Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[FortCluck]

They slow down as they get older but hens can keep laying well into their "elderly" chicken years. We have an old hen that we aren't actually positive how old she is but we're positive of 4 years and likely 5-6. She hasn't stopped laying yet other than taking a break for winter. She was still laying 3-5 eggs a week. Anyway, I would think that after about 2-5 weeks for her to get over the shock and she should start laying again!

Today she was eating and drinking not caring about anything like she's chill. I'm going to try to get her used to people so I can handle her. I think she might have scaly mites so I'm going to treat her for that tomorrow then let her explore around her huge run. She's the only one in it right now. I was going to let some babies be with her but first I need to make sure that she doesn't have scaly mites.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I don’t know why I didn’t ask this before I came to this day. But for the temp during lockdown: the temp when my egg turner was in was read at the top of the incubator and was good. Now that my eggs are lower, do I need to up my temp or leave it? Like the top is reading 99.6 but the bottom thermometer is reading 97

I would try to keep it at 99.5 where the eggs are. A little lower is ok at lockdown according to lots of stuff that I've read but I usually stick to 99.5.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Today she was eating and drinking not caring about anything like she's chill. I'm going to try to get her used to people so I can handle her. I think she might have scaly mites so I'm going to treat her for that tomorrow then let her explore around her huge run. She's the only one in it right now. I was going to let some babies be with her but first I need to make sure that she doesn't have scaly mites.

Aww, she's lucky to have you fixing her up.

 

[arkiechick lady]

I’ve got 56 Lavender and Buff Orpingtons and Australorps due to hatch the 9th. A lone goose egg next week and duck egg in 3 weeks. And now the geese have turned on their laying. Thank goodness for the back up incubator affectionately named “short bus”. I have a feeling they’ll be a lot of goose eggs heading in there in 7 days.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Well. I finally got around to candling my shipped Marans eggs that are on day 16. So. Many. Quitters. Out of 14 all but 3 have quit or are clear. Sigh. One now has an air cell and a fully dark egg. Another egg is quite large so there is a bit more clear space but I think it’s developing in there. And another I think must have quit really recently but I’m leaving it in just in case. I took the turner out and don’t plan on turning them any more. With my luck, one will hatch and be sad and alone.
I candled another group of eggs I have on day 7 and 3/5 F1 Olive eggers are developing. All 4 Flowery Easter Eggers are developing. The 1 Blue Marans Quit, as well as the Barnevelder and I couldn’t tell on the 2 BCMs.

This pic is all the eggs I pulled tonight.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Well. I finally got around to candling my shipped Marans eggs that are on day 16. So. Many. Quitters. Out of 14 all but 3 have quit or are clear. Sigh. One now has an air cell and a fully dark egg. Another egg is quite large so there is a bit more clear space but I think it’s developing in there. And another I think must have quit really recently but I’m leaving it in just in case. I took the turner out and don’t plan on turning them any more. With my luck, one will hatch and be sad and alone.
I candled another group of eggs I have on day 7 and 3/5 F1 Olive eggers are developing. All 4 Flowery Easter Eggers are developing. The 1 Blue Marans Quit, as well as the Barnevelder and I couldn’t tell on the 2 BCMs.

This pic is all the eggs I pulled tonight. View attachment 2038787

Oh no! That's a rough batch to have to pull quitters on. I'm sorry.

 

[AusHen]

Absolutely devastated. Checked on the broody and found one of the good eggs destroyed with a perfect bug eyed chick in its place
I think one of the other hens may have done it because I found a brown egg in there. I normally let broodies have access out of their little coop until lockdown but I'll close the door now and learn my lesson to block all others hens off from day 1.
Other half said put it into the incubator but I won't because that's a 12 day difference

 

[wolfwalker]

Sigh,

Just filled one of the incubators with 22 eggs from my laying flock that I put one of the extra CCL Males in as he is the gentlest of the 2.

So I expect olive egger type eggs, from the cross, which I do not like to do, but hey I had 4 dozen eggs sitting on the counter tonight.

the layer pen has Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks and Light Brahma's. Though, 2 of the Light Brahma's lay a blue / green egg. though as they start back up it is more an olive color with blue speckling. Almost like and inkjet with a nozzle clog, LOL.

So I am calling this a fertility test and will most likely give these away, or nearly free due to them being mixes. though, I might keep back any pullets from the odd egg laying Light brahams to see if the next generation gets bluer

Hatch date March 21st. of course that is a day I will be 200 miles away all day. And coming home with hatching eggs.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Oh no! That's a rough batch to have to pull quitters on. I'm sorry.

Thanks. It’s ok. I accept that shipped eggs are a total gamble. I’m just a little salty because they were beautiful eggs, clearly fertile since they all quit...had they been packaged a little less carelessly maybe they would have stood a better chance, but we will never know!

 

[Mylied]

Sigh,

Just filled one of the incubators with 22 eggs from my laying flock that I put one of the extra CCL Males in as he is the gentlest of the 2.

So I expect olive egger type eggs, from the cross, which I do not like to do, but hey I had 4 dozen eggs sitting on the counter tonight.

the layer pen has Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks and Light Brahma's. Though, 2 of the Light Brahma's lay a blue / green egg. though as they start back up it is more an olive color with blue speckling. Almost like and inkjet with a nozzle clog, LOL.

So I am calling this a fertility test and will most likely give these away, or nearly free due to them being mixes. though, I might keep back any pullets from the odd egg laying Light brahams to see if the next generation gets bluer

Hatch date March 21st. of course that is a day I will be 200 miles away all day. And coming home with hatching eggs.

People pay for mixes here. $2-3 for chicks. $15-20 for started pullets. I don't know why you'd have to give away olive eggers.