December Hatch-A-Long 2014

PD-Riverman · Nov 25, 2014

Sustained said:
I love the sound of a rooster crowing but I'm a country gal among city folk. I'm not sure how I would feel about 30 of them sounding off at once though LOL

How early do your silkies generally crow? I thought I read that you hatch them also. I'm on my phone app and scrolling very far up is a bear sometimes

The little guy I have now, or at least I think it's a male, is starting to make turkey sounds. Or at least that's what it reminds me of

I do hatch them, but sell most of what I hatch. I got one around 5 months old----not sure I would call it a "Crow" but its Funny to listen too---LOL. The young polish has a sound of his own!! It is Sooo Funny setting there before daylight-----One will crow, then another one, sometime 2 or 3 at the time. Keep in mind I have breeding pens set-up so I need all my roosters for the different breeds. They all have their own pens with their own ladies. When I hatch a new breed, I let them get some size before I choose which ones I want to keep and how many of that breed I want to keep. The rest are sold.

Purpletie3 · Nov 25, 2014

PD-Riverman said:
"I" Would NEVER open the Incubator while the eggs are still hatching---NEVER--for NO reason. I tell my family "I will break your arm if you open my incubator during this time" LOL. You can open yours if you want!!

When do you pull out the hatched chicks? Do you wait for days then until the hatch is over and pull them out at once? I assisted a chick on my last hatch and no one else hatched...I have always wondered if it was my fault or the fact that they were scrambled and detatched from the go~

I have not read what type incubator you got, but keep in mind that if you stick a probe in the top of a still incubator---I will read higher---the higher up in the incubator the probe is also if the probe is close to the heating element. The probe needs to be at egg level to get a better reading. If you got a fan in that type incubator it will make the temp some more even but it will still be some higher in the upper section.

I use a smaller digital cheap Wal-mart thermometer($10 to $20) that also shows the humidity in my styrofoam incubator( I do not have a thermostat in my cabinet incubator) Using this type thermostat I set my styrofoam incubator---If my eggs hatch a day early or a day late I make a note on this thermometer with a permanent marker---if the eggs hatch early---on my next set I will set the incubator 1/2 degree less, if they hatch late I set it 1/2 degree more. I want most of my eggs to hatch late in day 20 to early in day 21 for regular chicken eggs. Keep in mind DAY 1 IS 24 Hours after You put the eggs in the incubator---not the same day you put them in.

Edited by PD-Riverman - Today at 4:57 am

I have a circulated air Hovabator I am questioning....I also have a Brinsea Mini which I am not worried about yet...

Thanks

Renee572 · Nov 25, 2014

Nope couldn't hold out! Candled my #10 egg this morning when i went to turn eggs and it has some beautiful veining happening. I am so excited.... come on 12 chickies keep growing! Just did it quick so I didn't get a picture but I will get pics on Saturday!

PD-Riverman · Nov 25, 2014

Purpletie3 said:
When do you pull out the hatched chicks? Do you wait for days then until the hatch is over and pull them out at once? I assisted a chick on my last hatch and no one else hatched...I have always wondered if it was my fault or the fact that they were scrambled and detatched from the go~

I have not read what type incubator you got, but keep in mind that if you stick a probe in the top of a still incubator---I will read higher---the higher up in the incubator the probe is also if the probe is close to the heating element. The probe needs to be at egg level to get a better reading. If you got a fan in that type incubator it will make the temp some more even but it will still be some higher in the upper section.

I use a smaller digital cheap Wal-mart thermometer($10 to $20) that also shows the humidity in my styrofoam incubator( I do not have a thermostat in my cabinet incubator) Using this type thermostat I set my styrofoam incubator---If my eggs hatch a day early or a day late I make a note on this thermometer with a permanent marker---if the eggs hatch early---on my next set I will set the incubator 1/2 degree less, if they hatch late I set it 1/2 degree more. I want most of my eggs to hatch late in day 20 to early in day 21 for regular chicken eggs. Keep in mind DAY 1 IS 24 Hours after You put the eggs in the incubator---not the same day you put them in.

Edited by PD-Riverman - Today at 4:57 am

I have a circulated air Hovabator I am questioning....I also have a Brinsea Mini which I am not worried about yet...

