Dry incubation - question on early hatching breeds

heritagebirds · Mar 31, 2015

Hello, I am in the midst of hatch of Buckeyes, which I've always had early starts on hatching. This round, the first pipped on day 19. I have 14 out of the 17 hatched, not sure if there is anything going on with the other three at this point. The instructions for the Dry Incubation method listed here on the site says to keep the 'bator in lockdown until day 23. Does this apply for those that started hatching at day 19? Or should I be done on day 21/22? Thank you much!

ChickenCanoe · Mar 31, 2015

I wouldn't let the chicks stay in there more than 2 days. The sooner they get food and water the better. If that many have hatched that early, I doubt you'll get any more stragglers after day 21.

I also think the early hatch has more to do with temperature than the breed.

heritagebirds · Mar 31, 2015

I try to be very conscious of the temp even bought an expensive scientific thermometer, but the temp could be off. I've heard others mention a slightly earlier hatch, which is why I included it in the description. Who knows? Thank you for the response.

ChickenCanoe · Mar 31, 2015

I had a lot of trouble with thermometers over the years and even after I bought an accurate one (Brinsea Spot Check) I didn't trust it because it didn't agree with any of the others. Then I bought this super fast one guaranteed to be accurate to within ±0.9°F.
http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html
It turned out it agreed exactly with the Spot Check. I then threw out all the others.

heritagebirds · Mar 31, 2015

Thank you, Chickencanoe! I was looking into the SpotCheck, though it was too late for this hatch.

ChickenCanoe · Mar 31, 2015

Another thing to think about during incubation and checking thermometers against the controller is the speed at which the thermometer and controllers respond. The thermoworks one responds in 6 seconds. The Spot Check is slightly slower. One of my controllers has a 1 minute delay.
When the controller turns on the heat the thermoworks one will jump up to 105 or higher because of the heat blowing onto it.
I watch for the temps just before the thermostat kicks on. The temperature the fast one reads is closest to the internal egg temperature.

heritagebirds · Apr 20, 2015

Thanks again...should have ordered it already...Have to incubate again, sooner than I'd planned.

Dry incubation - question on early hatching breeds

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