5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[ronott1]

Is this some of your babies trying to find their way home from the PO

Great post!

Are you trying to win the random post contest? We will have a winner in a day or so.....

 

[chickengirl1193]

im so excited seeing everyone get their eggs and un pack them good luck to everyone setting eggs tomorrow!
I just washed my incubator with a little soap and it's drying now then I'm gonna start it up to start playing with the humidity. after the hatch I'll sanitize it since this time it was brand new. thanks for all the help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I just want to thank all who have posted such valuable information about hatching. My DH called me yesterday to tell me he thinks my eggs are not hatching well because all my thermometers are off. He has this little laser temp reader thingamabob that he pointed at the eggs in the incubators and hatcher, and despite thermometers that read just a tick under 100 degrees, the eggs are in the 103-112 degree range. They aren't el cheapo thermometers, they are the thermometer hygrometer type for reptiles, regular price ~$18, I got them for $10 each on sale, so maybe now I know why they were on sale. I am bummed. I went home and put my meat thermometer through a vent hole in each one and adjusted temps and will see if it helps. My new Brinsea should arrive today or tomorrow, and I am going to try and get it to temp to use, will be setting a few hours late but I've heard such great things about it I want to use it for this hatch. Have a dozen of my friend's barnyard mix eggs, should have at least a dozen Silkie eggs from my own girls, and going to pick up a couple dozen from a local with a large layer flock (30 hens, 3 cocks).

Your thermometers may be off because most are only required to have an accuracy of + or - 2 degrees.
However most infrared thermometers have an accuracy of + or - 4 degrees.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

im so excited seeing everyone get their eggs and un pack them

good luck to everyone setting eggs tomorrow!
I just washed my incubator with a little soap and it's drying now then I'm gonna start it up to start playing with the humidity. after the hatch I'll sanitize it since this time it was brand new. thanks for all the help!

Please don't obsess right away about humidity as temperature is much more critical.

IMO when one is getting ready and testing, it may be good to put something in there that will hold heat.

 

[mstricer]

Quote: I didn't know there was a random post contest, as I was in Tennessee and slipped like 10 or more pages. Now game on

 

[mstricer]

Quote:

Dry hatch is way to go. I usually try not to check on my bator until day 10 to candle and day 18 to lock down

 

[mstricer]

So how many first time hatchers do we have right now?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sounds like a lot. I think I counted 91 total hatchers this morning. It would have been nice if everyone said if they were first timers when they joined.
Maybe we can get that info in the next few weeks. Ron needs more to do

 

[chickengirl1193]

okay! I'll be checking the temp to, comparing what the display says abd what my extra thermometer says. I just want to see which trough i need to get the right humidity. as well as making sure my incubator is in a good place
@mstricer I'm a first time hatcher!

 

[KimberlyK0509]

If I set my eggs this evening because I wont be able to do it until late tomorrow night, will I be disqualified for any of the contests?