The incubators are finally off!!!

Today the last Hatcher is turned off yippee!!. I have actually been done for about 5 weeks and just I had my last chicks out and along came numerous friends who I put eggs in for, being an enabler, sure I can hatch yet more chicks for them and the last babies are out and I quickly hit the shut off switch on the Hatcher. Glad the season is over now time to watch all the youngsters grow, my favorite time.

Heather

Same here, done exept for some friends hatching a few more.
Also a broody whandotte left on 12 Barnevelder eggs. The first ones are looking good already and hearing some crowing. Got most of them off heat and are out on the grassfield now.
Piet

Watching the youngsters grow out over the summer is my favorite time too.  

Well I thought I was done hatching, but now I'm not so sure. And it's all due to this one hen I have who I've been trying to get offspring from since spring began...I've had three different cocks over her and not a single fertile egg. It's very disheartening because she has this certain youthful pullet look that I'd love to replicate, and lays a large sized sky blue egg. I'm about ready to throw in the towel...but what if number four is the lucky one?

Sigh...I'm going to be really bummed if she turns out to be a dud.  

Turned mine off about three weeks ago.  Around here you had better have those hatchlings at a decent size before September hits!

Except...I am about to turn it on again!  I have a bunch of late layers!   

I am half way through my last hatch of the year! Excited to be DONE. Incubator has been running since early February!

Just finished incubating, had to go longer than I wanted due to a cockerel who wasn't doing his job. But now have a good number of each of my breeds.

Still setting pheasant eggs though. And there are two broody bantam hens sitting on black d'Uccle eggs.

Find my hens start going broody about now anyway, so if I really want more chicks I put a broody in a quiet safe space and let her rip....

A few more turkey eggs in the incubator though, lots of order for poults still coming in!

I'm just starting to hatch my crele orpingtons!  Lol. My poor bator will be running for a while yet

Geeze, interesting to hear all that others are doing. I have been hatching in small numbers cause I have had roosters that clearly have favourites. With half broody, the dudes have no choice but to go with others, smiling. But, then too, hardly any eggs to gather for incubation, the girls have become lazy with the heat I guess, they are not molting, so whatever. I have retired my buff rooster and two of his sons will soon be taking over, they are old enough now to be put with girls, the girls have been lacking a leader, so will be happy for these two. I am hoping egg production begins again so I can do an August to September hatch to grow out over the winter. Odd lives that we live, happy dancing!! Have a beautiful day, CynthiaM.

Sadly the last batch of eggs we put in the incubator are all clear.... really sad as this was our most important pairing.    His fertility is great but he is a gentleman so when the hen said "Not today dear, I have a headache" he actually listened. Such a funny boy! He brings her gifts. It is enjoyable to watch him find a special stick, drop it at her feet and do his mating dance.....if the gift is not acceptable (it NEVER is) he finds another stick, leaf or bit of grass and tries again. Cute but not helpful when we are trying to hatch a few chicks from them.

Funny that - turkey fertility falls right off - this last hatch at 10 days over 50% eggs were clear, after almost 90% fertility in the spring. As Cole Porter says "it's too darn hot"!

I wonder if the broodies have the same rate of fertility in the eggs they are sitting on?

The Shetland geese were sitting on a clutch of eggs but gave up after 2 weeks - all the eggs were blanks.

heda gobbler wrote:Find my hens start going broody about now anyway, so if I really want more chicks I put a broody in a quiet safe space and let her rip....

A few more turkey eggs in the incubator though, lots of order for poults still coming in!

Ha! If you can't fill all your turkey orders, send some my way, Heda