9th-annual-byc-new-years-day-2018-hatch-a-long

[ronott1]

Hi everyone! I just knew i could count on this group to have a Hatch-a-Long going for New Years! I set 42 chicken eggs today at 3pm! This will be my second hatch ever. I finished my first attempt on Dec 3rd, and was instantly addicted. Hoping to have another successful hatch. Ive got multiple Orpington colors, Silkies, Polish, Marans, EE, Brahma mixes, Cochins, and Sussex in there.. Cant wait to follow along!
-AlexisView attachment 1208238

Welcome to the hatch a long!

 

[Pensmaster]

They're all doing fine this morning. Had a little bit of a technical problem last night. I could not keep the temperature up in the incubator! The temperature kept dropping and I kept setting the thermostat higher. Then I got a brainstorm! I took out at @BantyChooks egg & warmed it up with a hair dryer before placing it back in the incubator. Reset my thermostat to the proper temperature, and now everything is fine. Live and learn I suppose. I have never attempted to hatch an egg from the North Pole before. Always a new learning experience, and never a dull moment.

Another live and learn moment. This summer I had only one egg hatch from the NN shipped eggs. It seems I relied on the infallible incubator that had done so well for me two prior hatches. The temp was too cold (did not change the settings) not having a way to check temps top of egg I drilled a hole in the plastic lid and inserted a thermometer top of egg. It’s temporarily duct taped in hole. So far so good. As long as it’s accurate. These are my eggs this time so all will hatch.

 

[CapricornFarm]

How is #3 today Farmer Connie?

 

[ronott1]

I have gone completely over the edge.

For those of you who don't have a YUGE monitor... what this is, is a graphical representation of the set weights of my eggs, with the target weights at 1/3 of the way through incubation, 2/3 through, and at 18 days. (Target loss is 13.5% by day 18).

So far I can see that the Serama/Silkie eggs are losing too much weight (so I upped the humidity) with a few of the silkies borderline. I might end up setting up the old incy if the discrepancies are too large.

Fantastic Job!

I hope it helps with your hatch

 

[ronott1]

Another live and learn moment. This summer I had only one egg hatch from the NN shipped eggs. It seems I relied on the infallible incubator that had done so well for me two prior hatches. The temp was too cold (did not change the settings) not having a way to check temps top of egg I drilled a hole in the plastic lid and inserted a thermometer top of egg. It’s temporarily duct taped in hole. So far so good. As long as it’s accurate. These are my eggs this time so all will hatch.

Thanks for the tip!

calibrating the incubator with a good thermometer is very important.

Calibrating the thermometer is a good idea too

 

[Lazy Farmer]

How is #3 today Farmer Connie?

Kind of a lazy egg. It did roll over 3 times today, but never got up. Must be a teenager maybe?

 

[amunk01]

Awesomely deranged.

My 13-yr old son is hella impressed. LOL

If you can impress a 13yr old, keep doing what you're doing! Lol What kind of scale are you using? I want to weigh mine now!

 

[Altfrizzle]

It’s a good scale from amazon. $12 or so.

As long as it’s a sensitive enough scale it doesn’t matter what unit you weigh in because you’re going by %.

Dapai Mini Digital Kitchen Scale Travel Size Food Scale 0.1g-3Kg with Tare Function- Stainless https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FCRR9TU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_VxZhkl1KoPysN

 

[pennyJo1960]

liking my silkie method more and more all the high tech to incubators now

 

[ronott1]

liking my silkie method more and more all the high tech to incubators now

even with broodies, it is good to have an incubator as a backup. Sometimes things happen with them or to them