Recent content by JacksonB54

  1. JacksonB54

    The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

    Woo-hoo, I have a broody! Have now put her in charge of 4 of the eggs that were in the 'bator. She started out with a single egg (poor thing!) two days ago, and yesterday 3 other hens added to that, so there are now 8 eggs total under her. That's about all she can handle, as she is an OEGB...
  2. JacksonB54

    The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

    Set 22 Bantam mix eggs today. Didn't have the broody I'd hoped for (had already happened by this time last year) but hoping for one in time to hatch them out and raise them--LOL! Of course, then she'll think she's extra good at it, since it wouldn't be a full 21 days!!
  3. JacksonB54

    The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

    Well, maybe this is cheating, but planning to hatch out a brood using a broody hen. Keep your fingers crossed that somebody goes broody by next Sat. If not, I'll set up the inc'y until one does! Gonna set as many as I can (collecting this week for it). These are bantam mixes. Good luck to...
  4. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    What kind of incubator do you have, BillyB? I have a still-air LG, and there is a small (temperamental) adjustment screw/dial on it. It came with a thermometer (which was off by half a degree when I bought it 3 months ago), but I learned here how to calibrate the thermometer and set the...
  5. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    You'll need advice from someone FAR more experienced than me on that, BillyB!! But three degrees seems like a HUGE temp difference to me, and I'd avoid that if at all possible! I've read about temporary spikes in temp, but a 3-degree difference seems a bit too significant to me! Perhaps...
  6. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Well, BillyB, I'm up to eleven here! Started out with 2 doz eggs, had a few "duds," a couple that had early development and then "quit," and have 6 left that could possibly have a chance yet (waiting until day 23 to discard those). I'm happy to have learned that it isn't my hatching skills (or...
  7. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    To continue.... Sometimes you can miss seeing the "pip," as it can be out of view in the incubator. Also, sometimes they begin zipping immediately after pipping, and I suspect you are seeing a "zip." I've had chicks make a really small, neat line across an egg, and I've had chicks make a...
  8. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Sorry, but you're making me laugh because I'm just as hysterical when things don't go well in the incubator as you (and, apparently, your hubby) are! That aside, I suspect the "hair" is a zip! If so, do NOT open the incubator to check, as it will release the humidity and cause the chick to be...
  9. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Okay, all dark is NOT a sign of disaster at this stage of development! With the flashlight that I use for candling, all I can see after day 18 is dark (which is chick!) and the air cell. I've been able to see movement as late as day 18 before (with both broody hens and incubators), but not...
  10. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Do NOT open the incubator! If the embryo you saw developing earlier in the second egg is still viable, you could do it in by opening the 'bator!! I could be wrong here, but if these are some of the first eggs from your hens, I'm not sure those would give you the best chances of hatching...
  11. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    This is only my second incubator hatch, Sparkleeyes, but from everything I've read, it could be as long as 23 days without being unusual! In the first inc'y hatch, I learned about how to calibrate my thermometer and found that it was a half a degree low, and apparently that was a big problem...
  12. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Total of SEVEN chicks this morning, and an eighth pipping! At least 2 of the shipped eggs are hatched (possibly more?), including one of the eggs I slipped under a broody! This is only day 20, so hopes are high for even more! Come on, baby chicks!
  13. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Chick #2 is out!
  14. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Got a big, happy surprise a couple of hours ago: have 1 chick out! Total time from hearing peeps and seeing a pip until hatch was about an hour! Have 5 more pips, which happened all about the same time as the one who is out. One of those bounced its egg to where the pip hole was on the...
  15. JacksonB54

    Eggs in the bator! July 27th

    Well, great disappointment here tonight. This is only my second attempt at hatching with an incubator, and it appears (after tonight's candling) that the only possible success will be with our "homemade" eggs! I did set 3 shipped eggs under a broody a couple of days ago (and didn't candle...
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