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

[mlm Mike]

Quote:
You post the number set in this thread. If you set a species already set, please wait until March 2nd or later to post.
Thank You,
Mike

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Which eggs would be better to set on March 5?

The ones I collect every few hours yesterday, today and tomorrow, when the outdoor temperature was between 40 and 50 degrees, or the ones I will collect in the mid to late afternoon this coming thursday, friday and saturday, when the outdoor temperature will be around 30 degrees?

Only have space in the brooder box for 12 chicks, so I can't set everything. Which option will give me the best hatchability?

That's a good question. I'm not exactly sure if it matters what time of the day is best. Hopefully someone else will chime in who has better experience with choosing the best eggs.

If it was me trying to pick the best eggs to hatch...I would choose the eggs that you are certain are viable (as in not frozen) that have the most consistent size and shape so the embryo/chick doesn't have difficulties. You also want to avoid porous eggs or eggs with visible defects.
Your eggs will be very fresh so you have that aspect covered already.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Last night someone asked about how often to set your egg turner to turn your eggs.
i noticed your question hadn't been answered...but I forgot to go back...sorry about that.

I don't have an egg turner, but I believe the more often the eggs are turned...the better it is for the embryo. Hopefully someone else can confirm or deny if I'm correct.

 

[TJordan]

Last night someone asked about how often to set your egg turner to turn your eggs.
i noticed your question hadn't been answered...but I forgot to go back...sorry about that.  

I don't have an egg turner, but I believe the more often the eggs are turned...the better it is for the embryo. Hopefully someone else can confirm or deny if I'm correct.

When I hand turned them I did it 4-6 times a day. Just a little shift was fine

 

[mikesmith648]

I have a dozen BCM eggs ordered and will also get some of my own from my EE hen/RIR rooster........anticipation!!

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Goose eggs set on the 26 for a 26th hatch =}

 

[ronott1]

Last night someone asked about how often to set your egg turner to turn your eggs.
i noticed your question hadn't been answered...but I forgot to go back...sorry about that.

I don't have an egg turner, but I believe the more often the eggs are turned...the better it is for the embryo. Hopefully someone else can confirm or deny if I'm correct.

It is one of those things that make a big difference for the minimum met of 3 times a day. You get a bit better hatch rate if you go up to 4-6. There is a diminishing return on the work after that.

I do not know where the upper limit is on turning but more than 10 is likely not going to do much for you.

Another thing to remember is the angle. Make sure that the turner is going over far enough. The Brinsea auto turner goes crazy far over...I have had eggs pop out!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

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Shipped Eggs = Change Of Plans!
Shipped eggs have a MUCH lower hatch rate, even with experienced hatchers!​

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HOW I PERSONALLY SHIP EGGS AND THE REASONS BEHIND IT ALL
Alettertoeggshippers.doc 30k .doc file
ShippingEggsTheSallySunshineWay.docx 175k .docx file
An open letter to egg shippers.doc 27k .doc file

It’s always best to get local eggs to get the best hatch rate.
Sources for eggs are to search the BYC buy sell trade section, Craigslist and eBay.
Your local thread on BYC may be the best bet for local eggs!​

A great place to find eggs CHEAP! post #7755
Julian date on trader Joe eggs understanding it!
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/partners/fepp/julian-calendar.pdf post #5098
BYC Links for EGGS........
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...egg-auction-and-bin-thread/4280#post_16161710
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/754060/the-new-crazy-24hr-auction-thread/10720#post_16151948
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/36/chicken-hatching-eggs
LOCAL BYC THREADS in the Where am I? Where are you Section! click HERE​

An egg with a small air cell is a higher quality than an egg with a larger air cell. When an egg first laid, there is no air cell but as time goes on and the egg cools, an air cell forms and continues to grow in size because of the pores in the egg shell itself. The air cell can be measured by using an air cell gauge, which is a card that is held up to the egg while candling.
An example of an air cell gauge can be seen below.

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As soon as you open your eggs, be GENTLE try to keep them upright!​

CANDLE IMMEDIATELY UPRIGHT in case you have Bad air cells!​

Mark air cells with a pencil! So you are aware of bad eggs from good!​

HOW TO CANDLE EGGS post #40826

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BELOW ROLLING AIR CELL OF A SHIPPED EGG
Rolls like a Carpenters Level

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SHIPPED EGGS & Malpositions!
BELOW ARE "SADDLE" SHAPED AIR CELLS

SADDLE SHAPED AIR CELLS are very COMMON with shipped eggs!​

Saddle shaped is when ​

one or both sides have a large "dip" in the air cell.​

A lot of times with saddle shaped cells the chick doesn’t position correct for hatching and their feet can easily get stuck behind their head and “smoosh” the chick so they can’t move, it can also force the yolk sack and everything more north in the shell.... Keep a close eye on these eggs and its VERY important to pencil mark Air cells! Issues Step by Step Guide to ASSISTED Hatching​

saddles below
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Jiggly eggs are when the air cell​

has a small amount of movement at the top!​

UNDERSTANDING what goes WRONG with SHIPPED EGGS
The yolk of an egg is held in place on each end by what is called Chalaza. These are delicate cords that keep the yolk centered in the egg. When you crack open an egg, you notice a white stringy thing on the yolk, this is the Chalaza. When eggs are shipped they encounter postal handlers that toss the packages, sorting machinery, bumpy vehicle rides, temperature changes and possibly X-ray Machines! So by the time the eggs get to you they are pretty much scrambled inside. So if you are going to buy eggs and have them shipped to you, be aware that the viability drops TREMENDOUSLY. There are rare instances when they ALL arrive safely but it is always a gamble.
See Egg anatomy here http://www.geauga4h.org/poultry/egg_parts.htm



~ CONCLUSION ~
Shipped Eggs How & When to Set!

