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

[bantambury]

Lol, the weight of the eggs holds mine flat and twisty ties hold it on the top. Might try the one out of my farm innovators this time because it is more substantial. Thinking of locking down tonight but can't decide what I'm doing exactly. I'm up to 5 (possibly 6) broodies. Don't know what I want them to hatch.

haha! i have a farmers innovator! i love the bator....guess the wire didnt like me

Well hell! I accidentally dropped all my Sermas eggs all cracked didn't notice but the one. One did peep but died. I am so ****** at myself! They cost me a lot and they were bur four days from hatching. Ah! I could just kick myself!

YOU DIDNT TELL ME THEY WERE SERAMAS

im sorry!

Thanks you two!

no problem!

 

[chippysmom327]

the more i think about it...i shouldve set on the 15th instead of the 14th. all my eggs always hatch 1 to 2 days early. once ones out, they cant stop! LOL i go on lockdown tomorrow and im so excited! i have one egg i DID set the 15th...but its it ok to go on lockdown a day early? i cant wait to see how the hatch divider works...

Yep, that's fine. That's why I chose to get rid of the "first hatched" contest when I took over this hatchalong. Some people's incubators run hot and they hatch early, some run low and they hatch late. There are too many variables to hatching to worry about having the first chick out IMO.

I forget if I posted this before, but one baby has a sideways air cell. Like, Half of the egg is completely air cell. Everything except the air cell is filled up today. I thought he would pass away today, but when I checked this afternoon I got a little glimmer of hope that maybe with a little luck he miiiight make it. I'm still pretty doubtful though. Anywho, I've been saving eggs and have about 2 dozen saved up to set on Sunday. My parents were like "why can't we eat these?" and I was like "i'm hatching them?... surprise?" and they were like "what why" and all I had to offer was "*shrug* fertility check?" See, a hatch used to be a big deal; now it's just "whatever, as long as you pay for supplies and then sell them all at the swap".

With the air sac on the side, be sure to lay it on it's side for hatching. It may not make it, but give it a chance to try.

Thanks! I'm locking down tomorrow morning, I'll be sure that it's cell side up when on its side.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I am so sorry.

 

[CowboysAngel]

I am so sorry. 

:-(

 

[SimplyLogan]

Not sure I can do anything, or should do anything at this point..... Just went into lock down yesterday after noon. Hatch day is Thursday for me. Well, one already pipped and of course its the wrong end? I suppose I could do more damage messing with it? I know its probably to early to assist at this point anyway, but Any suggestions on this unfortunate situation?

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I have seven eggs locked down. A egg that quit (my favorite (yes I had a 'favorite' lol)) I cracked open, the chick that was in there was a banty Polish! My favorites! It didn't move or anything, so it was for sure dead? Most of the yolk was absorbed although it was faced wrong side of egg. There was some slimy yellow liquid too. Bacteria?

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

[bamadude]

@chicken pickinYour legbars are awesome. Pm me if u can part with a few hatching eggs in May.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Everyone is having such early pips!

 

[coop410silkies]

Oh my, I've been busy and away for a day or two. So much is happening, and all the little babies are soooooo fetching. We've had days to die for here in northern CO, and my chickens have gone crazy. So have I. All the babies - 30? - from my practice hatches are MORE than ready to go into the brooder coop outside tomorrow, and I am setting up for the lockdown late tomorrow.

It's been an interesting week. I set 70 eggs in two different incubators, and I lost power to one of them on day 7. When I discovered this, the thermometer was showing a temp of 86 degrees, and I was ready to call it a day on the 40 eggs in the Bator - but I just couldn't. I candled them again on day 14, to see if anything had changed, and there did seem to be some development; yesterday I candled again, and more than half looked well filled out and headed for lockdown. But I am thinking they might be late hatchers, if they do hatch, and I am keeping my fingers crossed but not counting (chickens, that is). Maybe I will learn something good worth passing on. Meanwhile, I got the Spotcheck Ron recommended, and started spot checking my other (DIY) Bator. Wow! The temps were all over the place - and that accounts for how erratic the two hatches from it have been. I eventually got things evened out, but it might have been too little too late - and after yesterday's candling I am not hoping for much. Maybe 40 of the 70 eggs I set will go to lockdown. We shall see. Sour Grapes say I already have WAY too many chicks as it is.

I am thinking about how I can even out the temperatures in my coolerbator. Air cells are larger than in the past, but still smallish at 35% incubation humidity. (I said I would weigh them, but I did not.). I am sooo glad I've learned room for improvement and am already looking forward to my next H-A-L. But somebody please tell me what to do with all my babies. Laurie in Berthoud

 

[Wisher1000]

There was some slimy yellow liquid too. Bacteria?

Not bacteria, egg yolk, looks like a rupture of the yolk sack. It may have happened after death. I'm sorry for your loss, but opening it will help you learn a lot, even if you don't always know what you are looking at.