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

[Penny Hen]

I'm having a lil trouble keeping the temp up on lockdown with only 8 eggs on my test hatch. It's running between 98.6 and 99, do you think I'll be okay?

I think you will be fine but you can use rocks as heat sinks to help stabilize the temperatures.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

i would like to join the hatchalong

Cynthia, your photos are absolutely gorgeous. I love this thread because I love your welcome pictures.

 

[chickendreams24]

Imagine how busy it will be around lockdown and hatch day.... The HAL isn't even started yet!
-Banti

I know it's gunna be crazy but full of chickie love... Did that make me sound like a hippie? Lol

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: Sanitary napkins soaked and placed inside, help up the humidity. If you put one under a ventilation hole, you can add water through a straw when needed.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Quote: Usher!! Usher!! (I love Usher)

Yes!! Chicken math. I know.

Didn't I say that when you posted the pic saying ya gots 10-15 chickens...and the field behind has HUNDREDS!!! DIDN'T I say that was me?

Thank you about my 'bator.

Um...wow!! Cutie monster chickie!!

 

[NotAFarm]

Ok I have a broody Australorp who has been sitting on her golfballs for a week now, night and day. I also have 28 eggs in the incubator on day 8. I would like to place a few under my hen doring the last week, but need to figure out how and when to move her nest so it isn't 4 feet off the ground. I have had a lot of suggestions, but would like to hear what and when has worked best for the greatest chicken farmers in the world here at BYC.

Todd, I have moved broody hens with good success. You must move her at night, not dusk, complete darkness. Get everything ready before you move her, during the day when it is easier. Do you have a place to move her where she could get off the nest and drink and relieve herself but would not be "free" to leave the nest area? An enclosed area, coop, that is separate from the main coop? As someone else mentioned, if she can't see the old nest that is best. What kind/size of nest is she in? Make the new nest the same size enclosure. What is the nest itself made of? Straw, shavings? Use the same kind of nesting material. Using the lowest light possible, move half of the warm golfballs she has been sitting on first, then the hen, then the rest of the warm golfballs. Don't use the light directly on her, keep everything as dim as possible. Leave when you have put the last golfballs under her. NO lights. You say she has been sitting for a week so she should settle on the nest. You'll know in the morning if she accepts the new location. Since she is on golfballs, give her all the next day or even a second to settle if she is off the nest in the morning. Once she settles back on the nest, you can move eggs from the incubator...you have plenty of time since they are on day 8 (but that was a day or so ago). Move the eggs at night....complete darkness...again using the smallest amount of light possible. Candle the eggs from the incubator and only give her the ones that look like they are developing. Moving them at day 14 to 16 would work great. Don't jostle the eggs when moving. I heat a towel in the dryer and gently place them on the warm towel inside a box or bucket to move mine. Be careful moving eggs too close to hatch, they need to position themselves. Don't move eggs that are pipped....you risk shrink wrapping them.

 

[CGilbert]

That is the most awesome photo ever! (although it looks slightly Photoshopped, it's still adorable)

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm having a lil trouble keeping the temp up on lockdown with only 8 eggs on my test hatch. It's running between 98.6 and 99, do you think I'll be okay?

I think they'll be fine. I woke up the other day to my incubator down to 65°! I candled today since some were moving to lockdown and there was a lot of movement going on in the shells. Don't be surprised if they show up a little later than you're expecting though.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Check out the Learning Center threads. They can tell you step by step and then there are great tutorials on You Tube too. The most important part of building your own is to get a GOOD thermostat. I tried with water heater ones and lost a lot of eggs. I finally bought the Chinese made STC-1000 thermostat. It is really well designed and works like a dream.

Thanks!! I'll definitely check out the threads! I was just looking at a few though after sally posted some and I think my problem looking at is theres just SO much info. I will try to read as much as possible though!! But sometimes it's hard to sift through, you know? But I will definitely look! And I'll have to look into that!! Thanks

 

[CGilbert]

Ok I have a broody Australorp who has been sitting on her golfballs for a week now, night and day. I also have 28 eggs in the incubator on day 8. I would like to place a few under my hen doring the last week, but need to figure out how and when to move her nest so it isn't 4 feet off the ground. I have had a lot of suggestions, but would like to hear what and when has worked best for the greatest chicken farmers in the world here at BYC.

I have minimal experience, at best, but I figure I'll put in my thoughts.
I've had two hens that went broody. The first one, I read all the things online and followed instructions, for the most part. I actually made an enclosure that was big enough for the nesting box and a waterer and feeder. Did that for the first week or two, while I finished 'the broody pen'. Then got everything ready and moved her at night. She hatched out 4 little chicks.

The other hen, I found in the wall with three eggs. I moved her immediately. She refused to sit on the eggs.