4/12/12 Setting Date--Anyone joining me?

[orumpoultry]

I'M HATCHING I'M HATCHIN'!!!!!!

ETA: - Hope this staggered hatch doesn't affect the eggs I set on the 14th. Hmm... they're turning them by running around the 'bator, right? Nah. I know they'll be okay, I just forgot to move the older eggs to the hatcher because I lost track of time.

Hows everyone else doing? Anyone have any promising numbers going in? Right now I'm at 80-90% as of today. After I get done hatching I'm going to candle again and see where I'm at.

 

[Miss Giggles]

Orum Poultry, I'm very interested in your staggered hatch. Being new to incubating I put eggs in 5 days apart. 1st 3 are due to go into lockdown this sunday evening but I'm unsure about upping the humidity as the others will be going into lockdown Friday evening. I was contemplating putting the 2nd batch into lockdown on day 19 to give them an extra 12 hours at lower humidity. Thinking I may up humidity to 55% instead of 65-70%. Any thoughts???? (I know it was stupid but I had soooooo many eggs and as they have not cost me anything I thought it would be worth a try)

 

[Sphinx]

That's really exciting that you already have chicks hatching!!!! I've never dared do a staggered hatch. Given my small scale incubator, it probably doesn't make sense.

I'm going in today to add water and candle. Last I checked (on day 12), I had 7/7 going. I think I'll lock down late Monday afternoon (that'd be right, right? I set them on Thursday afternoon).

 

[orumpoultry]

When I do staggered hatches, I make sure there is a 10 day difference in the eggs. Why? Because then I can do this...

Batch no 1. Goes into lockdown, that's three days before hatch... the average hatch takes 3-4 days from start to finish. That's 7 days. That gives me time to get all of the hatched chicks OUT of the incubator, recandle, and lockdown the next batch. Usually, though, I have the hatcher ready and move my hatching batches into it... I lost track of time, this go round.

It gives me plenty of time either way... and I just take those eggs out of the racks, place them on the bottom, and check water levels. I very rarely increase humidity at hatch because I live in a VERY humid climate. VERY humid. 75% and up humid.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense, it makes sense to me. I have continuing hatches all summer long this way, and all chicks are old enough to go through winter without heat by the time temperatures start dropping.

 

[Miss Giggles]

Yes that does make sense. I'm in UK. Just managed to drop my egg tray back into incubator so I think after the jolt I'll be lucky if any hatch!!! (it has 2 finger tip grips and I lost grip while lowering back into incubator, an inch drop so hop I've not done too much harm) I have 3 due to hatch 1st/2nd may and about 10 6th/7th May. I wouldn't have done a staggered hatch but after putting 12 eggs in 6 were infertile, 1 Quit day 4 and one had broken shell. I suppose everyone has to learn and after this batch I'm only gonna candle days 7/12 &18 in future (I've learnt alot this time round and seen the growth cycle as had a day 10/12 quitter) if these chicks were meant to be they'll hatch if not then theres always another try

 

[uptail]

So last night was Day 14 for me, and I candled the remaining eggs I had left (11).

4 of the B/B/S Ameraucanas were quitters. I am down to 7.

The one and only BLRW I have left is very questionable with me leaning towards it being a quitter too. Since I cannot confirm for sure, I will leave it in.

So....nearing the end it looks like I might have 7 make it to lockdown. Started with 26!

 

[orumpoultry]

With the crazy increases and decreases in temperature, the horrible humidity, the power outage, and the cats cutting off the air flow ( laying on all of the vents at once ) surprised to see anyone doing anything.

 

[Sphinx]

All seven of mine are still going strong!!!!

Keep your fingers crossed that at least one of them is a BLUE (not splash) pullet.

 

[Miss Giggles]

Well I'm approaching the end of day 20. I have 3 wobbling eggs but no pips or peeps yet.......this incubator watching is becoming a bit of an addiction! Hope everyone else is doing ok

 

[Sphinx]

I went in to the school yesterday to lock down. All seven were still alive. I set the eggs out on the table while I took the turner out and put the shelf liner in. We actually saw a couple of the eggs wiggle and start to roll. I was glad I had a teacher in charge of making sure they didn't wiggle themselves right off the table.

I've asked the teacher to try to get permission for me to set up a webcam and broadcast the hatch. I'm not sure if they'll allow it or not, but I'm sure going to try. It'd make me really happy if I could though. I'll keep you posted.