1st time!!

[MegaChickens]

We are getting some eggs and this will be our first time hatching! I need all the help I can get, from incubator blueprints to any extra ideas or helpful tid-bits. When we get the eggs do we put them straight in the incubator? What temp should it be? How long should they stay in after they hatch? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[gabrielle1976]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-just-21-days-from-egg-to-chicken
Heres a link to basic information. Alot of people here use a dry hatch method that uses humidity around 35% instead of 50% for the first 18 days , its up to you what you chose. I listed teh dry method below. there is no black and white , right wrong with humidty it veries for person to person and bator to bator , do what you think will work best and keep notes and that way if your hatch ddint go well and the temp and turning and eggs wernt the problem you can try the other medthod next time and see if you get better results .
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubator-incubator
This is an awsome link to one of the best home made incubators if your handy and want to make your own.


http://chickensforbackyards.com/Brinsea-Mini-Advance-Incubator-10426CB.htm
If you want a easy to use small batch incubator I would go with this one, this site sales it for about 10 - 15 dolleres more then some other sites but includes free shipping so your actually even or saveing money depending on what other site you see it at.

http://chickensforbackyards.com/Genesis-Incubator-1588.htm
If you want to go with easy to use good quaility and larger hatches I would say go with this incubator. Again this is a bit more expensive then on other sites but comes with free shipping wich evens it out or saves you money.

There are lots of other incubators out there, and the choice is always yours. These are the ones that I have heard consistently getting good comments and reviews on here and other places and I have yet to see anything really bad about them . Unlike the Little Giant and other cheaper model incubators. Can you get them to work sure you can , does it take lots of time and attention, monetering and fiddleing yep. If you have time to hang out with your bator all day for 21 days then go for it lol other wise its better to invest in something like the above that are better quality and less likeing to have a snit fit over a 2 degree room temp change

and so on. I have an LG forced air and I have to have it in a room that stays stable and I have to watch it and adjust things all day some times. I also have a mini eco that pretty much holds temp like a rock but unlike the advanced ( withc is why I suggested the advance and not the eco though the eco is a solid bator) its not didgetal and there little thing for changeing temp is set inside the case and acssed only thru a little hole but whatever device you can get in there

and takes some work. Where the advnce has didgetal setteings and easyer to change if you have to witch isnt offten.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-and-raising-chicks
Here is a link to other stuff about hatching and chicks

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have a few links in my signature as well as my incubator and incubating notes, Gabs already gotch hooked up with the bator link. Thanks Gabs! I am in the process of cleaning up the hatching 101 article but everything is still there, I am half way through making it more user friendly but your welcome to it! Good Luck!

oh where you getting your eggs? setting your own?

 

[gabrielle1976]

I always plug your bator sally , it works good , and you broke it down so that even someone that has issues useing a cell phone there so nooblicsous can build it. Im in the process of getting the stuff so I can build one my self. Just got the cooler now I get to find the other bits and pieces .

To the orignal poster , one word of warning .. Hatching Is Addictive

once you start it kinda snow balls , we have a Incubators anonamous for a reason lol

 

[Sally Sunshine]

To the orignal poster , one word of warning .. Hatching Is Addictive

once you start it kinda snow balls , we have a Incubators anonamous for a reason lol

Awesome Gabs!! I just added pics of the sockets DH and Harmony used..... Just put more holes in it than you see in mine, I think I will try turning the fan OFF during lockdown!


YES IT IS ADDICTIVE!!!

 

[MegaChickens]

Thank you all so much! And were getting some eggs mailed to us because we want to try raising some new breeds and don't know any one in the area to sell us the chicks we want. I'm so excited!

 

[gabrielle1976]

With mailed eggs you will want to rest the eggs , fat end up in an egg carton for 12 hours or so and that also lets them warm up to room temp , befor you put them in the incubator. If you candle them and see detatched air cells you can keep them fat end up say in the egg carton if you dont have a turner (inside the bator) or in the turner its self but turned off for the first 2 days or so while incubateing so that the air cell has a chance to stableize. Some time eggs get scrambled by our wonderfull usps, and need special care.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

With mailed eggs you will want to rest the eggs , fat end up in an egg carton for 12 hours or so and that also lets them warm up to room temp , befor you put them in the incubator. If you candle them and see detatched air cells you can keep them fat end up say in the egg carton if you dont have a turner (inside the bator) or in the turner its self but turned off for the first 2 days or so while incubateing so that the air cell has a chance to stableize. Some time eggs get scrambled by our wonderfull usps, and need special care.

x2



https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

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Shipped Eggs = Change Of Plans!
Shipped eggs have a MUCH lower hatch rate, even with experienced hatchers!
It’s always best to get local eggs to get the best hatch rate. Sources for eggs are to search the BYC buy sell trade section, Craigslist and eBay. Your local thread on BYC may be the best bet for local eggs! Look for your local site in the “Social section” “Where am I? Where are You!” on BYC.

BELOW ROLLING AIR CELL OF A SHIPPED EGG
Rolls like a Carpenters Level
​

Important Links to AIR CELL DAMAGE...​

• Air Cell Info for Incubation,
• http://www.squidoo.com/mailed-shipped-fertilised-chickens-eggs-fertilized-hatching-chicken-egg
• Management of Damaged and Mal-positioned Egg Air Cells,
• https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/501034/suggestions-for-management-of-damaged-and-mal-positioned-egg-air-cells
• Getting the most from your eggs,
• http://skeffling.hubpages.com/hub/Chicken-Incubators-and-getting-the-most-chicks-from-your-hatching-eggs

UNDERSTANDING what goes WRONG with SHIPPED EGGS
The yolk of an egg is held in place on each end by what is called Chalaza. These are delicate cords that keep the yolk centered in the egg. When you crack open an egg, you notice a white stringy thing on the yolk, this is the Chalaza. When eggs are shipped they encounter postal handlers that toss the packages, sorting machinery, bumpy vehicle rides, temperature changes and possibly Xray Machines! So by the time the eggs get to you they are pretty much scrambled inside. So if you are going to buy eggs and have them shipped to you, be aware that the viability drops TREMENDOUSLY. There are rare instances when they ALL arrive safely but it is always a gamble.



http://www.geauga4h.org/poultry/egg_parts.htm


BELOW IS A "SADDLE" SHAPED AIR CELL
​

CONCLUSION ~ Shipped eggs
For rolling, detached or disrupted air cells (cells no longer at fat end of the egg but like a bubble level on the long side, rolling or saddle shaped cells), you’ll need to change your hatch plan. They need to sit 24 hours NO TURNING, pointy end down in a Styrofoam Egg Carton with the bottoms cut out for ventilation to possibly reattach air cells. Allow eggs to sit in a moderately cool, somewhat humid place for 12-24 hours before you begin to incubate them. Basements are great. Moderately cool means 65-75 degrees with the fat end UP. After settle period SET Shipped eggs in the incubator in the carton with bottoms cut out as pictured below, do not turn for 36-48 hours to help air cell re-attach. To leave them in the egg carton for all 21 days of the hatch will give you a better hatch rate. After 36-48 hours begin turning or hand turn by laying the eggs side to side 3 times a day, as in the image below. REMINDER~ Never Set COLD eggs in the incubator.


Below image are Eggs in A Carton with Bottoms cut out for Ventilation

Below image of Turning Shipped Eggs, just lean to opposite side.
​

 

[Sally Sunshine]

did u get your eggs?

 

[MegaChickens]

We just decided to go with newly hatched chicks because of other reasons, but we think we're gonna try hatching next year when we have more time. Thanks for everything though!