4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[mattfulleroc]

Quote: Sounds good to me! I like your optimism and am doing the best to have the same outlook about mine! I must admit I am honestly obsessing and worrying about everything for some reason...I know I have done my best but gosh I would not want to admit (at least to anyone outside of BYC) how many hours I seem to be spending just staring at eithe the laptop screen or the incubator..Good luck! m

 

[mattfulleroc]

Quick question ... Instead of putting paper towels down over my bator wire, i put that rubber mat stuff that people use in their drawers. Someone recommended it and it sounded like a good idea at the time - the eggs don't roll around as easy and it should provide good footing for the peeps, and it has holes for circulation of air and humidity. Sounds ok, ya? Or, maybe not. It is emitting a really strong rubbery smell and now I'm concerned that this might hurt my hatchlings before or after they hatch (if they hatch). Do you think I should be worried? I didn't think twice about it until my husband said I was probably slowly poisoning them with the rubber mat smell

eek!

Shelley, I have the same stuff in mine...I don't notice a smell at this point...I know a lot of people use it but I am not 100% sure about fumes and possible damage to the chicks..can you let me know what people tell you in case I miss the answer and if it is bad I will pull mine out.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Go for a walk have a beer do something to keep you mind off it and let em do their thing

 

[mattfulleroc]

Thanks! Its actually been cathartic until lockdown. I am going to take your advice and leave them alone for the night.

 

[wolfytm2002]

11 babies hatched so far and more pips. I am losing count... I dont think I will be sleeping tonight LOL

 

[greenrisingfarm]

No sleep, lots of chirping. Nice to be able to get online and read this thread. Only 3 pips and not much going on but a great deal of noise. My humidity is running around 44%. I have never had the humidity that low during a hatch before (always between 55% - 70%) and have always been able to raise the humidity easily. This is the largest hatch I have done (41 eggs). I tried to get the humidity higher before the first pip but one of the eggs was blocking a water trough so I only put water in two troughs.

QUESTION 1: So with 3 pips, do I risk opening and adding more water?

My stomach is in knots!!! I don't want to hurt these 3 but I want to make sure the rest have enough humidity.

QUESTION 2: When these 3 eggs hatch, will that raise the humidity?

 

[Mahonri]

And the hatching has begun!!!

 

[SilkieSensation]

No sleep, lots of chirping. Nice to be able to get online and read this thread. Only 3 pips and not much going on but a great deal of noise. My humidity is running around 44%. I have never had the humidity that low during a hatch before (always between 55% - 70%) and have always been able to raise the humidity easily. This is the largest hatch I have done (41 eggs). I tried to get the humidity higher before the first pip but one of the eggs was blocking a water trough so I only put water in two troughs.

QUESTION 1: So with 3 pips, do I risk opening and adding more water?

My stomach is in knots!!! I don't want to hurt these 3 but I want to make sure the rest have enough humidity.

QUESTION 2: When these 3 eggs hatch, will that raise the humidity?

Question 1: NO

Question 2: YES

Just keep an eye on humidity & hatching progress. If you end up having to open the bator use a spray bottle filled with hot water to lightly mist the inside of the lid before closing to bring humidity instantly back up.

 

[greenrisingfarm]

Thanks for the quick response. 2nd pip, just hatched. Humidity up to 52%.

Question: At what humidity level should I take emergency, spray bottle action? (great idea!!!)

I really need to move my incubator out of my bedroom.

 

[Selah]

Sounds good to me! I like your optimism and am doing the best to have the same outlook about mine! I must admit I am honestly obsessing and worrying about everything for some reason...I know I have done my best but gosh I would not want to admit (at least to anyone outside of BYC) how many hours I seem to be spending just staring at eithe the laptop screen or the incubator..Good luck! m

Sad to say, my optimism took a bit of a beating when I got up to find my temp at 102.1 this morning *sigh*. Working now at stabizing...and reminding myself that I have done my best by this hatch. I cooled down as quickly as I could, which means temporarily diminishing desired humidity level, so it really worked in my favor I don't have a bunch of pips yet.

No matter the outcome, I know there will be life a-plenty in the new year, and I am grateful to have made contact with WVstruttin' in the next county through this forum, who has silkies

I had to have surgery in the middle of the hatch...weird how I missed my eggs sitting near me when I was in the hospital. That's probably a bit daft