1st Hatch, Day 20

[Orsatti Farm]

I am on day 20 and I can hear chirping!

I'm worried about the humidity though. When we candled after week two, the air cell wasn't big enough so we dropped the humidity quite a lot to try and make up for it.

With humidity rates before the hatch I've heard everything from 65 up to 80%
It's been running 65 - 75%

Will having it so low up until 3 days prior effect the shell or hatchability? I'm a worried mother hen...

 

[GitaBooks]

Congrats on the eggs! How exciting!


I think they should be okay, as some people do something called Dry Incubation and it seems to work.

Best of luck!

(I set my incubator for the first time today! I can't wait!)

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I am on day 20 and I can hear chirping!

I'm worried about the humidity though. When we candled after week two, the air cell wasn't big enough so we dropped the humidity quite a lot to try and make up for it.

With humidity rates before the hatch I've heard everything from 65 up to 80%
It's been running 65 - 75%

Will having it so low up until 3 days prior effect the shell or hatchability? I'm a worried mother hen...

The first 17 days of incubation I firmly believe anything over 45% is too high. Lockdown and hatch is generally 65-75% a lot depends on your hatching habits (hands off vs hands on).

As for running low 3 days prior to increase air cell size, that is the proper thing to do.

What kind of incubator are you using and is it still or forced air?

I use a low humidity incubation method, (often refered to as "dry") and run dry when possible for the first 17 days as long as the humidity stays above 25% I prefer 30-35%. At lockdown and hatch I go up to 75% as I am NOT hands off and I do open my bator during hatch.

Running the humidity high, especially in the styro bators, during the first 17 days of incubation, often compromises the hatch. Here's some humidity info you might find helpful: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

 

[Orsatti Farm]

Hi Gita, thx for the message would love to hear about your progress.

Hi Amy, thx for the reply. I'm using a Model 4200 series forced air. Yes I think I will definitely keep the humidity lower next time, though we seem to have turned out ok. I kept the humidity for hatching between 70 and 80% I had 19 eggs in, 10 have hatched, 2 pipped but didn't make it out and one is pipping now on day 22. I'm not seeing a lot of movement from her so I'm a little worried.

I think this will be it.

Not a great result, but I think not too bad for our first try. Both my husband's father and my father kept birds so we are not entirely new to birds or hatching, but it's the first we've done ourselves.

Pic of our new beautiful BBS Orpingtons.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hi Gita, thx for the message would love to hear about your progress.

Hi Amy, thx for the reply. I'm using a Model 4200 series forced air. Yes I think I will definitely keep the humidity lower next time, though we seem to have turned out ok. I kept the humidity for hatching between 70 and 80% I had 19 eggs in, 10 have hatched, 2 pipped but didn't make it out and one is pipping now on day 22. I'm not seeing a lot of movement from her so I'm a little worried.

I think this will be it.

Not a great result, but I think not too bad for our first try. Both my husband's father and my father kept birds so we are not entirely new to birds or hatching, but it's the first we've done ourselves.

Pic of our new beautiful BBS Orpingtons.

They are gorgeous! Congrats!

 

[GitaBooks]

They are gorgeous! Congrats!

I agree! They are adorable!

I'll keep you updated on my chicks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1007584/e-bay-eggs-on-the-way/30#post_15619573

 

[Orsatti Farm]

# 11 just popped out. Whew

She must have been sleeping...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

# 11 just popped out. Whew

She must have been sleeping...

LOL Yay!

 

[Orsatti Farm]

Can someone help with Splash colouring?

Of 11 we got 3 splash. I'm noticing that one of them has darker colouring then the other two. Is this any indicator to final colouring?

 

[GitaBooks]

Cute chicks!

I'm not sure. Maybe it will have more dark coloring splashed in the white then the other two.