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

[Cynthia12]

Dusty, what is that stuff?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have barely dabbled in soap making, and I need way more practice before I will get good soap bars! I made some a while ago with rose petals and lavender buds. The result was.......interesting, lol.

Yes, I'm glad these bars are for home use. Some of them aren't pretty. I'm in need of practice.

Quote: Well of course silly! My welsummer male has to make his presence known. And my Barnevelder males were probably calling back.

@Happy Chooks

good point...i should clean my windows...LOL theyre still kinda furry from my last hatch

Yep, you gotta be able to see those fuzzy butts hatching.

Okay, I have a ton of chicken grower food, but no chick food. Must the chicks have chick starter food or could they just munch on the grower? If not I'll get some chick starter tomorrow

Grower is fine. I don't buy starter anymore, mine all get Flockraiser.

So my first hatch ever ended this Morning with 22 out of 25 eggs!

My 7 bantys go into lockdown tomorrow Morning...



These 3 bantys hatched this time!



And These 4 EEs!

I'm So excited for the weekend!

So tempted to hatch more! Lol

Congrats! Welcome to the addiction joy of hatching! Great job!

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!

I'm so sorry.

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?

If it wasn't moving, it likely wasn't alive.

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

@Cynthia12
here are more pics of the piggy baby..LOL OR should i say babies?

Holy smokes they are too cute! And you take wonderful pictures.

Yay I have a broody duck
I'm so proud of her because she never used to be interested in it

Well dang! I walked away for literally 30 seconds and the first pipped egg made progress!

See......it takes a while. You imagine trying to get out of an egg using only a tooth. It's worth the wait!

Early bird ...

Congrats!

I noticed that too...loved it. Hoping I get me a nice little rooster this yr. Big rooster? Just as long as he is a nice rooster.

If you were closer, I have a wonderful male (blue barnevelder) that is looking for a home. He is a fantastic male, great with my kids, the flock, etc. I just don't need him anymore for breeding. I've been procrastinating getting rid of him because he is so sweet, I want to find him a good home.

I'm so bummed! All seven of my eggs were doing so great! But... The power went out three hours ago. When I got home from work, the eggs were feeling sort of cold. I filled some ziplock bags with warm water, and set them on top. Hopefully the eggs will make it!

I'm sure they will be fine as long as the power is back on now. Remember, hens get off the nest too.

 

[Cynthia12]

This baby is from one of my Cemani/Mottled Orp X Roos and my Cemani Pullet. I think she is 'pure' (?) {JM amateur O...}
I can't wait to see what 'she' looks like when she finishes fluffing up!

First fluffed up baby chick photo coming up!

 

[bantambury]

cynthia, im starting to think shes a brown red OEGB...im not sure...there are still so many guesses out there

 

[Cynthia12]

Happy, we are only two states away from each other. :/ Sounds like a great rooster. Just what I need. And, I love the Barnevelders! Bet he's gorgeous.

 

[Happy Chooks]

cynthia, im starting to think shes a brown red OEGB...im not sure...there are still so many guesses out there

That's what I think too. Way cute.

 

[Dustystrail]

This is good to hear..where did you get that separation thingy.   

I made it out of plastic canvas and twisty ties
The twist ties were in case I wanted to move the dividers around but I've used it quite a few times and never changed it. Well, not other than using the wire on top to keep the little buggers in there.

 

[bantambury]

Dusty, what is that stuff?

plastic craft mesh

 

[Cynthia12]

I made it out of plastic canvas and twisty ties
The twist ties were in case I wanted to move the dividers around but I've used it quite a few times and never changed it. Well, not other than using the wire on top to keep the little buggers in there.

Ok, so, you do put the wire on top..do you mean the wire that is on the bottom of the bator?

 

[bantambury]

thanks happy! i cant wait to start taking pictures of my easter babes