16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along

[Nomadicus]

My final count is 40 Crested Cream Legbar and 1 White Jersey Giant. I had one more Legbar egg but it had a lot of calcium deposits on the shell and I really wanted a chance of getting one more White Giant pullet so I think I made a good choice making the switch.

 

[MROO]

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16th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-Along
All eggs set to hatch on 4/5 through 5/3 count!
Come join us!​

It's that time again! Every year, many members from all over the world come together to set eggs to hatch on the exact same day, April 19th, 2025 - the day BEFORE Easter. As a group last year, we had 2091 eggs set for hatching! If you are new to hatching, this is a great way to get a lot of help, tips, and advice. Join in the fun for the largest BYC Hatch-Along of the year!

Spoiler: Set Dates - Click to Open

Type of Egg	Days to Hatch	Set Dates
Emu	49 - 55	February 23rd to March 1st
Muscovy duck	35	March 15th
Goose	28 - 32	March 18th to March 22nd
Pheasant	22 - 29	March 21st to March 28th
Mallard (derived) duck, goose,	28	March 22nd
Turkey, Guinea, Peafowl	28	March 22nd
Call duck and other bantam ducks	26	March 24th
Bobwhite quail	23	March 27th
Seramas other small bantams	19 - 21	March 29th to March 31st
Chickens	21	March 29th
Pigeons	17 - 19	March 31st to April 2nd
Coturnix quail	18	April 1st
Doves	14 - 16	April 3rd to April 5th
Button quail	16	April 3rd

Set Chicken eggs on Saturday, March 29th, at Noon (whatever time zone you are in). Other poultry set dates are listed in the spoiler & table above. To join the hatch-along, simply post in this thread that you wish to enter, and we will add you! Set dates for each type of domestic fowl are listed above.

This is our main chat thread for the hatch-along, where you can find anything from new friends, and awesome incubation help, to the most detailed educational discussions possible, and how could we forget the laughter and fun!

This post of the hatch-along will be updated as we move along with all the important information you will need, but if you find yourself with a question, just post it on the thread, everyone is helpful!

All of the contests are held in separate threads. To enter each contest, you must visit each contest thread, read the rules, and enter the contest.

If you end up not setting any eggs, please let us know! It makes it easier for our record-keeping and we don't have to try to track you down!

Places to find hatching eggs:​

• Chicken Hatching Eggs
• The NEW Crazy 24hr AUCTION thread
• Just In Time Hatching Egg AUCTION and BIN Thread

Incubation, Hatching, & Baby Chick Threads​

• Incubating & Hatching Eggs
• Raising Baby Chicks

Educational hatching articles:​

• The Beginner's Guide to Incubation
• Incubation Humidity
• Development of a Chicken Embryo Day by Day
• Candling Pics Progression Through Incubation Of Chicken Eggs
• Incubating And Hatching Muscovy Eggs
• Egg failure to hatch - Diagnosing incubation problems
• Guide to Assisted Hatching for All Poultry
• How To Incubate Hatch Eggs Using The Dry Incubation Method
• Fixing Curled Toes With Tape - Picture Tutorial and Video

All of the contests are held in separate threads. To enter each contest, you must visit each contest thread, read the rules, and enter the contest. See post #2 for the current contest lineup!​

I had absolutely NO intention of joining the Easter Hatchalong as anything but a spectator. My broody bantams outvoted me. Put me down for nine!

EDIT to Add - Nankin bantams and Nankin/Bantam EE crosses.

 

[catsndogs4us]

Tomorrow I will do a first candle on mine. o excited to see what is happening in those eggs.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I set six eggs that traveled over 3,000 miles just to end up in my incubator—jet-lagged but ready for action. The order wasn’t quite right, but hey, at this point, what can I do? File a complaint, lol?

So here’s what I actually got:

• 2 White Leghorns – Future escape artists in training.
• 1 Mystery Bird – Probably a Rhode Island Red? The shell is a color inbetween a RIR and Copper Maran, but I was hoping for a something more unique as I already have RIR's.
• 1 Easter Egger
• 2 Olive Eggers

Not exactly what I ordered, but at least they made it here with their frequent flyer miles intact!

Everyone around here swears we only have a feral population of 'jungle fowl,' but let’s be real—poverty is widespread. People buy chickens, realize they can’t afford feed (and don’t grow fodder), the chickens leave to find food....and suddenly, boom—instant “wild” chickens.

We had a lone Buff Orpington show up in our yard, for reasons unknown—fat as a Thanksgiving turkey and clearly thriving on our property. I tried to befriend her, but she wanted zero part of that. Eventually, she packed her feathery bags and disappeared.

And that, my friends, is when the “I need my own chickens” obsession officially began. But I wanted anything but white leghorns, or the birds that are all over here: copper marans and RIR because that is what the feed store brings in. But I digress. I guess we see what hatches!

 

[BantyChooks]

I set six eggs that traveled over 3,000 miles just to end up in my incubator—jet-lagged but ready for action. The order wasn’t quite right, but hey, at this point, what can I do? File a complaint, lol?

So here’s what I actually got:

• 2 White Leghorns – Future escape artists in training.
• 1 Mystery Bird – Probably a Rhode Island Red? The shell is a color inbetween a RIR and Copper Maran, but I was hoping for a something more unique as I already have RIR's.
• 1 Easter Egger
• 2 Olive Eggers

Not exactly what I ordered, but at least they made it here with their frequent flyer miles intact!

Everyone around here swears we only have a feral population of 'jungle fowl,' but let’s be real—poverty is widespread. People buy chickens, realize they can’t afford feed (and don’t grow fodder), the chickens leave to find food....and suddenly, boom—instant “wild” chickens.

We had a lone Buff Orpington show up in our yard, for reasons unknown—fat as a Thanksgiving turkey and clearly thriving on our property. I tried to befriend her, but she wanted zero part of that. Eventually, she packed her feathery bags and disappeared.

And that, my friends, is when the “I need my own chickens” obsession officially began. But I wanted anything but white leghorns, or the birds that are all over here: copper marans and RIR because that is what the feed store brings in. But I digress. I guess we see what hatches!

Woah! That’s quite a journey.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Woah! That’s quite a journey.

Oregon to the Virgin Islands. So I assume hatch rate will be decreased, and of course some roosters (which Ill drop them off closer to town). So no idea what Ill be getting- but it is the eggers I am crossing my fingers! They went in the incubator April 1st late at night.