2017 Zodiac Hatch-a-Long

[cshma11]

@ChickenCanoe I just logged in on my desktop (usually use my phone) and see that you're in St. Louis! I'm just across the river in Belleville, IL Only like 30 minutes away!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

@cshma11
Neighbors.
We have a big meetup group you should think about joining.
https://www.meetup.com/stlouischickens/
It isn't very busy this time of year but activity should boom as days get longer and we get away from holidays.

 

[Penny Hen]

I want to try this this year. I am going to buy a nice incubator. I have my eye on a ReptiPro 6000.

 

[mustangrooster]

Subscribing, i might give this a shot..

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've been collecting eggs for the last 10 days but right now the temperature is 8F. I'm trying to collect several times a day but I'm sure some may get too cold before I can get them. I'll probably have over a dozen I'm setting on the 8th.

 

[Chaos18]

I would think that just getting cold they would be fine, it's when they freeze that they are no good.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You're right Chaos. But when it hovers around 8F for a while I'm getting a few frozen solid with a longitudinal crack.
I should be able to check nests every couple hours but I haven't given it due diligence.

ETA
In fact, it is best that eggs cool down quickly to a point after they are laid - just not below freezing.
Ideally, for hatching eggs, there should only be 2 temperature changes. A cool down when laid and then slowly brought back up to incubation temp on set day.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'll probably be setting by noon today after I collect eggs. It has been so cold, I'm sure I have a few that froze before I got to them. We're finally getting above freezing today for the first time in a week.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Okay.... guess I am in as I set yesterday... I was suppose to get peeps to theceltchorse from
new years day hatch but ended up selling all to 2 new chicken people all about an hour away from me.
so set 16 yesterday hoping to have enough to supply theceltichorse and and other new
that should become interested

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Welcome. I'm still selecting eggs to set but will be done soon.