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

[Chrysolinsbirds]

4/8 runner ducklings hatched, and still no pips on my chicken eggs =( not giving up tho they still look good.

 

[dretd]

For those who did the float test ... What do you think? Duds right??

You are looking for movement in the eggs, something we cant see from a still picture

Is there any movement at all? or are they just floating there?

It wouldn't hurt to leave them in for another day or two if you want to. If you decide to do an eggtopsy, start at the air cell end and be very careful just in case the little one is alive, you can cover it with a damp towel and let it cook a little longer.

 

[Mama Bay]

You are looking for movement in the eggs, something we cant see from a still picture Is there any movement at all? or are they just floating there?

It wouldn't hurt to leave them in for another day or two if you want to. If you decide to do an eggtopsy, start at the air cell end and be very careful just in case the little one is alive, you can cover it with a damp towel and let it cook a little longer.

No movement at all

 

[coop410silkies]

It's day 23, and I have 5 chicks hatched - late yesterday - and one Silkie (see, Silkies are NOT chickens, as several on this forum have already noted) whom I assisted with hatching late last evening. They are all still in the incubator, because, 3 more pipped around noon today, 2 of which are actually zipping as I type. The humidity is holding at 66%. oh, one is just now popping out and the other is close. OK, maybe I WILL set up a brooder box. Well, this is pretty amazing, after Saturday came and went without a single pip. The temperatures were erratic, especially with that drop into the 80's, and this is more than I had hoped for. AND, I learned some important things.

OK, you numerologists: I set all the eggs, and they were seventy in number; seven - actually 6+1 - have hatched, and one is just still pipped. What is unusual about these numbers is that I am having my 70th birthday in 2 days, on the 8th. Are these numbers just a coincidence, or did I just have a good Easter? OK, while I was marveling at all these numbers, another Silkie hatched, so my total is 6 Light Sussex + plus 2 Silkies = 8. WOW!

 

[ocap]

Anyone know where I can get a BCM hen around 1 year old in north-east arkansas??

Google "Missouri Poultry Yearbook"

edited to add:
someone else gave you the link

 

[dretd]

HELP!! I just looked at the Wheaten chick with the yolk sack out and it was trying to climb out again, and it looks like it has pushed the ENTIRE yolk sac out!!!

And he is still trying to get out... and OH NO!!! It just polked the sack with its toe and all the yolk is coming out! I guess this is the end for this little guy...

SO sorry! I had one with a prolapsed yolk several years ago. I ended up tying off the yolk sac that was sticking out flush with the body. Just a regular encircling thread with an overhand square knot to hold it tight. It would probably be a two person job and you would want to make sure you don't get any of his skin in the knot. Though not ideal you could use a piece of sewing thread or nylon as the suture material and cut the tails to maybe to 1/2 inch long so the other chicks don't peck at the 'worms' if he makes it. Keep him in the dark so he sleeps! Stay in the incubator until you think he is strong enough to fend for himself with the others.

 

[Darnbunnies]

This was my first time trying to hatch eggs. Epic fail! I ordered 10 fertilized eggs by mail. 10 arrived; 3 were broken. I incubated the remaining 7 eggs. I tried to candle them, but my light wasn't very strong and they were brown eggs. I turned them every 8 hours, or so, the first week, then I got an egg turner to do the job. Nothing happened on hatch day, so I waited two more days. Nothing. I gently cracked open the eggs, only to find they were all scrambled, probably from shipment. Only one had an embryo that was probably a week old (just guessing based on pictures on the Internet). So frustrating, but that is life, right? So enough of my complaining... I went to the feed store and bought 4 baby chicks! I will have a chicken farm after all!!!!

USPS has no respect for live eggs. I am in Norco. If you would like to try again I'd be happy to share some of my fertile eggs with you. Let me know. -DB

 

[Crystal Chick]

Thanks. I will keep you in mind for the next time I want to try. Not anytime soon since I have 4 baby chicks at home right now.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

USPS has no respect for live eggs. I am in Norco. If you would like to try again I'd be happy to share some of my fertile eggs with you. Let me know. -DB

That is sooo nice of you!!!

 

[Darnbunnies]

What breeds did you take home from the Feed Store?