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

[vandamma72]

Here is a picture of the beautiful EE eggs I got from bamadude that I am hatching. Very excited to see what they will look like

 

[Jessorr2]

Good looking roo. My roo has only a blade for a comb because of frost bite. He seemed like it didn't bother him but I still feel bad. I'm moving in May and converting an old barn into a coop. Gonna have 4 times as much room as I do now for chickens(and afew turkeys). My plan is to run electric and a few heat lamps hopefully that will stop the frostbite. I've herd ventaltion is the key

I've had the same issue this year with my beautiful ameraucauna roo and it wasn't even all that cold and our coop is well Insulated...??? I also had a silver polish hen and rooster that lost the ends of their toes to frost bite-I'm amazed at how resilient they are..!!!
I think next winter I'm going to try putting a heat lamp or 2 in the coop just for some extra warmth!

 

[Junibutt]

I've had the same issue this year with my beautiful ameraucauna roo and it wasn't even all that cold and our coop is well Insulated...??? I also had a silver polish hen and rooster that lost the ends of their toes to frost bite-I'm amazed at how resilient they are..!!!
I think next winter I'm going to try putting a heat lamp or 2 in the coop just for some extra warmth!

I had one of my favorite hen get frostbite on her foot. By the time I noticed, it had gotten pretty bad and green. So I took her inside the home and kept her on antibiotics for two weeks. She got better and the foul smelly gangrene subsided but she ended up losing her whole foot. I was really worried about her and was keeping her inside but yesterday I put her back in the coop. To my surprise, apart from a minor skirmish with the Alpha hen, she fit right in. She was able to jump into the garage section of my coop and slept on the roost and today she managed to maneuver, 3 contraptions of ladders to come into the outside run. She seems to have remembered everything even after two months.

That's why we love her, she is a very special chicken.

 

[chicken pickin]

I've had the same issue this year with my beautiful ameraucauna roo and it wasn't even all that cold and our coop is well Insulated...??? I also had a silver polish hen and rooster that lost the ends of their toes to frost bite-I'm amazed at how resilient they are..!!!
I think next winter I'm going to try putting a heat lamp or 2 in the coop just for some extra warmth!

Frostbite doesn't occur just because of the cold temperatures. It has so much to do with ventilation(but avoid draftiness). I also would advise against a heat lamp in winter. Chickens don't need the added heat. If you lack sufficient ventilation in the coops theb too much moisture builds up during the night while they sleep due to all the breathing and pooping. With lack of ventilation the moisture will sit on their combs and wattles and cause frostbite. Most people with frostbite issuses usually just need to increase the ventilation in there coops. I need to add lots more ventilation to my coops also.

 

[Junibutt]

Frostbite doesn't occur just because of the cold temperatures. It has so much to do with ventilation(but avoid draftiness). I also would advise against a heat lamp in winter. Chickens don't need the added heat. If you lack sufficient ventilation in the coops theb too much moisture builds up during the night while they sleep due to all the breathing and pooping. With lack of ventilation the moisture will sit on their combs and wattles and cause frostbite. Most people with frostbite issuses usually just need to increase the ventilation in there coops. I need to add lots more ventilation to my coops also.

I agree with not putting a heat lamp. While my coop more than enough ventilation, my son had put a lamp right next to their coop inside the garage and they were huddling all around the corner. I am pretty sure that would have led to the moisture that caused the frostbite.

 

[mlm Mike]

I'm in. i have a broody EE sitting and also have the incubator going. Should come off good Friday or Saturday.

Welcome. How many eggs are set?

I know we are a little late. But, we are new to this site, and just found this. We set our eggs on the 13th. Wasn't planned to be an Easter hatch, sure makes it fun.

Welcome. How many eggs did you set?

 

[mlm Mike]

There is still plenty of time to enter the Short Story contest.


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

 

[mlm Mike]

There is still time to vote in the Caption Contest!

GO HERE TO VOTE: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ual-byc-easter-hatchalong/0_100#post_14960349

 

[SimplyLogan]

I"m very excited!!!!

Day 8 my Hova-bator with all my shipped eggs has 40 out of 46 eggs growing. There are 3 there are questionable and 3 clear. And three of these eggs were mine not shipped ones. That puts it at 87% so far if my math is correct. And don't worry I'm not counting my chickens... still a long way to go. My borrowed incubator LG, which I have constant problems with is not so good. It has non-shipped eggs and only at 50%, out of 50 eggs only 25 were growing

. Most of the eggs were clear with a few that appeared to be blood rings. Nothing smelled so I left it all in there and will just watch closely. Holding my breath till day 14.

So I did a little switch, I took the three clear eggs from the good incubator and moved three good eggs from the LG in hopes they may have a better chance of making it. I didn't want to move my shipped eggs over that were questionable in hopes that something AMAZING happens.

The LG is going back to where it came from

.
I may be a little goofy, but no matter how many eggs I check I get all giddy with every live chick moving around it there. It's just amazing, no matter how many times I see it.

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

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

Day 6​

Sorry it is so late, but we are finally back, folks, and it has been an exciting day! Let's bring you all up to speed. Three incubators are going head to head to see which has a better hatch rate. Contestant #1, Mom, and her store bought incubator with automatic turner. Contestant #2, DSx3, and their homemade incubator. Contestant #3, Amber, a broody hen. The title is still up for grabs in this point and it is anybody's hatch. Yesterday began with the unexpected find of a mystery egg the contestant #2s' incubator. The Judge ruled that the egg could remain, however, the outcome of this egg would have no bearing on the results of these determined young men. The surprises didn't stop there. A challenge was issued and accepted. Testing the strength of eggs. The results are finally in and we will get to those in just a moment. First we are making an unscheduled visit to the coop. *whispering* A safe zone has been set up in the coop for young Amber and her eggs. It was decided to wait until very late in the evening to gently move the hen into a special, open air crate.It is hoped that the late night move will cause little or no stress. Alright, folks, it is very dark out here and this flashlight might need some new batteries. We are going quiet for just a moment... ... ... ... *still whispering* The move was a success. She has settled in nicely. *no more whispering.* Now for those long awaited results, and we have pictures! First up was contestant #1. She took twenty eggs and sandwiched them between two cutting boards and stacked about 30lbs of books on top. Don't worry, folks, these are infertile store bought eggs. No potential chicks were harmed during the course of this challenge. Contestnat #2, not to be outdone, took it a step farther and had the youngest member of their group, weighing in at 56.5lbs, stand on the eggs without even a single crack. It was a success! Wow! talk about a tense moment! Contestant #2 has taken the "egg" in this challenge! Oh, sometimes I just "crack" myself up. LOL! okay, okay, enough of the puns. Another eggciting day has come to a close here at Incubator Wars. Stay tuned, folks, tomorrow night will be our first candling. For now have a Good Day and Happy Hatching!

LOVING following the incubator wars! Thank you so much! Question...would it be possible to post pics of all incubators! Would love to put people/things/chicken with the contestants when they are mentioned.