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

[BluebirdHomestead]

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:
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(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?

I am doing a staggered hatch too and I’m just going to keep the humidity around 35-40% until I see a pip and then I’ll raise it. That is, if either of my 2 Marans eggs hatch.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have diff incubators going, so hopefully some will hatch in one incubator, and distract me from the next batch.

 

[FortCluck]

Now all 3 are internally pipped and I can hear one... It was chirping loud when I candled it's egg

 

[FortCluck]

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

I was hoping to come home to chicks I know tomorrow they'll be out

 

[FortCluck]

Have you played them chick sounds?

One is making a ton of noise already so it's got the noises covered very big loud mouth... Like it's dad. HeiHei our sebright screams at everyone. Should've seen him with the hen we just got... He wants a piece of her.

The new hen honestly is living with 15 chicks and doesn't care. She's been just hanging with them. She didn't even peck them. I've never seen a hen so calm.

 

[FortCluck]

I am doing a staggered hatch too and I’m just going to keep the humidity around 35-40% until I see a pip and then I’ll raise it. That is, if either of my 2 Marans eggs hatch.

X3 with the staggered hatch going. I have tons of polish eggs that I put in the day we get them from her. I'm creating a Polish chicken army She stopped laying though... I think she's onto me

 

[CluckNDoodle]

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

I actually enjoy lockdown when I'm hatching chickens, turkeys, or quail now because I've gotten really comfortable with their time frame. Something finally snapped in my brain from hatching so many I think . Now waterfowl and peachicks are still a source of stress/excitement once lockdown arrives...and of course I'm hatching geese again so I'm sure I'll lose some sleep this month.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

X3 with the staggered hatch going. I have tons of polish eggs that I put in the day we get them from her. I'm creating a Polish chicken army She stopped laying though... I think she's onto me

Hahaha I can’t wait to see all of those little babies!!!

 

[FortCluck]

I actually enjoy lockdown when I'm hatching chickens, turkeys, or quail now because I've gotten really comfortable with their time frame. Something finally snapped in my brain from hatching so many I think . Now waterfowl and peachicks are still a source of stress/excitement once lockdown arrives...and of course I'm hatching geese again so I'm sure I'll lose some sleep this month.

I stopped candling the duck eggs they take too long for me. I just want them out so I can send them on their way and have my bator back.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I smell another stinker in the emu incubator

But it’s ok! That’s why we started with 7 eggs Goal was to have 2 hatch. There are 3 eggs leaning towards the pointed end and 3 that aren’t. Curious if any of the eggs leaning are the stinky one? Will have to pull out the mixing bowl and plastic wrap again...