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

[Penny Hen]

I'm like that too, i need a strict routine lol. this is my first hatch so it will lay the foundation for future hatches! one problem I have tho is us to this point the humidity in my house was 27% so I was keeping the humidity up in my bator cuz it kept dropping low. then last night it rained and melted the foot of snow we had so now my house humidity is up to 50% and my bator humidity just keeps climbing

I'm not adding water now till lock down cuz my air cells still need to shrink. the weather threw me through a loop

Place a cup of dry rice in the incubator.

 

[JLaw]

I have two of them. They are contact heaters and do not heat the brooder. They work a lot like a broody mom would work.

I really like them. The room needs to be above 40 for the first couple of weeks. I use them in my Garage in the winter because it does not get that cold here. It it did get cold, a small wattage light for heat would be needed for them.

Is there an adjustment on them or do the chicks just move away as they don't need the heat? they look costly I may have a hard time selling the wife on the idea that I need one. Is there a big difference between it and a heat lamp really?

 

[Nuclear Chickens]

Wait no. Roo's don't count... That means I have 3 chickens!

Roos don't count because they get ate after they crow the first time............

 

[abmaddox1981]

Soooo.....I candled the eggs tonight. I know, I know. I said I wouldn't do it. But..... I just couldn't help it. I swear on all 9 silkie eggs I can see 5-toed feet! Kinda weird but so awesome! And the one I thought might be EQ was moving! So, started with 35 down to 24. Oh and I could actually see baby chickies moving around in my AM/EE eggs so I'm happy!

 

[Nonyah Biz]

Look what I got!!!

Ha Ha! What a cheeky little face!!! 2nd chick so far - 1st was yellow and not yet made an appearance when I have my phone handy!!

awwwwwww

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I am jumping to the end to announce the winning post for the random post contest. It was post number 4623. If the winner does not want the prize there is a second chance post number. I am waiting to see if Blarney Eggs wants the prize!

[IMG]http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s38/smilies-3434.png[/IMG]

Woo Hoo!!! Very excited thank you Ron and Thank You Chicken Picken!!!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
CONGRATULATIONS BLARNEY!!!!!!!!

!!!

 

[CackleJoy]

Uh Oh - sorry to hear that. I am hoping to buy some CCL eggs for my next hatch. If you have any advice or recommendations - good or bad - please feel free to pm me.

I just learned that roosters are light sensitive as well as hens. So fertility goes down in winter. Some hens are still laying eggs even w/o lights but the roosters could be adversely affected by the winter hours. The seller very graciously offered to replace the eggs. I really think this experience can be chalked up to low fertility from a winter rooster. I have heard that one should be very careful when purchasing CL ebay eggs. If you want to talk to people about CL's, there is probably a thread special for them. I know there is a facebook page.

 

[CackleJoy]

Place a cup of dry rice in the incubator.

Will that help the air cells get bigger?

 

[chickengirl1193]

I built my brooder from a large tote - about 3 ft by 2 ft. I don't have a picture of it right now, but its the type with the latches in the handles to hold the lid on. I cut the indented lid of the tote out, drilled tiny holes around the hole, and zip tied hardware cloth to it. Keeps my 30 lb mutt from prying off the lid and playing wack-a-mole with my chicks. Caught her on it once and it didn't fall in.

hmm i was thinking about that cuz it might be cheapest. thanks for the ideas!

Place a cup of dry rice in the incubator.

that's a really good idea! Thanks I read that and thought you said dry ice and I couldn't figure out what the benefit would be... but dry RICE makes sense to decrease humidity lol.