Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long! - Page 845

I have a humidity question for anyone using a GQF Cabinet Sportsman Please I have been dry incubating down here in the little fridge and styro bators. I don't increase or add humidity until the eggs actually start to pip. Now I have a GQF and I am not sure what to do. I know to weigh the eggs etc to determine if they are losing enough but not too much moisture but since it seems soooo very controlled do I just go with the humidity pan and 47% humidity? If I put water in the pan and just let it run it stays at about 47%. Should I still take the natural air humidity into consideration but wouldn't the read out show that as well? It has an outside temp reading as well as an inside temp reading so the humidity should be taken into consideratrion as well? I don't want to kill any chicks but I did put two batches of eggs in it all ready just one day ago. Thanks for any input on this

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arielle 

You know it is not going to be a really good hatch when the boxes come in looking like this

 

 

 

I talked to USPS today. THere service could be quite a bit better . . . and I'll leave it at that for now, so I am on the look out for a regular supply of quality boxes and "major foam"--do you purchase or scavenge??

 

I use specially made foam from fowlrus- pm her and she'll send you some! It fits perfectly into the #4 shipping boxes you get free from the PO, which I then put into a #7 box with MORE cushioning around it. Anyone who got eggs from me have pics?

And now these are just for fun.......  

This is the above Blue...  these little winglets make me LAUGH!!!

The gals are stretching in this pic.  I like how you can see the new feathers coming in.

Same boy as above....LOVE his colors

And a Golden 300 Gal

Can't leave out the Pekins

Originally Posted by Arielle 

SO cool! Very revealing.  WOuld you consider placing all the ph otos in a single thread with both point of view? LOL

Hmm...  Yeah, I might do that.  I'll let you know.

I have 12 out of 15 developing - two clears and one early quitter so far.  Not bad for eggs that spent 5-6 days in "Priority" mail!

Packing is really interesting.

1 of 7 (14%) of these eggs are developing:

4 of 12 (33%) of these eggs are developing:

And 12 of 15 (80%) of these eggs are developing:

When I shipped my swap eggs, I used James' method (above), and all 10 arrived intact.  I wonder how many will hatch?  I can't wait to see my flock's cross-country offspring.
 

I need some help, too.  I have candled and have marked the eggs that I think are clear, blood ringed, and quitters.  All the rest I marked with a "G" for good.  At lockdown, (which is Wednesday at noon, right?) do I really need to toss the ones that are no longer hatchable?  How can I be sure?  This is my first hatch and I am so afraid that I will toss one that had a chance.  I heard one of the more experienced hatchers say she leaves them (as long as they are not weeping or smelly) until day 25.  Is that a safe practice for one so new to this as I?  Would it be safer to toss the ones I think are dead and just not do the eggtopsys so I won't be mortified if one is alive?  I don't get grossed out but would flip if the little embryo was viable.  My temps and humidity have been real good through out the hatch and I am pleased with everything so far.  I have even thought of putting the questionable eggs in the freezer prior to the eggtopsy so I will know for sure I won't be horrified, but that would rob me of that data.  I don't know which is the best choice, or if there is a better one out there...... anybody?  HELP!

Renee, how many eggs do you fit in this arrangement? 10, 12, 20, 24????

I need some help, too.  I have candled and have marked the eggs that I think are clear, blood ringed, and quitters.  All the rest I marked with a "G" for good.  At lockdown, (which is Wednesday at noon, right?) do I really need to toss the ones that are no longer hatchable?  How can I be sure?  This is my first hatch and I am so afraid that I will toss one that had a chance.  I heard one of the more experienced hatchers say she leaves them (as long as they are not weeping or smelly) until day 25.  Is that a safe practice for one so new to this as I?  Would it be safer to toss the ones I think are dead and just not do the eggtopsys so I won't be mortified if one is alive?  I don't get grossed out but would flip if the little embryo was viable.  My temps and humidity have been real good through out the hatch and I am pleased with everything so far.  I have even thought of putting the questionable eggs in the freezer prior to the eggtopsy so I will know for sure I won't be horrified, but that would rob me of that data.  I don't know which is the best choice, or if there is a better one out there...... anybody?  HELP!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arielle 

Renee, how many eggs do you fit in this arrangement? 10, 12, 20, 24????

That arrangement gets 12 eggs in the foam holders.  Renee actually snuck a couple extra in between the two blocks of foam (each block holds 6 eggs and two blocks fit in that small box)

When they arrived I opened my box, got all the packing material out and cut open the egg box to get the cutest darn surprise.....All my eggs were plastic.

After I recovered from my fit of laughing. I opened each egg and of course my hatching eggs were nested inside each little plastic egg.

 What a clever and cute way to send my eggs!  All of them arrived in perfect shape!