Incubator's running full speed ahead! February's hatching percentages

We started putting eggs in 2/23.

2/23
IN - 8 duck eggs
HATCHED - 6 (as of 3/22/12, with a couple more days of possible hatch since duck eggs take 30-35 days depending on breed)
HATCH SUCCESS = (6/8) 75% (this number could change)

2/24
IN - 5 chicken eggs
HATCHED - 4
HATCH SUCCESS = (4/5) 80%

2/25
SOLD

2/26
IN - 10
HATCHED - 9
HATCH SUCCESS = (9/10) 90%

2/27
IN - 19
HATCHED - 17
HATCH SUCCESS = (17/19) 84%

2/28
IN - 7
HATCHED - 6
HATCH SUCCESS = (6/7) 86%

2/29 Caught the dogs eating eggs, the coop gate was open =o(
IN - 2
HATCHED - 1
HATCH SUCCESS = 50%

So for the 6 days in February that we incubated and hatched eggs, our success percentage is 78%. We did lose 4 of the chicks after putting them in the brooder.

Spring is in the air!

Turkey hens like snappy male accessories such as wattles and combs. These toms are sure showing their beauty!

A few fun facts:
*Only toms (male turkeys) gobble, the hens make a cluck sound. Our toms tend to follow the leader tom, if he gobbles, they all do!
*When the toms strut, they are showing off, or posturing, for the hens. They puff up their feathers and fan their tails out while shaking their body feathers.
*The toms have a large skin flap down its neck called a wattle, below that are small, wart-like structures called the caruncle. These will turn a bright red to attract females and a pale blue to cream when he's not in the mood. The flap of skin attached to the top of the beak is called a snood. This is used to attract females during strutting (mating ritual). It will become elongated and distend when the tom is aroused and will contract at other times.

Blue Slate hen, Bourbon Red toms