Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[UThobbyfarmer]

Question: when exactly should I begin lockdown? At the start of day 18? Or when it has been a full completed 18 days? Or somewhere in the middle of the 18th day? The 18th day began today at noon... When should I candle and do everything else for lockdown?

Now you're officially overthinking this thing Honestly though I do it after my kids are in bed. So I don't get any extra "help" with the eggs. Regardless of when I actually set them. It's also dark which makes final candling easier.

Lockdown already?! You must be so excited even though it's a bit of "hurry up and wait".

 

[Rocky1028]

Wow this is exciting! I've been following this thread for a few weeks, so it'll be fun seeing what you hatch out! Especially the Barnevelders since I know Saskia, and have seen her gorgeous flock. I live only a few minutes away from her so I'm always tempted to just get "a few more chicks"

Sending good lockdown vibes your way

 

[K0k0shka]

Now you're officially overthinking this thing Honestly though I do it after my kids are in bed. So I don't get any extra "help" with the eggs. Regardless of when I actually set them. It's also dark which makes final candling easier.

Lockdown already?! You must be so excited even though it's a bit of "hurry up and wait".

Of course I'm overthinking it! But only because this is such a precarious situation and the eggs are so scrambled. I want to eliminate any additional and avoidable risks, to increase my odds. There will be 14 hours between when I'll be able to candle/lockdown tonight, and when I'll be able to get to them tomorrow, and that's a long time. So I was just trying to figure out if it's better to do it a little early, or a little late. Sounds like a little early is better. Especially if they may have positioning issues from the shipping stress, seems like taking out the turner a little early to give them more stability to get into position would be better. So I'll do it tonight. We already had a mini candling session with the kids before they went to bed, to see the babies one last time (we only looked at 3 of them), so they went to bed happy. Now I can do it on my own in peace.

 

[K0k0shka]

Wow this is exciting! I've been following this thread for a few weeks, so it'll be fun seeing what you hatch out! Especially the Barnevelders since I know Saskia, and have seen her gorgeous flock. I live only a few minutes away from her so I'm always tempted to just get "a few more chicks"

Sending good lockdown vibes your way lol

Thanks! And I'm glad to hear positive things about Saskia. Her eggs are doing great so far. Every single one is alive and well, and her air cells don't look too bad for having been shipped (of course, they haven't traveled as far as the Orps, but still). Her eggs were sort of a last minute impulse buy... I originally planned on just getting Orpingtons, but I happened upon a picture of a Barnevelder online and just had to have some of those, too The way the eggs are looking right now, in terms of air cells and how many have survived from each breed, it's looking like the Barnevelders will be overtaking the Orpingtons!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Of course I'm overthinking it! But only because this is such a precarious situation and the eggs are so scrambled. I want to eliminate any additional and avoidable risks, to increase my odds. There will be 14 hours between when I'll be able to candle/lockdown tonight, and when I'll be able to get to them tomorrow, and that's a long time. So I was just trying to figure out if it's better to do it a little early, or a little late. Sounds like a little early is better. Especially if they may have positioning issues from the shipping stress, seems like taking out the turner a little early to give them more stability to get into position would be better. So I'll do it tonight. We already had a mini candling session with the kids before they went to bed, to see the babies one last time (we only looked at 3 of them), so they went to bed happy. Now I can do it on my own in peace.

Good plan!

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Did you figure out a good way to separate the other eggs from yours? I know you mentioned cardboard divider. Still going with that? Make sure it's snug and as tall as you can make it. Chicks are surprisingly good climbers.

I've had great luck with a divider I made from hardware cloth. If you have any spare from making your coop might be something to consider. Took under 10 minutes to make. Most of that was spent making cut outs for the heating element so it fit perfectly. It's friction fit.

 

[K0k0shka]

Did you figure out a good way to separate the other eggs from yours? I know you mentioned cardboard divider. Still going with that? Make sure it's snug and as tall as you can make it. Chicks are surprisingly good climbers.

I've had great luck with a divider I made from hardware cloth. If you have any spare from making your coop might be something to consider. Took under 10 minutes to make. Most of that was spent making cut outs for the heating element so it fit perfectly. It's friction fit.

View attachment 2091892

Thanks for the idea! I’m just trying to figure that out right now. I have a wire basket I was going to use, but the front side is too short... only about 2 inches. Do you think they can climb over that?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Thanks for the idea! I’m just trying to figure that out right now. I have a wire basket I was going to use, but the front side is too short... only about 2 inches. Do you think they can climb over that?

If it's a true 2", yes, I think they can climb out. It would not impede their hatching but I don't think it would keep them in without rigging up a lid or top for it. They hop in and out of the egg cartons with ease.

The divider in the picture was 4" at the lowest point (under the element) and about a 1/4" higher across the rest of the incubator.

I saved some plastic clamshells from Costco strawberries that looked like they'd be perfect for hatching in. They have lots of airflow and are secure when snapped closed. The height was perfect for the still air incubator I've been using. I
haven't used them yet because the homemade divider worked so well but it was a solid plan B.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

I just reread the description of the basket. How tall is it at the highest point? Maybe you could block off the low point with something and continue with your plan to use it.

 

[K0k0shka]

The basket is 2” tall on one side and 4” tall on the other. I placed it so that the short side is against the wall of the incubator, so hopefully that will keep them contained.

I’ve been fiddling with the setup for over an hour and it’s just not working!!! Grrrr I want to scream! I put the fan on its back so it’s blowing up and not directly at the eggs. Well that f-ed everything. It’s clearly not circulating well enough this way, so I’m back to having hot and cold spots that are 4-5 degrees apart. I tried putting the fan in the middle and the eggs around it, and the eggs in the middle with the fan next to them by a wall. Nope. Can’t get the temperature to even out!!! And now I’m worried that I’ve been opening the lid too much, adjusting things. Will 1+ hour of messed up temperature from intermittent opening derail my hatch? I have to get it right, for their own good, but it comes at a cost! Help!!