my goodness! You have got to be kidding me! You won't believe it folks! Amber, a little red hen, has taken Speckles place sitting on the eggs. This is unprecidented. These two hens have pulled a tag-team move in the incubation of these eggs. Well, I guess having some help when you have to do all the work can come in handy.

Wow! Talk about EGGciting! With 18 more days until hatching who knows what could happen next. Stay tuned, folks, as we have seen so far; anything can happen. Good day and Happy Hatching!

It's like a soap opera!

 

[chicken pickin]

It's like a soap opera!

X2 I agree. VERY entertaining! I will be watching for new episodes

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I forgot to post on Sat.

I set 18 EE and Lavender Ameraucana eggs.

Trying to talk the husband into another 'bator so I can stager a hatch LOL!


Here are some pics from last Wed hatch!

Top: Buff Brahma/Wheaten Ameraucana
(very excited about this one, first offspring from my fav hen!)

EE

Lav Ameraucana

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

[COLOR=B22222]Incubator Wars![/COLOR]
Update

It is day 3, already, of the Easter Hatch A-Long Incubator wars. Let's recap, there are 3 contestants each using a different incubator. Each one working to have a more successful hatch rate than the other. It has been an exciting roller coaster incubation so far.

Contestant #1, Mom, using the store bought incubator has been having a rather relaxed time of it. The automatic turner has been doing all the work for her. Talk about easy living. But wait, there was a minor hiccup with the secondary thermometer. It appears that it is battery powered and the battery has died. She needs that second temperature reading, folks. That Little Giant she is using is prone to hot and cold spots which could spell disaster for those developing chicks. A quick battery change and she is back in the game.

Contestant #2, DSx3, have constructed their own incubator out of a styrofoam cooler, a lightbulb, and a few various items they found around the house. These young men have had an uphill battle so far. The morning of day 2 found the eggs had not yet been turned. It appears that they had all forgotten. A quick schedule rearangement got them back on track. Not for long though. It would seem cooler, over night, temperatures in the house have caused the temperature inside the incubator to drop dangerously low. Let's hope a few quick changes can get them back in this game.

Contestant #3 has quit!  I repeat, contestant #3, young Speckles the hen, has quit! Oh no, those poor eggs! Wait, wait a minute, folks. Something seems to be happening in the nest box. Oh my goodness! You have got to be kidding me! You won't believe it folks! Amber, a little red hen, has taken Speckles place sitting on the eggs. This is unprecidented. These two hens have pulled a tag-team move in the incubation of these eggs. Well, I guess having some help when you have to do all the work can come in handy.

Wow! Talk about EGGciting! With 18 more days until hatching who knows what could happen next. Stay tuned, folks, as we have seen so far; anything can happen. Good day and Happy Hatching!

This is the best thing that ever happened to incubation! Can't wait for the next installment!!!!!

 

[Sambi89]

Quote:
I agree it's amazing. I heard it read in an old radio voice in my head. . . .

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

I agree it's amazing. I heard it read in an old radio voice in my head. . . .

OMG! The old radio voice makes it even better!!!!!!!!