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

[jbenson]

Are you absolutely sure the kids did it and not the DH?

for certain. the 5 year old confessed. and the DH has become a total enabler. he took me to the farm and garden and more than encouraged me to buy 15 chicks we don't even need

 

[Junibutt]

for certain. the 5 year old confessed. and the DH has become a total enabler. he took me to the farm and garden and more than encouraged me to buy 15 chicks we don't even need

Was just kidding!

 

[jbenson]

That is terrible!

They should have been not allowed near the incubator!

I hope they were scolded with vigor

The poor little babies.....

not sure if the kids have been given a thorough scolding (found the problem after they had long gone home), but their parents were alerted and have been very apologetic. They offered to pay us for the loss (these chicks were to be sold after the weekend's planned events centered around them).

 

[jbenson]

First let me say sorry for your loss.

but...
"poultry retail therapy"

I have done that before, but never had a name for it. I will have to remember that next time DH asks me why I am buying more chicks.

What's worse is I really need day olds (or a couple days old) for the weekend's photo session so I'll be back at the farm and garden to buy more chicks I don't "need" cause they are getting a shipment Friday morning. On top of the ones I pick up Friday and the some odd 35 chicks I already have in my brooders, I have another 35 arriving next week and 45 two weeks after that! Whoops - chicken math.

 

[Junibutt]

Ok, did my candling again for Day 10.
Out of the 10 questionable I had on Day 7, 5 were definitely not growing so they were tossed. So down to 56 now.
Out of the remaining 5, 3 are still questionable but 2 had good wiggly embryos.
So at Day 10 I am left with 53 wiggly embryos and 3 questionable eggs.

@HappyChooks
@ronott1
@KYTinpusher

@chicken pickin

I have couple of other issues hoping someone can help me with. I am especially mentioning few names to make sure they get to read this post (its kinda late and could be easily overlooked), however anyone with suggestions is welcome.

A) 4 of the good wiggly embryo eggs have very large air sacs. These were shipped eggs and have saddle-shaped sacs almost as big as at lockdown. They also have lost 10-15% of their weight already. So I am thinking they may have some minor cracks which may not be visible to the naked eye and, its causing them to lose weight rapidly. What should I do with these eggs, I am almost certain I will run into trouble with them. Shall I separate them somehow and create a more humid environment for them? Maybe putting in a sealed box with a damp paper towel and then taking out for oxygenation during the cool down time? I am clueless!

B) 2 of the good eggs seems to have only developed on one side of the egg. The embryos are moving but half the egg is completely clear. No blood vessels, nothing, nada. What could have caused it? Will they survive? I have checked the auto-turner and its working fine and all the other eggs in the same incubator are fine. I have moved them to the Brinsea in an upright position instead of flat just in case.
Anything else I can do?

Again, everyone/anyone's input is welcome!

 

[alchemist farm]

Hey Everyone! I goofed and did not post earlier but I did set 16 Cream Legbars and 20 Isbar eggs on March 12th

 

[suebgbr]

but arent you supposed to be hatching the eggs on the 6th annual easter hatch along

It started when someone posted pics of their pickled eggs. We have to do something to keep our hands busy whilst waiting for the hatch. We are becoming candling addicts!

 

[chickadoodles]

jbenson so sorry.

 

[chicken pickin]

I use little colored zip ties. You can use combinations of colors to identify large hatches. The ties need to be cut off as the chicks grow and when they are grown, use colored and numbered bands to identify them.

What you do is get the zip ties started leaving a loop big enough to get the foot through and then tighten up the tie. With practice, you can apply the zip tie with one hand while holding the chick with the other.

This is good. I also zip tie chicks. This hatch I have eggs set by different bloodlines so I plan to color code chicks to their mothers using the tiny colored zip ties.

For anyone using zip ties check them often to make sure they are not too tight.

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

Yeah I am in my first trimester of pregnancy....there is no food going into this stomach...myI called .mt husband to tell him I was pregnant and he got home from work and started unloading crackers, ginger ale, and not one but TWO packages of Ginger Lozenges...this is our fourth pregnancy...I was barely sick with the first and then we lost it...with every one since I have been sick as a dog and glad of it because it is the hormones that make me sick. More hormone = stronger baby. So I will gladly live on crackers and Lozenges.

Oh sweet Momma, my heart goes out with you. You have a wonderful husband that is taking care of you. I, too, have gotten sick beyond reality during pregnancy. If feel your pain. For me, to add to the list of stories, I could ONLY eat watermelon. My first trimester was in winter...go figure. We have pictures of me having a half of watermelon laying on the couch eating out of it like a bowl. NOTHING ELSE stayed down. Sweet friend, this is only a season.