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

[Mosey2003]

I think the more I incubate eggs the more I’ll probably let them be longer. I’m hoping that’s how it will go at least

My eggs are common breeds, white leghorn, olive eggers and black jersey giants. Does that make it easier to hatch than rare breeds or it’s all depending on how well it was fertilized and the temperature and humidity and quality of eggs?

In my opinion, the major factors in how well eggs hatch are vigor and handling/incubation technique. You need to have the correct temperatures, you need good humidity, and you need to handle the eggs well prior to setting them. But if the breeders aren't vigorous and healthy, you can do everything right and still have poor hatches.

 

[Mylied]

Ok, I'm going to jump in right here. Hi! Hope all your incubations are going well. I'm starting mine tomorrow. I still need to pick up a local dozen and add 5 eggs from my bird. I'm hatching the gc eggs for a friend. The lovely colorful ones got shipped to me, so letting them all rest.

 

[julskinka]

You just have to settle for staring lovingly through the top of the incubator and talking to the babies while they work on growing.

Not gonna lie. Have definitely caught myself starting down at them like a psycho while humming some dumb song about "my little chicky babiessssssss...." when no one else is around.

 

[julskinka]

The eggs have arrived! The dozen I wasn't expecting until tomorrow actually showed up before the other two.

So pretty!

 

[julskinka]

In my opinion, the major factors in how well eggs hatch are vigor and handling/incubation technique. You need to have the correct temperatures, you need good humidity, and you need to handle the eggs well prior to setting them. But if the breeders aren't vigorous and healthy, you can do everything right and still have poor hatches.

Exactly this -- having decent equipment and having sourced your eggs well makes all the difference. My first batch was with a borrowed styrofoam bator with wicked hotspots, with eggs I bought from My Pet Chicken. NEVER AGAIN, on either front. After that, I splurged on an Incuview, and buy from either local sources or reputable breeders. I did try Meyer Hatchery eggs once, and while it was a little better than MPC, they don't send extras unless you buy a lot, and several of their eggs were either cracked, clears/early quitters, or already-growing-but-dead (!!). My best shipped rates so far have come from a breeder in California (I'm in NJ) - his stock is good, and his shipping practices are top notch.

 

[hysop]

I talk to my eggs often enough that my kids want to talk to them right after I talk to them. Maybe that’s why they’re doing so well.

I did say once “if you’re a rooster still hatch but know that you’ll be considered food in 3 months”

My husband said, If I got told that I wouldn’t want to hatch!

The closer to lockdown I get the more excited I am to find out the gender. Before it was if they were fertilized and growing. Now I’m like are you a boy or a girl?!?!

 

[julskinka]

So I used a slightly better flashlight to candle my olive eggs. I didn’t candle all of them just like 3 out of 8. They all looked good. The air cell at the top (the wide end not pointy end) was small but it’s only day 9. Should I increase humidity?

A quarter-size at this point is fine, but if in the future you find they're too small you want to lower your humidity, so more moisture can escape the egg.

 

[julskinka]

Ok, I'm going to jump in right here. Hi! Hope all your incubations are going well. I'm starting mine tomorrow. I still need to pick up a local dozen and add 5 eggs from my bird. I'm hatching the gc eggs for a friend. The lovely colorful ones got shipped to me, so letting them all rest.View attachment 2031476

Gorgeous. What are the FEs?

 

[FortCluck]

Not gonna lie. Have definitely caught myself starting down at them like a psycho while humming some dumb song about "my little chicky babiessssssss...." when no one else is around.

When I had 104 temperature a few weeks ago for numerous days, my husband said that I was in the spare bedroom talking to the chicks and holding them. He said I was kissing their beaks and playing with them on the floor I don't remember a thing.

 

[julskinka]

When I had 104 temperature a few weeks ago for numerous days, my husband said that I was in the spare bedroom talking to the chicks and holding them. He said I was kissing their beaks and playing with them on the floor I don't remember a thing.

Brings new meaning to the term "avian influenza."