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

[KateGoad]

I guess I'm in for the March. April was the plan.

Our proven hen decided to go broody. It's earlier than we wanted chicks (planning to do a hatch next month to coincide with our chickens order from Meyers).

She brooded last spring and had four. One died upon hatching, so we took the rest of the eggs and finished in the incubator. She got pissed and ran off. We thought we lost her, but we saw her every few days. Twenty-one days later, she wanders back with four chicklets in tow. She was such a good momma, so I'm not all that concerned about letting her go early.

 

[FortCluck]

Skinning is the most useful thing anyones told us! Have you done it before? I only know how to do breast and legs but would love to do whole carcass

I watched videos. I'm butchering my first one Saturday.

 

[LilyD]

Brickhouse shipped eggs are in the hatcher going now. One baby out and 5 more pips

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Well hello to you too little fella!

 

[Kizmet]

Seriously considering a second incubator so I can have two going at once....

Just had a dozen Belgian d’Uccle eggs arrive, collected a dozen Guinea Fowl eggs from my own flock and am desperately waiting for the incubator to free up so I can start them! On the plus side I’ve sold 5 dozen of my mixed flock eggs to someone so at least that partially covers some costs.

Day 19 today!!

 

[julskinka]

D20
Woke up to 3 external pips! Of course, not on any of the eggs I'm most excited/worried about.

 

[abpatchy]

Just put 42 eggs into lockdown. Even though I can't wait... it is not as nerve wracking as the very first time!
I bought some special trays to seperate the chicks during hatch... oh how nice! I have to get me a third one since I have 3 trays in my incubator.
The bad part is... I have a feeling that this incubator is just too small.... looking at adding a second one... omg... I'm insane!!!!!

 

[2102Simm]

D14 I'm down to 16 in the incubator from starting at 22. Of the ones I've lost one was clear, 4 had the blood ring and the last had a partially formed baby that looked like it just stopped. I still have 2-3 questionable ones in the incubator that I'm keeping an eye on. I saw movement in 2 of them today. One was in my EE egg and the other was in my SLW both are the mixes I really want to see hatch. Some of my others are so thick shelled I cant see through them so I'm fingers crossed their good.

My EE baby

 

[abpatchy]

And I decited since I put the 42 into lockdown to check on the 12 eggs I put in the incubator on Saturday... 12 out of 12 are fertilized. YAY

 

[FortCluck]

One of the bantam chicks passed away last night