Thanks

I hatch alot of eggs. People feel Different about opening the incubator during Lock-down(day 18 and later) and I tell them do as you want---its Your incubator and Your Way------thats whats good about Raising our own---We do It the Way WE Want!!

One thing that some have a question about is Day 1. A "day" is 24 hours long---If you put your eggs in this morning at 8am---24 hours later is the next day at 8am---which is day 1---When it comes to hatching eggs---Do not let anyone tell you different.

Here is the way I do it.
After the incubator with the turner in it gets up to temp I usually run it for 24 hours to make sure them temp is staying right. I DO NOT try to readjust if the temp climbs a degree above or below the degree's I want---unless it stays there--I FEEL tweeking it to much leads to fried eggs.

I put my eggs in and I keep a check on the proper water--I light and remove any bad eggs on day 12 and re-check on day 18(when removing the turner)---no more, no less---nothing wrong with opening the incubator for a short period of time during the first 18 days.

I remove the egg turner on day 18, then I fill the second water slot and refill the smaller one I been using for the first 18 days. I use a flex straw and a turkey injector needle(because I had one) to add water after day 18, but I practice doing this some time during the first 18 days incase I need to open it to see what I am doing. My GQF styrofoam bater with the plastic liner in the bottom has 2 "trenches" that come over to one side(other styrofoam don't)---all I got to do to add water to it is have a hole on the side the trenches come to, just above them and just big enough to stick the needle through. You can put a piece of tape over these holes to close them off if you want after adding water--I do not feel that is needed.

Note--Once the egg turner is removed I usually have to slightly tweek the temp because of loosing the heat from the turner motor.

You must keep a check on your water. In the beginning I, my Mother and other friends that incubated eggs had a VERY Low hatch %. We open the incubator if we wanted during lock down----I hatched 1 egg out of 37 good eggs at day 18, I remember my Mom hatching 3 out of about the same amount. The second time my Mom hatched with a incubator full(forgot how many good ones at lock down) she Hatched Zero----NOW "I" NEVER open the incubator for NO reason till day 22(Twenty two) for regular chicken eggs Unless "ALL" the eggs have hatched before then. If a chick looks like he needs help---I will help him on day 22 if he is still alive or when all the other eggs have hatched. I will Not open early to help one at the risk of loosing alot of the others.

In the styrofoam incubators I usually hatch 75 to 99% of all the eggs that checked good and were left in the incubator on day 18---(last lighting) The big cabinet incubator/hatcher usually hatches 95 to 100%--closer to 100% most hatches.

One thing that is very important is keeping the incubator in a room/place where the temp stays close the same. If its 100 degrees during the day and 60 at night---you will probably have problems having a good hatch.

Anyone that feels this Is not the Proper way---Again you do it "YOUR" way. I am not trying to change the ways you are doing things---I am just telling the newbies that want help How "I" do it with Hopes that they can have a good/better hatch. Good Luck everyone on your future hatches!!

I want to add this---some repeating, I do not candle my eggs except for day 12 and day 18. I do not use a hydrometer, I do not even have a thermometer or a humidity meter "in" my 300+ egg cabinet incubator--it has a digital control that shows the inside temp but not the humidity. I just started this year using a humidity meter in my styrofoam incubators and I mainly done that just because I was curious.

I feel with your Location and your humidity you will have to adjust your humidity in your incubator for your location. Keep in mind the surface area of your water determines how much humidity you will have---not the depth of the water. I wanted to do a hatch in my hatcher with a slightly higher humidity----I increased the humidity by using a slightly longer/wider water tray. It seemed to help---so I am staying with that as long as its working.

Maybe someone that has alot more knowledge than I can add some more helpful info!!

Espresso · Nov 25, 2014

I use a reptile thermometer/hygrometer from Petsmart... On the recommendation of Chelsea from khawdash hatchery. It's doing.a great job, IMO.

I didn't buy leg bands because I am hoping I'll be able to tell the difference between ducklings based on markings... but I'm considering getting some so I can mark gender....

I am using a LG and all my eggs are in a carton... I'm wondering about hatching in it. Will they bump their heads on the elements on the top? Those burn (not that I touched one... twice...)

Purpletie3 · Nov 25, 2014

PD-Riverman said:
I hatch alot of eggs. People feel Different about opening the incubator during Lock-down(day 18 and later) and I tell them do as you want---its Your incubator and Your Way------thats whats good about Raising our own---We do It the Way WE Want!!

