The 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!

[ronott1]

I didn't take any photos yet of candling. But, they're about 11 days along, so lots of "swimming" going on!

But, this is what I set the eggs:


I set 70 eggs and there were 13 infertile eggs. Not as bad as I expected, considering that the main winter flock has only 3 roosters & way more than 30 hens.
But, I processed one of the older roosters today in main flock, since there's plenty of younger roosters in the bachelor pad to replace them. But,now there's only 2 in the main group.
Tried to move a rooster from another coop who'd been kind of hanging out with the main flock during the day, but he wants his "girls" back.
And hopefully by the hatch-a-long, the pullets in two other coops (each with 2 roosters) will be laying big enough eggs to hatch out.
As far as what I'll be hatching, it'll be continuing my Catskill Homesteader Chickens - a breeding project I've been working on for several years now.

It's not my first Easter Hatch-A-Long, did it in 2013, 2015 & 2016. But once things get "rolling" it's so hard to keep up with all the posts. So, I just "check in" a few times.

Yes! I remember you from other hatch a longs!

I can't wait ti see what you hatch. I love the tinted eggs too.

 

[ronott1]

I think I will join. Should have plenty of eggs by then.

How many hatch a longs for you?

 

[The Duck Ladie]

hello,
I've read you should set your eggs on their sides with the air cell slightly raised. How do I do that. I was just set them down of the floor of the incubator.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

How many hatch a longs for you?

I have done one other one. New years day hatch along a few years ago.

 

[Chickens4lifee]

Quick question. how long can eggs last if I put them in the turner out side the bator so I can collect them starting mon or should I wait until next sat? I left the ones I have about to hatch on the turner outside the bator for 4 days and all but 2 should hatch and the others i guess were not fertile. Because i would like to have a full bator for this hatch along and I want them all to hatch if they can.

 

[BantyChooks]

Quick question. how long can eggs last if I put them in the turner out side the bator so I can collect them starting mon or should I wait until next sat? I left the ones I have about to hatch on the turner outside the bator for 4 days and all but 2 should hatch and the others i guess were not fertile. Because i would like to have a full bator for this hatch along and I want them all to hatch if they can.

Hatchability generally starts to decline after 10 days.

 

[dan26552]

I think I might set some duck eggs.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I didn't take any photos yet of candling. But, they're about 11 days along, so lots of "swimming" going on! But, this is what I set the eggs: I set 70 eggs and there were 13 infertile eggs. Not as bad as I expected, considering that the main winter flock has only 3 roosters & way more than 30 hens. But, I processed one of the older roosters today in main flock, since there's plenty of younger roosters in the bachelor pad to replace them. But,now there's only 2 in the main group. Tried to move a rooster from another coop who'd been kind of hanging out with the main flock during the day, but he wants his "girls" back. And hopefully by the hatch-a-long, the pullets in two other coops (each with 2 roosters) will be laying big enough eggs to hatch out. As far as what I'll be hatching, it'll be continuing my Catskill Homesteader Chickens - a breeding project I've been working on for several years now. It's not my first Easter Hatch-A-Long, did it in 2013, 2015 & 2016. But once things get "rolling" it's so hard to keep up with all the posts. So, I just "check in" a few times.

I love the mix of colours

We will be fine with flooding but there could be other problems. The Dam at lake Oroville had a break in the spillway yesterday and there will be some light river flooding on the Sacramento River tomorrow. It will reach flood stage but is not a danger to where I live in Woodland. Those eggs will be hard to candle. What I look for in eggs like that is increasing darkness. I would use 30% humidity too because Marans eggs do not let moisture out as well as other eggs. If the egg glows after day 14, it is likely a dud. Yes, we hat 5 years of drought. It was terrible and we lost Millions of trees.

Glad to hear you won't flood but that dam with a break would be worrisome to me :/ I've not done eggs that dark before so I thank you for that info. You never know I may go crazy and set a whole batch of different breeds this time I am sure it would drive me batty though not knowing 100% what was going on in there!

I think I will join. Should have plenty of eggs by then.

Welcome to the thread!

hello, I've read you should set your eggs on their sides with the air cell slightly raised. How do I do that. I was just set them down of the floor of the incubator.

If your incubator does not have a smooth surface you can in general get them to lay on their sides with the fat end slightly up. My incubator with out turning facility has a plastic mesh that you can set them so they are slightly up on the fat end. It is ever so slightly though.

Quick question. how long can eggs last if I put them in the turner out side the bator so I can collect them starting mon or should I wait until next sat? I left the ones I have about to hatch on the turner outside the bator for 4 days and all but 2 should hatch and the others i guess were not fertile. Because i would like to have a full bator for this hatch along and I want them all to hatch if they can.

I agree on 10 days. For me personally I don't set anything older than 7 days just to be on the safe side.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I think I might set some duck eggs.

Ooh duck eggs!

I'd love be some ducks but it's the mess that puts me off :/

 

[dan26552]

Ooh duck eggs!

I'd love be some ducks but it's the mess that puts me off :/

Yep! I have some on day 23 right now.


Ducks are fun, I like them better than chickens, yep they can be messy.