"Settle" & Setting of eggs
Shipped eggs need to be left to warm to room temperature
& need to settle B4 adding to the incubator!
This "settle" time will vary depending on the age of the eggs, DO NOT TURN THEM!!
if the air cells are large they are already getting old! Most shipped eggs are getting old!
Settle 6 hours and then set (begin incubation) if they are getting old and have large air cells. But continue to read below for Rolling, Ruptured, Jiggly Air cell info!
If Eggs are FRESH you can settle for 12-24 hours.
REMINDER~ Never Set COLD eggs in the incubator.

EGGS WILL NEED DIFFERENT TREATMENTS Should YOU have BAD AIR CELLS......

If an egg has a NORMAL INTACT AIR CELL:
Normal air cell eggs, settle 12-24 hrs if FRESH, IF OLD 6 hours and
then begin to incubate these upright and you may begin turning, you may lay horizontal or upright for hatching. Most people like to hatch upright for shipped eggs.
PLEASE PLEASE READ THE TURNING SECTION of this article FIRST!
If you can turn more than 3x a day PLEASE PLEASE turn them!! 3 is minimum amount!


For ROLLING AIR CELLS:
(cells no longer at fat end of the egg but like a bubble level on the long side, see above video)
Follow SETTLING EGGS ABOVE DO NOT TURN
Set in incubator Upright/AIR CELL UP/FAT END UP and
do not turn for 3 days once set in the bator AT LEAST!
CANDLE ONLY FROM ABOVE LEAVE THEM IN THE BATOR DURING CANDLE
If after 3 days and you have embryo growth and the air cell is still completely loose, do not turn another 24 hours.


For detached, Jiggly or disrupted air cells:
(see above for descriptions and images)
If air cells are Saddle shaped, Detached/Loose, or Jiggly follow above settle times
and set in the incubator and don't turn for at least 36/48 HOURS
After that time, turn on the turner or begin with the gentle turning side to side
or you can turn by hand in the carton by simply tilting side to side, see image below.​

Below image are Eggs in A Carton with Bottoms cut out for Ventilation ​

Below image of Turning damaged air cell Shipped Eggs, just lean to opposite side.





TREATMENT AT LOCKDOWN.......
Shipped eggs that have had loose air cells or saddle air cells, should be hatched upright but tilted just enough so that the lowest dip is somewhat upright, so if they have fluid in the air cell it may prevent drowning).​

MARKING AIR CELLS DAY 18, DRAW DOWN, INTERNAL PIP, EXTERNAL PIP, and ZIPPING post #35770
Pips and ZIPS ARE NOT THE SAME PATIENCE is a MUST!


LOCKDOWN, DAY 18, CANDLES, PIPS, ZIPS
DAY 18 CANDLE IMAGES/VIDEOS: post #41176
FIVE VIDEOS show Draw Down and Internals post #44701
DAY 18 DIS CANDLES post #43401
DONT PICK THE PIPS! post #24611
TIMELINE of a silky HATCHING! NOTE HOW LONG IT TOOK FROM INTERNAL TO ZIPPING post #33770
TIMELINE OF A POLISH HATCHING QUICK HATCHOUT! post #46572
VIDEO of zip and hatch AT :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyO3YwrsJPg
DO my Air cells look ok Day 18? post #31971
DAY 18 HOW DO I LOCKDOWN, WHAT HUMIDITY, do I hatch horizontal OR Upright? post #32948
LOWERING TEMPS lockdown IS NOT NECESSARY/AIDs THE HATCHING PROCESS post #2898
Hatching Behavior & How the chick Comes out of the Shell post #34865
YES a chick can chirp when its not pipped internally! post #20506

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First and foremost, @Sally Sunshine for her excellent shipped egg information,
such that I'm getting live birds hatching from this mess:
Kristins horribly shipped eggs and hatch post #57321

CRACKED EXPENSIVE IMPORTANT EGGS
If you do receive a cracked egg and it’s an expensive egg you can try to hatch it, but beware of bacterial explosion and good possibility of ruining other eggs. It is possible to hatch a cracked egg by sealing the crack with candle wax/crayon wax or finger nail polish. Try to place the egg in a cup or protected place well away from other eggs. If viable to hatch, keep a close eye on where the pip mark will be in case the chick cant get through a fixed area.




REMINDER THAT YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT
OF DAMAGED SHIPPED EGGS
SEE LINKS FOR INFO! https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-truth-about-insuring-hatching-eggs
http://www.jordan-farm.com/blog/
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[Sally Sunshine]

Ron, you have additions or suggest something please message me so I can make changes accordingly! Thank you!

sorry I haven't been online much of late, been busy and trying to break away from this cold.

 

[ronott1]

Ron, you have additions or suggest something please message me so I can make changes accordingly! Thank you!

sorry I haven't been online much of late, been busy and trying to break away from this cold.

I like it Sally!

I will look at it closer though.