I am going to candle the eggs in the incubator tonight, so we can tell how many of the 30 eggs are viable. There were several I was unsure of the last time I candled this hatching. So I will be checking those first, and for those that get culled there will be Eggtopsy(s) to perform. I will try to remember to post Pictures and results. I am terrible about remembering to update this blog.

I finally got the commerical brooder set up and 17 of the last 19 that hatched are in it currently, 2 appear to need feet braces and are separated for that. The older 8 will be moving to the new Chicken coop soon. Joe got the linoleum laid on the poop boards for easier cleaning; just waiting for the glue to cure! Hurray! Then all it needs is the inside door in place and the Roosts! then in move the chicks......
 
These chicks are growing fast...I am surprised by how quickly they are feathering and growing.
Picture

They are now in a "large Dog Wire Kennel"  they are about 1/4-1/2 the size of my adult hens. They are really beginning to look great. I am very pleased to say we have done very well with these and have not had any losses from our hatches.
the Black & whites are the Light Brahma x Barred Rocks the white with Black markings are Pure Light Brahma and the Yellow headed ones are Light Brahma x Easter Egger.


 
Set 30 eggs today after candling for shell Quality, weighting each eggs and numbering for easy reference. Egg weights are between 2.0 ounces and 3.0 ounces. We will be tracking weights as we candle to see if they do in fact lose 10-14% of their weight, I would think with the growing that they would gain weight not lose it. But everything I have read says different. Hmmm.
there are a couple already sold, the rest are for my projects & laying flock.

If all goes well with this hatch, we will have almost tripled our stock.



Picture
 
 
Well the hatch is over the last 4 eggs didn't make it.
so we have 19/23 hatchrate 82.67%
Rooster:Hen Ratio 1:33  fertility Rate 92.59%
I think all in all we did very well this hatch. I think fulling the incubator helps keep temp and humidity more stable.
I probably won't do another hatching for a a week or so.
So far all 19 chicks appear healthy and active.
 
Picture
19 hatched!!! 18 in the brooder, 4 eggs to go!
Results of this clutch are:
27 eggs set 2/14/2010
2 infertile on Day 10 (removed day 14)
2 early quitters removed Day 18
19 hatched on the 5th (due the 7th)
4 eggs left in the incubator (doing nothing yet).
we will give them another 2 days, to do something before we remove them.
Fertility 92.59% Hatchability 70.37%

this is one Rooster over 33 hens.

hatch rates are improving (with my experience level)

Set # 1 0 chicks/6 eggs

Set #2  4 chicks/9 eggs

Set #3  4 chicks/7 eggs

Set #4 19chicks/27 eggs

I will update this as I find out about the other 4 eggs in the incubator.
Picture
 
14 hatched, 5 more pipped 4 to go!
 
7 in the brooder, incubator 2 out and 6 pipped, 8 not doing much yet
 
Brooder Pics on Photobucket, Facebook & My Space

we have 6 in the brooder, 7 in the incubator have pipped. 10 eggs have not started yet, but they are not due til tomorrow, so we will give them a few more days!
They are soo cute. I think this will be my last hatch until spring when I can order some eggs. I need to increase the Barred Rocks and the Light Brahmas, to do so I will need to get a couple of Roosters! I would like to get 2 of each so I could change the bloodlines.
 
I woke up this morning to a whole lota Chirping Going on!
I went to bed with 9-10 pips
here is what I woke up to:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture