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

[Happy Chooks]

It's an EE. It even has a beard. It's the first one I have ever successfully hatched.

Congrats!

 

[Cynthia12]

I can now say I have 9 healthy babies! Yay!
Five out of the seven in the incubator, and Goldie-momma hatched four of her six.

They are all with Goldie-momma now and doing great. She is an amazing momma!
The only problem now, is that I can't get a single thing done because I'm too busy watching Momma and Babies!
That, and now I need more eggs!
Why didn't anyone tell me how addicting this is?!

Adorable, have you entered broody moms a babies? You should enter these two if not..here is where the contest is.
Contest #5: Broodies and their Babies
To enter, go here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ir-babies-contest-2015-easter-hatchalong/0_50

 

[SoManyHats]

Wait until you see the first pip and then lower the temperature to 98.5. You can go as low as 97 but 98.5 is still safe incubation temperatures.

What's the purpose of lowering the temp?

 

[Cynthia12]

We have a chick!!! It's very active, and crawling into other eggs... Is that ok?

Congratulations...on everyone's chicks too!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:

I've never done it.

 

[Cynthia12]

I've never done it.

Hey, saw your photo of the bee. Beautiful. I was just thinking today, I should go out and check if there are any bees on that cherry tree. It is cooling down again, but will still reach the 50's in the day. They should still want to be busy. I will have to go see!

 

[ronott1]

What's the purpose of lowering the temp?

It is one of those things that can help with hatch rate just a little bit. It is not necessary but can help with shipped eggs.

I think it has to do with oxygen levels in the incubator--Oxygen levels go down as temperature goes up. Humidity does the same thing so lowering temperatures will help if humidity spikes.

There have been some poultry studies that show it helping. Not as much as the cool down cycle from day 8 to 18 though.

 

[Math]

Holy Cow!!  My incubator is at work, so I coudln't watch it all night.  I came in this morning to 13 (!!!!) chicks out, 1 more zipped, and 5 more pipped!!!!  Happy birthday, little ones! 

What is your incubator set up? I considered setting up at work, but I didn't think I would be able to watch it well enough.

 

[Math]

Locked down my eggs this morning.  Pulled another 8 clears for a total of 14 that had not developed at all.  Total of 28 on lock down.

Is it wrong that I am already planning to load up the incubator again?

I don't think you are wrong. I'm thinking of doing the same.

 

[jessicaagross]

I don't think you are wrong. I'm thinking of doing the same.

I've got the next round sitting on the counter as we speak!!!