The 7th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long!

[Cynthia12]

It just wouldn't be a proper Easter without a HAL. I'm in. Now I have an excuse to buy more hatching eggs

 

[jwlpoultry]

Quote:
Thanks I'm new this year so just making sure I made it on the list if their was one.

 

[GitaBooks]

Oh she's cute!

Thanks.

She has the red-pyle coloration, like her great-grandmother. Now she has chicks. It's weird to think its only been two or three years that I've had Pip and she is already a great-great grandmother.

Thanks I'm new this year so just making sure I made it on the list if their was one.

Me too. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I guess that's part of the fun.

 

[wicket 07]

Thanks.   She has the red-pyle coloration, like her great-grandmother. Now she has chicks. It's weird to think its only been two or three years that I've had Pip and she is already a great-great grandmother.


Me too. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I guess that's part of the fun.

...

Thanks I'm new this year so just making sure I umade it on the list if their was one.

Thanks.   She has the red-pyle coloration, like her great-grandmother. Now she has chicks. It's weird to think its only been two or three years that I've had Pip and she is already a great-great grandmother.


Me too. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I guess that's part of the fun.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I am sorry guys I don't think I can join again this year. Last year I got so caught up in the broodiness that the next thing I new...
I was PREGNANT!!
It was such a shock and a surprise I actually told everyone on here about it before I even told my husband. I had a great time chatting with everyone and seeing all the baby chick pictures and talking about my pregnancy but...
the pregnancy ended at 6 months when my son Dominic was stillborn, and now everytime I think about the Easter Hatch a Long I remember posting about my pregnancy and...I just don't think I can do it this year...I want to...I planned to...but I am sitting here on the couch crying my eyes out.

I will post closer to the setting day if I decided to join after all.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Take all the time you need. Please know that we are always here when you are ready.

 

[NTBugtraq]

I am committed now, and with

hope I have not made a catastrophic mistake. 25 chicks are in the greenhouse under the brooder plates. They are less than 20 hours old, but were completely dry when I put them out. Its 23F atm, and the forecast says it will get warmer overnight (not dramatically, but at least warmer). I can see nothing but the plates, my brooder walls are higher than the plates so I cannot check what's happening under them without removing the plates. That seems counter productive, so I will do that only once a day at mid-day. I put a thermometer on top of the water bottle which is ~8" above the bedding, and it is reading 43F, so that's a good sign.

But since this is my first time brooding outdoors in winter, I am very worried I have condemned them. Like me, keep my chicks in your thoughts tonight. This is the closest thing to a real broody I could do, and more importantly, if these chicks thrive it means I have genetics that can withstand my climate, part of my breeding goal...but I don't want to be the cause of the demise of such pretty chicks either...

Right now I kinda feel like Washington at Valley Forge..."if I could do anything else, I would"

 

[NTBugtraq]

I am sorry guys I don't think I can join again this year. Last year I got so caught up in the broodiness that the next thing I new...
I was PREGNANT!!
It was such a shock and a surprise I actually told everyone on here about it before I even told my husband. I had a great time chatting with everyone and seeing all the baby chick pictures and talking about my pregnancy but...
the pregnancy ended at 6 months when my son Dominic was stillborn, and now everytime I think about the Easter Hatch a Long I remember posting about my pregnancy and...I just don't think I can do it this year...I want to...I planned to...but I am sitting here on the couch crying my eyes out.

I will post closer to the setting day if I decided to join after all.

No amount of time can remove bad memories, and for that we must suffer, but extending those bad memories to things that cause you joy only lets the bad memory be worse. Nobody wants to forget an event such as you experienced, how could you, but it’s the support of others that help you carry on, grieve, and finally recover as best you can. There is no way that hatching chickens can ever compare to being pregnant, but disassociating your bad memory from a joyful event is a step forward.

 

[ronott1]

I am committed now, and with

hope I have not made a catastrophic mistake. 25 chicks are in the greenhouse under the brooder plates. They are less than 20 hours old, but were completely dry when I put them out. Its 23F atm, and the forecast says it will get warmer overnight (not dramatically, but at least warmer). I can see nothing but the plates, my brooder walls are higher than the plates so I cannot check what's happening under them without removing the plates. That seems counter productive, so I will do that only once a day at mid-day. I put a thermometer on top of the water bottle which is ~8" above the bedding, and it is reading 43F, so that's a good sign.

But since this is my first time brooding outdoors in winter, I am very worried I have condemned them. Like me, keep my chicks in your thoughts tonight. This is the closest thing to a real broody I could do, and more importantly, if these chicks thrive it means I have genetics that can withstand my climate, part of my breeding goal...but I don't want to be the cause of the demise of such pretty chicks either...

Right now I kinda feel like Washington at Valley Forge..."if I could do anything else, I would"

They will be fine. The Premier1 plates are rated for down to freezing--and that is likely only for the water freezing. The chicks will push up into the heater plate to warm up. Within in a day or so, they will be out from under the brooder most of the time.

I have 32 and am using the premier plate for 20. They are in the garage where it is down into the 40s at night and a bunch of them sleep out from under it already--they will be 4 weeks old this weekend! I will likely take the plate out soon.

Lift the plates out a couple of times a day for a health check--look for pasty butt and etc.

Keep us updated but you will be very happy with the way they develop.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Im in!! Can't wait!

Welcome ToddQ! breeds to hatch?

Please add Patricia petsch to hatch along west palm beach florida

welcome Patricia!!

what do you plan on hatching?

I'm new at this but would like to try easter hatch along

welcome! you will enjoy it!

It just wouldn't be a proper Easter without a HAL. I'm in. Now I have an excuse to buy more hatching eggs

true story!!

Welcome! what kind are you gonna look for?

Quote: GREAT ADVICE and love your set up!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Count me in! This will be my first Easter hatch-a-long since I was out of town on the set date last year. We are building a cabinet incubator from an old wine fridge and hope to have it finished in time for the hatch a long. If not, I'll at least be filling up the styrofoam incubator.

So this is my brooder setup now. Firstly, its outside in my unheated greenhouse, so I am very concerned about the water freezing. I'm hoping that the heat plates and chicks are going to keep at least some of the water unfrozen.

My other concern is whether the chicks will be able to drink from the waterer at all. There's not a lot of space between the top of its lip, and the bottom of the plates lip. Anyone with experience here that can offer me some suggestions?

What temperature is it inside the greenhouse, but not under the plates? All I can offer is try it and check on the OFTEN. (like every couple of hours) Check for pasty butt too. If they are cheeping loudly, they are too cold. If they have pasty butt, they are chilled too much.

I brood in this coop, it's very small and holds heat well. I use Ecoglow's for my heat source with a 75 watt white bulb for light. (no windows in coop) There were day old chicks in here when this was taken:

I am sorry guys I don't think I can join again this year. Last year I got so caught up in the broodiness that the next thing I new...
I was PREGNANT!!
It was such a shock and a surprise I actually told everyone on here about it before I even told my husband. I had a great time chatting with everyone and seeing all the baby chick pictures and talking about my pregnancy but...
the pregnancy ended at 6 months when my son Dominic was stillborn, and now everytime I think about the Easter Hatch a Long I remember posting about my pregnancy and...I just don't think I can do it this year...I want to...I planned to...but I am sitting here on the couch crying my eyes out.

I will post closer to the setting day if I decided to join after all.

I cannot even fathom your pain. I am so very sorry for your loss. We are here for you, whether you hatch or not.

X a billion!

I'm new at this but would like to try easter hatch along