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

[Penny Hen]

OK, but you go first. Gawd help me if DH ever saw me shaking out stock salt IN the house…I'm not even allowed to put it on the deck or the driveway. I'm NOT even joking…I sneak cat litter on the steps going to the chicken pens and PRAY for spring….yup, that's my strategy.

By the way if you have some delicate knicknacks that get dusty (like something with feathers or a model sailing ship) put it in a zip lock bag with about 3 tablespoons of salt and carefully shake. I hold on to the object through the plastic so that only the salt is moving around. It works spectacularly. Start with showing him that magic trick and then he may be more receptive to using it on carpet. Besides germs don't like salt. It negatively impacts their reproduction.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Accurate thermometers.

I bought a Brinsea spot check last year and didn't trust it because it disagreed with all my other thermometers. I also had trouble with the on button that stuck so I couldn't always get it to turn on so I quit using it.

I found the Thermoworks website and purchased this probe.
http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html?whence=#

It is accurate to 0.9 degrees AND can be calibrated. Furthermore it is fast. 5 second response time.

So when I put the probe close to the Brinsea spot check, they are within 0.1 degrees of each other.

I'm finally confident of my temperature.

I also bought this unit

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100.html

It has 2 channels so I can monitor the incubator and hatcher. (could also be used to monitor incubator and ambient)
I have it set to sound alarm when temp drops below 98 and above 102.

I'm now at peace.
It will be even better if I get a baby monitor so I can hear the alarm no matter where I am.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Accurate thermometers.

I bought a Brinsea spot check last year and didn't trust it because it disagreed with all my other thermometers. I also had trouble with the on button that stuck so I couldn't always get it to turn on so I quit using it.

I found the Thermoworks website and purchased this probe.
http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html?whence=#

It is accurate to 0.9 degrees AND can be calibrated. Furthermore it is fast. 5 second response time.

So when I put the probe close to the Brinsea spot check, they are within 0.1 degrees of each other.

I'm finally confident of my temperature.

I also bought this unit

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100.html

It has 2 channels so I can monitor the incubator and hatcher. (could also be used to monitor incubator and ambient)
I have it set to sound alarm when temp drops below 98 and above 102.

I'm now at peace.
It will be even better if I get a baby monitor so I can hear the alarm no matter where I am.

those look great.

 

[mspj]

Question: Do you have them in a turner? I ask because the only time I used the turner I would candle and have a hard time seeing the development. It was as if the embryo and veining network sat on top of the yolk under the air cell. I could see some veining of course, but that embryo was never visible in the early stages. I would get so frustrated, that's one reason I won't use the turner. I like them laying on the floor of the incubator so when I pick up the egg and candle that baby is right there pressed up against the shell.
I have the Coast G50 with Focusing Lens from Home Depot. It's $42.00, but is awesome, the lens is inverted rounded so the egg fits perfectly in to shut out the light. Unfortunately, right now mine is stuck shut, and I can't change the batteries. I need to get it open, UGH!!

Yes they are in a turner for this hatch, but I didn't have the turner for my first hatch and couldn't see anything then either. I did sneak about 6 out again this morning and I can see dark spots that I am sure are embryo's but I cannot see the veining. 2 of the 6 were ones I thought maybe weren't fertile but now I think they are, time will tell. I must get a better light as I feel like I 'm missing out not being able to see those veins.

 

[chiqita]

Accurate thermometers.

I bought a Brinsea spot check last year and didn't trust it because it disagreed with all my other thermometers. I also had trouble with the on button that stuck so I couldn't always get it to turn on so I quit using it.

I found the Thermoworks website and purchased this probe.
http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt301wa.html?whence=#

It is accurate to 0.9 degrees AND can be calibrated. Furthermore it is fast. 5 second response time.

So when I put the probe close to the Brinsea spot check, they are within 0.1 degrees of each other.

I'm finally confident of my temperature.

I also bought this unit

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/rt8100.html

It has 2 channels so I can monitor the incubator and hatcher. (could also be used to monitor incubator and ambient)
I have it set to sound alarm when temp drops below 98 and above 102.

I'm now at peace.
It will be even better if I get a baby monitor so I can hear the alarm no matter where I am.

So buying that alarm....

 

[bantambury]

no this is my first time ever hatching anything~hoping for beginers luck lol ~well the hen is amercanaus (EE?) and dad is a bantam cochin lol and my hen lays a double yolker 1x a week along with normal eggs mayble's butt lol and my sweet colonel dipper lol

woa! its gonna be a cool mix! I have 8 eggs, one hen is an oe mix, one a silkie, two roos, a Japanese bantam and silkie.....my mixes will be neat......

we are incubating 1 silkie hen egg, and 7 OE mixes..... here are the hens:


here are the roosters:



im so excted to see my chicks as mixes......im even more to see yours! you may have a feather footed OE!!!!! WOW~cnt wait to see them!

Ooops! How could I make that mistake. What a handsome Japanese Bantam boy he is! This is a great photo of him. Black tailed. Very pretty!

haha thank you! he was actuaily a mistake! we got his egg by accident asking for silkies! but im much happier with him tan the silkie I could've gotten! hahahah

I candled tonight and there are veins!

Of the 14 I set 4 look like clears. a couple are questionable but 8 look very nice!

The Rooster is doing his job!

awesome! I have a few clears.....could these ay start veins soon, or no?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronott1

I candled tonight and there are veins!

Of the 14 I set 4 look like clears. a couple are questionable but 8 look very nice!

The Rooster is doing his job!

awesome! I have a few clears.....could these ay start veins soon, or no?

I candled on day 6 which is early. They could wind up developing so I am keeping them in the incubator. I will not remove them until day 10.

 

[bantambury]

Do fridge eggs usually have lower hatch rates?

yes, but also.....


do fridge eggs take a longer time to begin their growing process? yesterday was day 4 and I had nada in them.....I hope something will start!

if nothing does, we will have a LOW hatch rate......literarily 11 of our eggs are fridge eggs, but the OEs are SO dark I cant see ANYTHING in them so I have no idea!!!!! AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRR!

 

[ronott1]

yes, but also.....


do fridge eggs take a longer time to begin their growing process? yesterday was day 4 and I had nada in them.....I hope something will start!

if nothing does, we will have a LOW hatch rate......literarily 11 of our eggs are fridge eggs, but the OEs are SO dark I cant see ANYTHING in them so I have no idea!!!!! AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRR!

Day four is early. I did not see development on day 4 but saw a bunch on day 6.

 

[bantambury]

I candled on day 6 which is early. They could wind up developing so I am keeping them in the incubator. I will not remove them until day 10.

oh! ok! I only did day 4....sooooooo....yeah.

ill keep mine! hopefully something good will come up?