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

[Myfourladies]

Lockdown tomorrow.... well that is if the ONE single egg left that had good veining in it of day 14 still looks good.

I have one egg I can't see into clearly and it doesn't stink so it is going too. I am going to candle my other 8 today to see how many of them are showing good signs, then lockdown for them is Tuesday. Praying for 4 but atleast 2!

 

[Pozees]

So ... I moved 7 of the 11 due to hatch into the hatcher, the other 4 quit, 1 of the 7 looks pretty iffy but not a definite no, so it's in there. Forgot I had set 6 Dominique eggs in that incubator, and forgot to candle day 10 eggs Tuesday, so I did that, removed clears, and moved the Dom eggs into the other incubator, so I "only" have 2 running right now ... but not for long LOL. I'll be setting my own Silkie and E. Fayoumi eggs Saturday, then next week some shipped eggs including Midget White Turkeys (SO hoping to get a hatch especially on the MW, anyone with experience with these please offer up any advice you have) and some local barnyard mixes, so the third incubator won't be getting a very long break.

Following advice received here, lifted the Brinsea incubator out of the cradle, and DH replaced the motor and clutch, but he coudln't leave it there - he took apart the old clutch and said no way that could be the problem, so he took apart the bell something-or-other (crank? I can't remember, he's the mechanic, not me) with the arm attached that actually turns the incubator, because there was a lot of plastic dust, and it looks as if the screw was a bit tight and no lubrication on the axle, so that got lubed and put back together, set the incubator back in, and so far so good, turning smoothly with no clicking. I was holding my breath the whole time I lifted the incubator into and out of the cradle, sure I was going to make some awful mistake and ruin my hatches, but everything actually seems to be fine. I guess I'll know more in a few days - still not sur eif I'll move the NYD eggs to the hatcher on Sunday night or Monday - I usually wait for day 19, and it might depend on how the earlier hatch goes this weekend.

ChickenCanoe, you have mentioned your Jaerhons a couple of times, do you have pics?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Can anyone take a look at my air cells and tell me if they are large enough now that I can add some humidity, since I've been running dry for a week? I posted before and no one specifically said if the air cells looked like the right size. The smallest circle is at 7 days, the middle lines are at 10 days, the biggest circles are from yesterday...day 14. Thanks!

Since no one else answered, I'll chime in.
I think you are OK.

I try not to stress about things out of my control.
I have my incubator in the basement so it's difficult to look at. (my basement only has an outside entrance so I have to go outside first to go down there.
I put my water founts and fermented feed down to keep everything from freezing at night. So I'm down there several times morning and evening. I have high/low temp alarms on the incubator so I'll hear if something is wrong.
I'm just flying on faith.

I have this little thing sitting in front of the computer.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Incubation-...ubator-Chicken-Quail-Goose-Duck-/231056224660

It says I have 5 days and 7 hours till the first eggs hatch.

 

[mspj]

I have been working on making a cabinet incubator and I think it's ready. My temps are steadily between 99 - 100, still working on getting the humidity between 55 - 65%. I want to use this new cabinet for lockdown so that I can separate my flock eggs from the ones I bought from a neighbor ($3 new breed for me, yay!)

So my question is: As long as my temperatures are similar will it be a shock to the eggs to go from my Styrofoam incubator that is heated with a coil to the cabinet incubator that uses light bulbs as the heat source. The new incubator is VERY bright, should I put some type of shield over the bulbs to cut down the light going into the bottom of the hatching drawers? I will be putting the gripper shelf liner over the wire mesh, I'm sure that will shield out some light but not very much. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

so my birthday is January 11 and my boyfriend is on vacation from work so for an early bday present he is going to build me a brooder/coop for my chickies

does anyone have any good ideas? I'm going to brood in the house for the first couple weeks then move them to the shed or their new coop depending on how many hatch, then after a while I'll let them free range with my pullets and slowly get them used to each other and then they could all move into the same run

A couple things I recommend if you can do so is to have electric at the coop and water nearby.
Having good access to the roosts whether a walk-in coop or an access door at roost height makes it very easy to handle the birds at night no matter how flighty they are. I hate chasing chickens, it's like herding cats.

 

[Pozees]

"I hate chasing chickens, it's like herding cats."

AIn't it the truth! We tried a wine called Herding Cats a couple of years ago, it was very good, nothing like its name LOL.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Can anyone take a look at my air cells and tell me if they are large enough now that I can add some humidity, since I've been running dry for a week? I posted before and no one specifically said if the air cells looked like the right size. The smallest circle is at 7 days, the middle lines are at 10 days, the biggest circles are from yesterday...day 14. Thanks!

I'm not sure if anyone answered you specifically yet, have you compared to the picture Ron has posted on Page 1? I'm definitely not the one to be giving help regarding humidity as it seems to be my greatest enemy.

Two of the chicks hatched, I helped both.

They are fussing away, I'm waiting for them to dry off (I took the one out and scrubbed him down, that egg goo is like Super Glue!) I used dish detergent and warm water, I want him to dry a bit before I move them over to the brooder. and I'm calling him a 'him' as he's already got a comb that just won't quit.

 

[Pozees]

Such a cute little "him!"

 

[ronott1]

Well..all 5 of my Rhodebars are moving around, and the one Marans is too dark to see, but the air sac is clear. The bad part. I've had what I call half a saddle air sac in most of them. Even the Marans. Not sure how they will do when they try and get out. Sometimes, the air pocket is so large, they can't reach that shell. I try and make sure I have the large part of the air more on the floor.
Plus, I have that one that made if from the 4 doz. that took a week in the mail. Little thing is holding on. It also has a large air sac, kind of funky, but not as bad as a saddle side. Not as high. So, I am soo hoping that one little one makes it. It isn't due to hatch until the third.

They do fine with saddle air sacs do not worry unless they pip in the wrong place.

Can anyone take a look at my air cells and tell me if they are large enough now that I can add some humidity, since I've been running dry for a week? I posted before and no one specifically said if the air cells looked like the right size. The smallest circle is at 7 days, the middle lines are at 10 days, the biggest circles are from yesterday...day 14. Thanks!

Air cells look perfect. The chicks are developing fine and you should have a great hatch!

Oh goodness, I hope she's gonna be ok!! Keep us posted!!

The yolk did not absorb completely. What was the temperature of the incubator?

I would use water and a Q tip to moisten the edges to see if the chick will finish zipping. If not within an hour I would gently remove the top part of the egg and then see if I could see where the chick is stuck in the bottom. Leave the chick in the bottom for as long as possible. When the chick comes out, check for hernia and attached yolk sack. If it looks bad, put some of the anti biotic without pain medicine on it and set her into a tea cup and then back into the incubator.

Chicks that look like yours are usually fine!

 

[Elliemae 77]

JLaw, check the ingredients of your feed. Sometimes they use fish meal in the bigger protein feed which would give it a bad smell. But 3 days is a little long for a batch of FF. Are you using enough water to cover the feed?