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

[NotAFarm]

@ronott1 Yes,

make an article on dark egg hatching! I don't have any but since the dark egg layers are soooo popular, it would be wonderful to have your information available!

 

[NTBugtraq]

@ronott1 Yes,

make an article on dark egg hatching! I don't have any but since the dark egg layers are soooo popular, it would be wonderful to have your information available!

I THINK I know one thing about dark eggs, if they are infertile, they glow with the right candling. If the light doesn't make them glow, I think that means there is some development. I have no idea if this is true, but its what I am currently using as fact...

 

[NotAFarm]

So, a serious question please.

I am now on day 22, and I have a quandary. Most of those that hatched of my 89 that went into lockdown are the older eggs, not the younger. I set eggs that were no older than 9 days, and eggs laid on the day of setting. Eggs that were 2-3 days old were the worst performers.

But, its not that simple, most of the eggs in my upper tray in my Ova Easy 100 hatched, whereas the ones that didn't were mainly in the lower tray.

So, I am left asking myself if I should have switched tray positions more, or, is there a reasonable explanation why the eggs laid on those two days weren't fertile? I cannot say about fertility because the egg shells are too dark to candle.

Right now I have more eggs than I need for my next setting tomorrow. I am thinking that maybe I should set the older (9-day old) eggs before the newer eggs. But what I would prefer to do is set the darkest color shells before anything, regardless of age (nothing older than 9 day old). My settings are intended on getting me darker egg layers.

What do you make of these observations, and what would you suggest?

BTW, 2nd chick failed to survive this morning, it didn't look well when I pulled the first dead chick, but I dipped its beak in vita-water and hoped...alas...

Do you have a way to monitor temps on each of the trays? The lower trays may be at a lower temp and therefore be lagging behind the ones on the top tray. If only day 22, you may still get some chicks.

Other thing I would check is the temps of the coops/eggs the day they were laid/collected. Is is possible they froze?

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm in... I was debating between this or setting on the 3rd so they would hatch on my birthday.

How about both?

Glad you will be able to join in the fun!!
I'm hoping I'll have a broody...or three...so I can be "official"!
I'll be hatching my own or maybe some for a friend from her flock if I do.

I love broody hens, they are one of the best things about raising chickens. That and having a flock of 50 all running after you for a treat (but that can be a little scary too

).

I hope to set my
First batch this year of
Cream legbars and bantam black silkies
I use an octagon 20 brinsea incubator

Best of luck!

So, a serious question please.

I am now on day 22, and I have a quandary. Most of those that hatched of my 89 that went into lockdown are the older eggs, not the younger. I set eggs that were no older than 9 days, and eggs laid on the day of setting. Eggs that were 2-3 days old were the worst performers.

But, its not that simple, most of the eggs in my upper tray in my Ova Easy 100 hatched, whereas the ones that didn't were mainly in the lower tray.

So, I am left asking myself if I should have switched tray positions more, or, is there a reasonable explanation why the eggs laid on those two days weren't fertile? I cannot say about fertility because the egg shells are too dark to candle.

Right now I have more eggs than I need for my next setting tomorrow. I am thinking that maybe I should set the older (9-day old) eggs before the newer eggs. But what I would prefer to do is set the darkest color shells before anything, regardless of age (nothing older than 9 day old). My settings are intended on getting me darker egg layers.

What do you make of these observations, and what would you suggest?

BTW, 2nd chick failed to survive this morning, it didn't look well when I pulled the first dead chick, but I dipped its beak in vita-water and hoped...alas...

I'm sorry about the chicks you lost. I hope someone can help answer your questions.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: You need to have the right candler to see through dark eggs....I can't recommend one since I only have white eggs.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Talk me out of it!

My frozen waterer issues resolved. I hope !!!

awesome Cathy! where did you order from?

...
...
It didn't last. I can honestly blame hubby though, he saw a pair of peafowl and said lets get them... And boom. Magically I now have 8 peafowl and a menagerie of other species.

oh I love the magic of appearing fowl!!

Quote: I KNOW of course, such a troublemaker!! He should be punished!!

@Sally Sunshine

I am surprised to not see more of those after all that

Good morning all it is 30 degrees in the desert. Hmmmm, thought it was supposed to be warm here. On my way out to breI am suak ice off the waters. Had to turn off the automatic ones, had one break and dump 350 gallons of water in the back paddock. No one got wet as the ground soaked it all up. Yeah for sandy soil. Up to getting 2 to almost 3 dz eggs a day. Got my GQF with 5 dz eggs in it and 3 48 egg bators going. 'Stops to take a breath' Anyway lots going on here. Oh yeah, mid-way through building the last three paddocks lots to do still.
this is the open run area each one gets to play outside in

brrrrrrrr 350 galllllllllons??

Quote: SET ALL FOWL EGGSSSSSS !!!!

They're anxious to hatch! 5 are out now and 10 are pipped! WOO!

awesome!!

I've been stalking some boards around here and see people talking about 90-100% hatches. Is this really possible? Is it just luck or tricks that people pick up along the way?

broody hens have terrible hatch rates under normal conditions (without interfering humans) I think the average when studied was 35-45% !!!!
I will have to search that again, I cant find my post in the incu friends thread

I'm in... I was debating between this or setting on the 3rd so they would hatch on my birthday.

Welcome!!! @Bubbles12345 you got that bday?

This is what I do when my parents are not home...

he he he cute!!

 

[aplynn]

SHE MADE IT OUT!!!!!!

She is very strong I do think she it a lone survivor but I am gonna give the other eggs until the end of the day tomorrow, Gonna set one more set before the Easter Hatch, we wanted to do silkies for Easter but we need a few more layer hens first. Only ended up with 3 chicks out of 11 eggs.....




SHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Don't tell the hubby but I am kind of excited he is letting me do another hatch right away

 

[GitaBooks]

 

[NTBugtraq]

Do you have a way to monitor temps on each of the trays? The lower trays may be at a lower temp and therefore be lagging behind the ones on the top tray. If only day 22, you may still get some chicks.

Other thing I would check is the temps of the coops/eggs the day they were laid/collected. Is is possible they froze?

I don't have a way of monitoring the trays temps, but I did switch them around a couple of times during the incubation.

My hatches are always planned to be 23 days, so I am being patient.

You may be very right about the frozen eggs, we certainly had such temperatures. I will start keeping a record. Thanks, that's a brilliant idea.

 

[Cynthia12]

Oooohhhkay.

GOOD Morning!

I am in. My newly formed plan (and likely unobtainable plan, at that!) Is to hatch EVERYTHING I want to keep for the year. This will be an extreme challenge to my planning skills and somewhat of an engineering feat... but I am going for it. Worst case scenario - I will be sitting in the corner in my incubator/hatching room, hiding under a chair, as chicks fly about causing chaos when I have no room for them all.
I will also need to gently persuade my turkeys, peahens, pheasants and quail to all start laying just a tad earlier... any suggestions