One thing that some have a question about is Day 1. A "day" is 24 hours long---If you put your eggs in this morning at 8am---24 hours later is the next day at 8am---which is day 1---When it comes to hatching eggs---Do not let anyone tell you different.

Here is the way I do it.
After the incubator with the turner in it gets up to temp I usually run it for 24 hours to make sure them temp is staying right. I DO NOT try to readjust if the temp climbs a degree above or below the degree's I want---unless it stays there--I FEEL tweeking it to much leads to fried eggs.

I put my eggs in and I keep a check on the proper water--I light and remove any bad eggs on day 12 and re-check on day 18(when removing the turner)---no more, no less---nothing wrong with opening the incubator for a short period of time during the first 18 days.

I remove the egg turner on day 18, then I fill the second water slot and refill the smaller one I been using for the first 18 days. I use a flex straw and a turkey injector needle(because I had one) to add water after day 18, but I practice doing this some time during the first 18 days incase I need to open it to see what I am doing. My GQF styrofoam bater with the plastic liner in the bottom has 2 "trenches" that come over to one side(other styrofoam don't)---all I got to do to add water to it is have a hole on the side the trenches come to, just above them and just big enough to stick the needle through. You can put a piece of tape over these holes to close them off if you want after adding water--I do not feel that is needed.

Note--Once the egg turner is removed I usually have to slightly tweek the temp because of loosing the heat from the turner motor.

You must keep a check on your water. In the beginning I, my Mother and other friends that incubated eggs had a VERY Low hatch %. We open the incubator if we wanted during lock down----I hatched 1 egg out of 37 good eggs at day 18, I remember my Mom hatching 3 out of about the same amount. The second time my Mom hatched with a incubator full(forgot how many good ones at lock down) she Hatched Zero----NOW "I" NEVER open the incubator for NO reason till day 22(Twenty two) for regular chicken eggs Unless "ALL" the eggs have hatched before then. If a chick looks like he needs help---I will help him on day 22 if he is still alive or when all the other eggs have hatched. I will Not open early to help one at the risk of loosing alot of the others.

In the styrofoam incubators I usually hatch 75 to 99% of all the eggs that checked good and were left in the incubator on day 18---(last lighting) The big cabinet incubator/hatcher usually hatches 95 to 100%--closer to 100% most hatches.

One thing that is very important is keeping the incubator in a room/place where the temp stays close the same. If its 100 degrees during the day and 60 at night---you will probably have problems having a good hatch.

Anyone that feels this Is not the Proper way---Again you do it "YOUR" way. I am not trying to change the ways you are doing things---I am just telling the newbies that want help How "I" do it with Hopes that they can have a good/better hatch. Good Luck everyone on your future hatches!!

I want to add this---some repeating, I do not candle my eggs except for day 12 and day 18. I do not use a hydrometer, I do not even have a thermometer or a humidity meter "in" my 300+ egg cabinet incubator--it has a digital control that shows the inside temp but not the humidity. I just started this year using a humidity meter in my styrofoam incubators and I mainly done that just because I was curious.

I feel with your Location and your humidity you will have to adjust your humidity in your incubator for your location. Keep in mind the surface area of your water determines how much humidity you will have---not the depth of the water. I wanted to do a hatch in my hatcher with a slightly higher humidity----I increased the humidity by using a slightly longer/wider water tray. It seemed to help---so I am staying with that as long as its working.

Maybe someone that has alot more knowledge than I can add some more helpful info!!

Thank you for the lengthy explanation... I just want to make sure I am doing the best I can for my chickens/eggs! I bought an abandoned old dairy farm on 14 acres and would really like to be self sufficient/off the grid & be able to make some money selling some healthy eggs.

Renee572 · Nov 25, 2014

Thanks PD Riverman, I'm he going to take your advice in not opening the incubator during lockdown until day 22. I have been using a straw through one of the holes in the top of my incubator to add water instead of opening the incubator every time... I already have to open it 3 times a day to turn the eggs. So I will definitely use that during lockdown. I am nervous about humidity during lockdown because I live in AZ and it's so dry here. I'm doing a pretty good job of keeping it between 40 and 45% so far. My temp holds pretty steady at 100 so I don't have to mess with that too much. I am going to candle on day 7, day 14 and day 18 only because this is my first time and I'm curious how things are going. Anyway thanks for the info.

