HomesteadNowhere Hatch-a-long! Set April 7, hatch April 28!

[Justso]

Be careful what you wish for.

Yes please, talk to my old Java and ask her to step in. But next month maybe..

 

[sourland]

Yes please, talk to my old Java and ask her to step in. But next month maybe..

Remind me.

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

I've been monitoring the incubator. I have a farmers innovators plugged into a thermostat. It's working well so far! My last hatch I was really not sure I trusted my thermometer/hygrometer, the one I put in the incubator to check the unit. But I trusted that much more than the unit!
I've been checking it with a laser pointer surface temp thermometer on the eggs. When I found some eggs that were on the edge of too hot I moved the thermostat sensor there. I have the thermostat set to 99.3 and it's been good now. There doesn't seem to be any eggs that are too cool but there is variation across the incubator.

Now before someone has a heart attack on how I got 75 eggs in a farmers innovator
I fit 57 eggs laid on their sides. I put a binder under the incubator to tilt it and started setting the eggs, air cell up, as if there were in a carton but leaning against the side and each other. But yes they are all wedged in carefully.
Mine has a plastic mesh floor and after the last hatch I saw the weight of the eggs had started to warp it. The bottom is supported on a ledge around the outside and three supports in the middle. So I cut to length some wood dowel, smaller than a pencil, and laid them across under the plastic mesh. It looks good so far.

 

[Dinoroar]

I've been monitoring the incubator. I have a farmers innovators plugged into a thermostat. It's working well so far! My last hatch I was really not sure I trusted my thermometer/hygrometer, the one I put in the incubator to check the unit. But I trusted that much more than the unit!
I've been checking it with a laser pointer surface temp thermometer on the eggs. When I found some eggs that were on the edge of too hot I moved the thermostat sensor there. I have the thermostat set to 99.3 and it's been good now. There doesn't seem to be any eggs that are too cool but there is variation across the incubator.

Now before someone has a heart attack on how I got 75 eggs in a farmers innovator
I fit 57 eggs laid on their sides. I put a binder under the incubator to tilt it and started setting the eggs, air cell up, as if there were in a carton but leaning against the side and each other. But yes they are all wedged in carefully.
Mine has a plastic mesh floor and after the last hatch I saw the weight of the eggs had started to warp it. The bottom is supported on a ledge around the outside and three supports in the middle. So I cut to length some wood dowel, smaller than a pencil, and laid them across under the plastic mesh. It looks good so far.

This sounds like very impressive loading! I’d love to see a picture!

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

Just a quick one while checking egg temps. The most outer eggs are a little cooler. We'll see if it's enough to be a problem. I have a blanket over the incubator to help insulate.

 

[Justso]

Did time stand still?
This is got to be the slowest week ever. Don't know if I can wait till Thursday to candle.

 

[airynn]

I’ll join! I have 4 hens sitting on only 14 eggs as they are 1st timers, but I think I’ll buy a new nesting box and give one some F1 olive eggers (Swedish flower x Ameraucana). The silkie I think will hatch on the 21st.

I also set 14 Welsh harlequin on April 4 and adding 9 BBS Ameraucana and 9 CLB tomorrow. That hatch date it May 3. They are in a NR360 in my classroom!

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

Did time stand still?
This is got to be the slowest week ever. Don't know if I can wait till Thursday to candle.

Ha! I've been thinking the same thing since I set the eggs!

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

With the incubator plugged into the thermostat I realized that it's now kind of half fan run and half not. I was worried about the temperature difference of the outer eggs.. so went ahead and laid the eggs down. Since they've been in this long I just have the extra 18 spread out stacked on top of the other eggs. When I turn I'll set the 18 in the egg flat, turn eggs, return the eggs to the turned position. And every other time I turn I'll try to rotate some of the outer eggs in and just shift them around. We'll see! It certainly would not meet a scientific study...
I'm still fiddling a bit to have the thermostat sensor down between the eggs so that the eggs will be the right temperature. I was just thinking I should get one of those water wiggle things for the sensor would probably be ideal for this.
I did candle a few randomly tonight and think there was some veins. Fingers crossed!

 

[airynn]

Well I candled my duck eggs on day 7; assuming I’d have duds. All 14 are growing! So I added my Ameraucana and CLB making it 31 eggs in my 22 egg NR 360. Oh well.