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

[jolenesdad]

Day 18 Update
All 14 fertile eggs that started developing are still alive! Humidity has been right on track, based on average weight loss (11.8%).

• 1 BBS marans
• 1 Lav marans
• 2 Partridge orpington
• 3 Olive egger
• 1 Opal legbar
• 6 CCL backyard mix (possible fathers are bresse/oprington/CCL

Here they are:
View attachment 2041048
(some of those air cells look small in this photo but I think it's just the angle)

Because I'm doing a staggered hatch, I decided to create a little safety container for the eggs that are only on D5 right now. Here it is:
View attachment 2041049
I made grooves and notches, so I wouldn't have to use hot glue. I can roll the whole thing from side-to-side to get the eggs to rotate. (I removed a bit more from around the fan, after I took the below photo)
View attachment 2041046

The finished result!
View attachment 2041047

I'm trying to decide whether to keep my humidity low (25-30%) over the next 24-28 hours. While the average weight loss is dead on for the clutch as a whole, there are both wet and dry outliers, and I'm always nervous with the wet ones, due to a horrific first hatch. What do you guys think?

Looks fabulous! I used those plastic sheets my first hatch and didn’t go high to the lid and had chicks jumping the walls. I was a mess. I think that setup will work perfectly to keep them out of the other eggs.

I don’t ever worry about the outliers, it’s about the average. Those outliers are just doing their thing. They’ll likely be fine, too. If ALL were one way or the other, you worry.

 

[gimmie birdies]

When I put my eggs in this incubator, when they were day 3 (days 1-3 in diff incubator) I candled to get an idea how the other incubator was doing. I put the strong obvious developers in the center area. I put the eggs with indications of development on either side of that and the ? eggs on the far edges. the ? eggs I know I can take a better look say on day 7. But I am not going to take them out on day 3 (there were 3 clears I did take out though) I may also still have clears to take out, I also put a dot on developing eggs. The edges still get good heat, I tested it.

 

[FortCluck]

Hang in there!

I just want to see what they look like SOOOOO BADDDD

 

[julskinka]

I just want to see what they look like SOOOOO BADDDD

MEEE TOOOOOOO

 

[ASteelman]

Omg, 180 pages! I am late I guess lol. This will be my first hatch of the year.

On the left I have eggs from my blue ameraucana breeding pair. I have never gotten a splash bird in my 5 years of chicken keeping so I always cross my fingers for that. They're due to hatch March 18.

On the right are eggs from my wheaten marans pullets, but the father is a first generation olive egger. So these birds will be BC1 (backcross), and about 50% should inherit the blue egg gene. I have a whole plan going forward for test breeding with an ultimate goal of olive eggers that breed true -- that is, they are homozygous for the blue egg gene but don't lose the brown coating. This plan extends into 2022 lol so wish me luck and patience. These are due to hatch March 20.

 

[julskinka]

Omg, 180 pages! I am late I guess lol. This will be my first hatch of the year.

View attachment 2041083

On the left I have eggs from my blue ameraucana breeding pair. I have never gotten a splash bird in my 5 years of chicken keeping so I always cross my fingers for that. They're due to hatch March 18.

On the right are eggs from my wheaten marans pullets, but the father is a first generation olive egger. So these birds will be BC1 (backcross), and about 50% should inherit the blue egg gene. I have a whole plan going forward for test breeding with an ultimate goal of olive eggers that breed true -- that is, they are homozygous for the blue egg gene but don't lose the brown coating. This plan extends into 2022 lol so wish me luck and patience. These are due to hatch March 20.

Welcome! Those are absolutely gorgeous eggs! Despite floofs impending on Friday, I seethe with envy. It's not a good look. Best of luck with your breeding plan!!

 

[FortCluck]

MEEE TOOOOOOO

I told them to come out... Not sure if they listened. Their hatch date is the 5th but two have been internally pipped since last night.

 

[Jules929]

I told them to come out... Not sure if they listened. Their hatch date is the 5th but two have been internally pipped since last night.

Have you played them chick sounds?

 

[gimmie birdies]

Good luck with your plans. I have F1 in incubator from Meyers, also cream legbars, welsummers and more of course. Marans from a diff breeder.

 

[jolenesdad]

I told them to come out... Not sure if they listened. Their hatch date is the 5th but two have been internally pipped since last night.

lockdown is my least favorite time! It's too suspenseful!