Hatching in Classrooms

Faraday40 said:

I did a few test hatches and discovered some fertility issues with my orpingtons. So when I loaded up the 3 classroom incubators, I added plenty of extras to make up for all the clears I experienced at home. Teachers/classrooms usually have lower hatch rates anyway, so I set 4.5 doz eggs (expecting only about 1/2 of them to hatch). I just finished candling them. Gulp! There are 42 developing eggs!!! I think I'm going to be sleeping out in the coop when DH notices all those chicks returning here.

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Faraday40 said:

Just got a call from a teacher working late. She sees pips! Tomorrow's hatch day at 3 diff schools.

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calichicken said:

How did the hatch days go???? My Banty Cochins hatched on Monday....9 in my.brooder and 8 in my friends brooder!View attachment 1371777View attachment 1371782

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Faraday40 said:

Thanks. The incubator is home-made from a cooler. I built in a nice viewing window b/c that was the main reason for building it. (Too many years of students all crammed around & fighting to look through those tiny Hovabator windows.) The windows cracked a little during the 2nd year but it still works better than any other incubator.

I put a baby blanket on a chair & briefly place the chicks on it before putting them into the brooder. After 2-3 days, it gets harder to keep them still. LOL.

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