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

[chickadoodles]

On Monday we candled our 29 eggs, and had to remove 7. We are down to 22 in the incubator at this time. We have started our "Guess who Breaks Out First" contest here at Aster Retirement, and as usual have a lot of buzz going around the building in anticipation, and we get to share all those wonderful memories of chasing chickens around the yard when we were young, and our favorite "cluck hen".

some from last year.


And even when they have grown they make a return visit.

That is wonderful that the residents can see them hatch and then get to see them later on. Bless y'all for doing such wonderful things like this for the residents!

 

[tntchix]

Question for those that use the bracelet loops rubber band things to band their chicks, how and when do you out them on? They aren't all that stretchy and if I try it I dont want to hurt them. Maybe I just have big fingers I dont know.

I use mini zip ties and change them when they get tight. No issues and they still wear them as hens, although I use larger ones so I can see the colors from a distance with my awful eyes. LOL

 

[KYTinpusher]

Icelandics are a landrace fowl, so there is no set color/look. They come in many different colors/patterns. Here are some that I've had:








Asleep, not dead

Beautiful birds!

Thanks for bringing back some sanity to the situation. I have been watching those incubators too much, need to step away for a few days. I did however already switched incubators for the 6 eggs in question plus couple of other questionables. So all my questionable eggs are in one incubator now with humidity between 45- 50%. I was only fretting out because these were some precious eggs and this is probably my only hatch this Spring/Summer. I will let it be now!


Quote:
I just want to add that I don't mean to make light of the money some have spent on eggs for this HAL. I know it can be substantial and losing it is hard - been there, done that. But as I keep telling my DD, worry will not keep the bad things from happening, it will just keep you from enjoying the good things.

 

[emmyeagle]

Aw man! Candle last night & all my eggs don't look good. Had a temperature spike of 115 whIle we were gone On Friday. Haven't candled them beforehand so don't know if any were growing. However, Have 12 duck eggs I put in there on Thursday on the bottom & 9 are looking good. Boo on temp spikes!!

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Busy prepping for the impending chicksplosion - this thread moves so fast and so many wonderful things have happened in just a day!!!

Coming down the home stretch for the first wave! The brooder gets disinfected this weekend, and I'll fire it up at the beginning of the week to get toasty warm!

 

[SimplyLogan]

It is the opposite--shipped eggs should always be set big end up.

local eggs it does not matter. Shipped eggs often have air cell damage that can kill the chicks if they pip in the wrong spot and the yolk often does not absorb leading to goo clogging the pip hole.

The carton is cut down to allow for air flow in the incubator.

I though it was necessary to incubate up right, big side up. But for lock down the eggs should be laid down?

 

[ronott1]

I though it was necessary to incubate up right, big side up. But for lock down the eggs should be laid down?

Shipped eggs do better big end up. local eggs, not shipped, it is a preference.

 

[SimplyLogan]

Shipped eggs do better big end up. local eggs, not shipped, it is a preference.

So confusing.... I read and read and thought you laid shipping eggs down for hatch. Ugh.

 

[chattery41]

Agree, that's a pullet.

Yay for a broody!

Beautiful hen!

Icelandics are a landrace fowl, so there is no set color/look. They come in many different colors/patterns. Here are some that I've had:



This one looks like he's wearing a bad toupee ! LOL




Asleep, not dead

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

Question for those that use the bracelet loops rubber band things to band their chicks, how and when do you out them on? They aren't all that stretchy and if I try it I dont want to hurt them. Maybe I just have big fingers I dont know.

I tried the rubber band method, but it didn't work real well for me. The chick I tried it on is 4 weeks old.  I had a hard time getting it on her leg and then when I put her back in with the others they tried to eat it off of her leg!  It freaked the little chick out, so I took it back off & didn't try to put it on the other 3.

I like to put the rubber bands on new born chicks because their legs are fragile. I do no have a hard time placing it on them because when I double it up I stretch it out and place it over the foot. They look at it, try to peck it then leave it alone. Any older chicks around WILL peck at it...until they realize it is not food. My experience is this...I like to use rubber bands on new chicks since their legs are so fragile compared to a zip tie (even the small ones). For me, if I used a zip tie I would have to cut off the tie when it got too small, thus taking an uncomfortable risk at hurting their little legs. A band is MUCH easier, for me, to cut/remove because it is not thick plastic I am trying to cut through. Once the chick is old enough I take the rubber and off and put a tie on them if I cannot tell the difference between them and the others at first glance. Before their feathers come in, this alone can be difficult. Below are pics of what I currently have. The "littles" are about 5-7 days old chick and the other is about 1.5 months. The older one I took off the band and replaced it with a tie in the second pic because the band became too. brittle. Her legs are strong. I put the tie on loose and will have to replace it one more time. The last one will be on permanently unless by some odd reason it comes off but, I have not had that happen yet. They get a good thick tie. It is funny, when they look at their new tie it is like a lady looking at her new pair of shoes.