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

[JLaw]

Those having hydrometer probles. I find the luttle black combo ones from walmart work within 1-2%. I have two one is right on other is like 1-2% low.

To test hydrometers place them in see through tupperware dish. take a small lid and fill with salt then add water to salt to make it wet like damp sand. Put the lid in container with hydrometer and seal container. I give mine 12-15 hours to settle. They should read 75%.

 

[CackleJoy]

What with coming home from a trip and discovering dead birds, I've had a rough day. Now I'm thinking all sorts of panic thoughts about the incubator. Set eggs 12:08 am on the 12th so almost the 11th. Figured since it was technically the 12th that it was okay to lock down today.

I put them big-end-up in the cartons with the bottoms cut out. That looks like a good idea. Then I read that I should have candled. Well I'm afraid to handle them now. I did lock down, raised humidity and all at 7:00 a.m. Should I go candle now? Leave them alone? Humidity readings are 67% and 88% percent so I figure it's over 70%. We have the fan incubator (HB 1588).

Should I just leave everything alone and hope for the best?

Oh, should I turn down the temp? Ranging around 100 degrees, but set at 99.9. Should I lower that to 98? Genesis HB 1588, fan model.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I GOT A PIP!!!!!!!!

Yippee!!!!!

Well, believe it or not, I'm glad to hear the Acurites are wrong, lol! I was at my witts end trying to get that humidity up, and it's been up the whole time!

Gonna invest in that new one before the Easter Hatch-A-Long!!

Gah, that's the kind I have. I went into lockdown at 1:30 today...mine is reading 63% right now...worried it's way off!!! UGH!!!!

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Ron...(or anyone else that has an answer)

Since I'm hatching upright, what happens if I get a chick pipping the wrong end??? I won't be able to tell, because it's at the bottom inside the carton!!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I put 5 eggs into lockdown. 4 were too dark to see anything other than the air bubble. They did not stink so in they went. the humidity is not quite as high as I would like it but I don't want to adjust it now that lockdown has started. I'm expecting chicks by Thursday lunchtime. The humidity was higher before I opened the lid to add the eggs so I'm hoping it goes back up. If not I may have to adjust something even if it is lockdown. Right now it is around 63-65%

 

[Myfourladies]

Oh, should I turn down the temp? Ranging around 100 degrees, but set at 99.9. Should I lower that to 98? Genesis HB 1588, fan model.

I would leave them and hope for the best..... sounds like you are doing everything right! =)

 

[ronott1]

Ron...(or anyone else that has an answer)

Since I'm hatching upright, what happens if I get a chick pipping the wrong end??? I won't be able to tell, because it's at the bottom inside the carton!!

If you candle and tilt the eggs back slightly to match the air cell, the pip is usually in a place where you can see it if they pip low. It is rare for them to pip on the backside bottom but it does happen.

If they were laying down, you would not see the pip in that spot also.

 

[Whoops]

I heard chirping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe there is some hope I will get some chickies out of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C'mon chickies

 

[MontanaDolphin]

If you candle and tilt the eggs back slightly to match the air cell, the pip is usually in a place where you can see it if they pip low. It is rare for them to pip on the backside bottom but it does happen.

If they were laying down, you would not see the pip in that spot also.

I candled before I entered lockdown, and traced the air cell. I put them in the carton tilted, so the part of the air cell that dips down is as close to the top as I could. They are moving, though (apparently), because some of them are straight up and down again, and that's not how I set them in there.

 

[bantambury]

I heard chirping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe there is some hope I will get some chickies out of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C'mon chickies

woop woop! I heard it ALL today I have bunches of rockers and now a PIP!