Question... when you go to set up for lockdown do you need to get the humidity up pretty quickly or is it ok to slowly increase it through the day on day 18?

PD-Riverman · Nov 25, 2014

Renee572 said:
Thanks PD Riverman, I'm he going to take your advice in not opening the incubator during lockdown until day 22. I have been using a straw through one of the holes in the top of my incubator to add water instead of opening the incubator every time... I already have to open it 3 times a day to turn the eggs. So I will definitely use that during lockdown. I am nervous about humidity during lockdown because I live in AZ and it's so dry here. I'm doing a pretty good job of keeping it between 40 and 45% so far. My temp holds pretty steady at 100 so I don't have to mess with that too much. I am going to candle on day 7, day 14 and day 18 only because this is my first time and I'm curious how things are going. Anyway thanks for the info.

Question... when you go to set up for lockdown do you need to get the humidity up pretty quickly or is it ok to slowly increase it through the day on day 18?

I personally feel that opening the incubator daily to check on it and add water is a more natural thing and I feel it does not harm the eggs in anyway. With broody hens---they get off every day----some incubators even have a feature to allow the eggs to cool down for a little while each day. I know this for a Fact----having 33 broody hens this season, having them in a private hatching pen---the Last 2 to 3 days NONE of the 33 hens got off their nest for Nothing(Lock-Down)---this is how I kept up with when they are due----I go to feed them the next day and their food has not been touched-----I then know they are about to hatch---I check my book and be ready.

Any time I add water I always make sure it is around 100 degree's. On a styrofoam bator I add the warm water when I take the egg turner out--day 18. So I am sure the humidity will be higher in a little while after I close it/lock-down.

As far as where you live, where I live and others live plus the type incubator has alot to do with the humidity. I got some styrofoam baters that I put a soaked piece of paper towel on the wire as well as fill up the bottom two trays---this works for me. I got that GQF styrofoam that holds more water in that plastic liner--more surface area and on lock-down the first time I filled the 2 area's as well as the soaked paper towel. I had a good hatch but they never dried off till I took them out on day 22. The view windows stayed watery----I did see the humidity gauge one time and it was almost 100---It even quit the last day--never worked again----toooooo wet--LOL. So Now I do not add the soaked towel to that one.

So to answer your question----I feel your humidity will raise fast when you put the lid on it. My eggs go from the incubator to the hatcher in a matter of minutes they go to a higher humidity and I hatch close 100% so I feel that the quick higher humidity has no affect.

You will need to work with your humidity for your area to get your best hatch. You can add a extra shallow container or two in the bottom---just do not put water in them unless you want to raise the humidity during lock-down----already having them in place and already knowing how you can fill one or both if needed without opening the bater is what you want.

Good Luck On your Future Hatches.

PD-Riverman · Nov 25, 2014

One thing I wanted to add that I did not mention above------on day 22(unless all eggs hatch before then) when I take the chicks out---if there is a pipped egg that has not hatched----one of those that needed help----I break it out the shell completely, put it back in the incubator usually till the next day along with any eggs that did not hatch. The next day I put the broke out chicks in the brooder with the rest----if they are doing good. In the styrofoam incubator, I discard the rest of the unhatched eggs, clean and get it ready for the next batch. In My cabinet hatcher---I do not have hardly any that do not hatch but I do have to break one or two out the rest of the way some times..

I have Never had eggs to hatch after day 22 in the past so I do not even break the unhatched eggs open anymore----I just feed them to the hogs!

Debs55 · Nov 25, 2014

I love coming and reading all the updates!

so an update on my incubators

Incubator #1 (mixed eggs and marans eggs) is on day 11. I am going to candle either tomorrow or wednesday to see if any are developing. Last candling at day 7 didn't look good.

Incubator #2 (splash and sizzle shipped silkie eggs, marans eggs, and a few of my own silkie eggs) is on day 5. I candled one shipped egg real quick today to see if there was any development and I saw veins! but I also saw an air cell clearly to one side of the egg.

Suggestions for that?
I have the eggs laying on their sides since I am hand turning. To me it also looked a little large so I will decrease my humidity.

December Hatch-A-Long 2014

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Renee572

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Espresso

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Purpletie3

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Renee572

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PD-Riverman

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PD-Riverman

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Debs55

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