SET EGGS JUNE 23 ANYONE WITH ME? - Page 19

I guess we made it through the night!

 

No peeps here either.

 

Temp is at 99.5, it was sitting right at 100 when I work up and the humidity was at 77%. The book I have on hatching chickens said that 75-80% is the optimal humidity during lockdown so I'm right in the middle and that's what I'll strive for. I'm at 77% with only the water rings filled, I had to remove the bowls of water because I had been sitting at 95% while they were in there [only a few minutes] hopefullly I didn't damage any babies :(

 

Kind of bummed though, I forgot that once I lock down, I can't candle anymore! I've been candling nightly so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my evenings now that I can't check out the chicks :)

Unfortunately, if I end up with 17 babies, I won't be allowed to hatch anymore. My husband said we can only have 6 chickens...I have 4 and now the possibilities of 17 babies...I might be a single chicken women here soon []

 

If this goes well, I may put an ad in the paper and offer to hatch other peoples eggs for free. It'll give me experience.

 

I ended up just using hot tap water, but on top of the pre-existing water rings, it was too much, so I removed them.

They are silkie eggs from Catdance Silkies [Karen] show flock, I'm expecting to see some pretty silkies from this hatch. I'm hoping to keep them for a couple months so that I can choose which ones I want for myself.

 

In other news, I just unplugged my second vent hole, so now I'm waiting for the temperature to settle before I go to the gym :D So excited for Friday!!!

I hate plugging vents. I keep a xenon under cabinet light ( flat like a hockey puck) with cord that I can plop into the incubator if the temps fall too low. They're a hot light and quickly bring up temps. Warning hot hot light. Never point one of those at eggs, plastic or foam walls I keep a jar of water in my big bator for thermal mass and point it at that. In smaller ones I have tile and can point it at that. It helps to have options. Luck!

Well... this morning I go out to check on broody and babies and there is an egg with a lil one's head poped out of it, outside of the nest.  Not sure if momma kicked it out of the nest after it had dies or if it died because it was outside of the nest.   :(    Poor lil guy.

I'm not an old timer but I put towels around mine and cover the windows.  Leave the little hole uncovered for circulation.  You'll be ok.  My humidity is staying at 65%.  I'm going to leave it there until I see pipping or hear peeping.  Then, I'll bump it up to 75%.  I don't really know if there is a wrong or right to this.  I really think it's a trial and error sort of thing.  I hate to say that because we are dealing with life, but that is really what it is.  Mother nature handles the ones that are not going to make it no matter what and the strong ones will.  You and your hatch will be just fine.  Now, say the same thing to me so that I can feel the same way. lol.

 so sorry.