2015 HALLOWEEN Hatch-a-Long, Join us IF YOU DARE!

CGilbert said:

Hold a flashlight below the egg when all lights are turned off and it is dark. You'll be able to see what's going on inside the egg (as long as it's not a brown or dark colored egg). Cup your fingers and thumb around the base of the egg so you aren't blinded by the ambient light.

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I don't have a flash light small enough.

youngchooklover said:

Bit sad I think my incubator is broken

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I'm so sorry

Cynthia12 said:

This looks fun! Hmm, just may have to find me some eggs. Barn yard mixes will do.

I have some chicks coming as a replacement of some beautiful eggs that didn't do well during the last EHAL. Wow, what a great person to keep offering, he felt so bad the eggs took a while, then when they got here, there were problems with a few..only had 2 hatch. So, I took him up on it. Getting some Nice pullet Marans chicks when they hatch in a couple of weeks! I love BYC folks..most are just incredibly kind.

Sally, are there going to be contests on this HAL? If so, I would like to offer a gift for a winner.

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Oh Cynth! I will hatch mixes too I think. That is wonderful, and with chicks!

Yes we are going to do a kids face painting contest and if you have any ideas or would like to run one let me know! I just need to make sure the rules are written BYC style! and thats a copy paste from another contest LOL

your awesome and kind did I mention that lately! I really did miss you, it was fantastic getting to know you on that HAL the other year!

CGilbert said:

I suggest to go pick up a cheap one at Walmart or any drug store. The cheap mercury type ones will work just fine. Or whatever's cheapest. It helps to double check and verify. It'll alert you when one is reading wrong. With a still air incubator, temps can fluctuate up to about 5 degrees (Fahrenheit). With circulated air, I've found them to only fluctuate up to a half degree (f).
Good luck!

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ditto! and putting extra heat sinks in the bator may help hold heat better if you dont have many in it! jars of water or even ziplocks with water! I am sure others have more ideas too! My styro bator was horrible with adjustments in temp at the dial and flux in room temp, so this may help a bit!

Penny Hen said:

OK now I am tempted to hatch. I ran into a guy at the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville (because there is a State Fair in Knoxville too). He has the most beautiful Bantam Barred Rocks. They had some fine Old English there but his Rocks were just stunning. I talked to him and got his name and number so I could get eggs from him later. I really need to wait to spring but.........

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Penny Hen! welcome! how are you? I am a sucker for a pretty BR! Welcome welcome!!

youngchooklover said:

I don't have a flash light small enough.

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do you have a cell phone, or you could make a candler, I have to run to the doc but I am sure someone can help you with a link to a homemade light candler..... I will check back in after my doc to see if you got hooked up!

ronott1 said:

Your Welcome!

I am 55 now and some places will give me a Senior Discount!

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ronott1 said:

Your Welcome!

I am 55 now and some places will give me a Senior Discount!

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Happy Birthday!!! (I get some of the Senior Discounts too........the one that's the greatest discount is the memory one)

CGilbert said:

We all have that problem with waiting and patience. It's a chicken/duck/poultry addict flaw... that we all happily admit to.

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I can relate............I started with chicks my daughter brought me from her farm a few years ago.......went to work at a store that sold chicks........oh my..........what a sneaky addiction this is..........

DH wants to get one of those radiator looking oil type plug in heaters for the room the bators are in. We are 80s during the day and 40s at night.....the heat lamp from the brooder keeps it pretty warm. Anything I should be aware of on this?

sonshine15 said:

I can relate............I started with chicks my daughter brought me from her farm a few years ago.......went to work at a store that sold chicks........oh my..........what a sneaky addiction this is..........

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My hubby would kill me if I worked somewhere that sold them, lol. We'd have WAY too many in NO time.

That's what happened to me lol!!! But DH seems to be ok with them and is growing quite fond of them until..........it's time for vacation or a trip.................And now I'm hatching them..........

youngchooklover said:

I don't candle I don't really know how.

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You need a REALLY bright light that produces little to no heat.... cut an oblong hole in a box... have the light inside the box.... set the egg on the oblong hole... It helps to be in the dark when doing this.... and you may have to line the box with aluminum foil, to intensify the light....

For hand candling, Sally bought a ridiculously bright flashlight some time back on Amazon... something like 5,000 lumens brightness... I think it worked on chocolate Easter eggs, it was so bright....

dray! Happy Belated! I'm older than you are .. neener neener! Actually, I older than you are by a lot.