Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[UThobbyfarmer]

I was happy to read all the lastest updates. Everything is progressing well. The tinkering and dialing in will probably continue till they're all hatched.

 

[aart]

I like that tubing, it looks stiffer than what I have.

It is stiff....'steerable'... to a point.
Had it in the 'stash'. Probably from ten years ago.

I'm just out of time and anything I order now, won't arrive in time,

Yes, I know, I'm sorry..... but, for the future!
I found these things after my first couple hatches too.

 

[K0k0shka]

but, for the future!
I found these things after my first couple hatches too.

I don’t think I’ll be doing this again though Too much work, time, frustration and sleepless nights. And it won’t work unless I’m home all day every day for three weeks. This was lucky how it worked out with the quarantine, but under normal circumstances when I’m gone 10 hours a day, that’s a different story. It’s been an interesting experience and I’m glad I’m doing it, but after I check this box off, I won’t need to do it again. Next time - a broody or day old chicks.

 

[K0k0shka]

Didn't mean to stress you or cause more expense when I brought it up , I thought it was worth mention .

Oh not at all, thank you for mentioning it and bringing it back to my attention! It's something I should've thought about sooner. Thanks to your reminder, now I have the Marek's vaccine on the way, and will be able to give it to the chicks right after they hatch, as recommended. One less thing to worry about them dying from.

 

[aart]

I won’t need to do it again. Next time - a broody or day old chicks.

Uh-huh...ssssuuurrrre
You'd need a new incubator.
A broody can be almost as anxiety riddled and labor intensive,
unless you separate them which takes a lot of the potential problems off the table.

 

[K0k0shka]

Uh-huh...ssssuuurrrre
You'd need a new incubator.
A broody can be almost as anxiety riddled and labor intensive,
unless you separate them which takes a lot of the potential problems off the table.

Haha. I have no time for this. Going to the feed store with the kids to pick out cute little chicks will be good enough! A different kind of excitement, and no less fun.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Haha. I have no time for this. Going to the feed store with the kids to pick out cute little chicks will be good enough! A different kind of excitement, and no less fun.

That makes this hatch all the more special.

 

[K0k0shka]

Here’s my lockdown setup. I tried to tuck all the cords out of the way, but I do still have 4 probe thermometers in there (the incubator’s, and my three, all placed in different areas so I can get a fuller view of the temperature distribution.)

I have two pieces of aquarium tubing going down through two of the smaller vent holes - one into the jar, and the other into one of the water channels, for refilling. The two red plugs have been out of the big vents for the past two weeks and will stay out.


Not pictured: a small metal cooling rack, which I put under the two cartons of eggs to lift them off the soggy liner after I overfilled one of the water channels. And a piece of wood I used to lift the fan off the floor as well, for better circulation.




I put the incubator on a small ottoman so the kids can reach it and see through the top windows, to watch the hatching chicks. The shelf it used to be on was too tall.

You can sort of see the 4 eggs separated off into their little basket. The short side is against the wall, and the tall side along the carton is about 4” tall.


Before lockdown, I used a syringe to add water, but now that the humidity needs to be twice as high, the syringe isn’t cutting it anymore so I’m using one of these squirt bottles instead (left over from my postpartum days... oh fun)


I have pumped two full bottles of water in there over the course of the day, but humidity has been steady at 68-70%, so it’s (finally!) working.

I’ll post day 18 candling pictures and questions tomorrow. I’ve had too many incubator-related late nights and need to go crash early tonight.

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Looking good! I have some reservations about the fan being on the floor with newly hatched chicks. They flop around quite a bit as they get their land legs. I can see a toe or wing easily making it inside the fan. Something to consider and watch for. If it looks like it's becoming a problem, at hatch time, be prepared to snatch it out quickly.

 

[K0k0shka]

Looking good! I have some reservations about the fan being on the floor with newly hatched chicks. They flop around quite a bit as they get their land legs. I can see a toe or wing easily making it inside the fan. Something to consider and watch for. If it looks like it's becoming a problem, at hatch time, be prepared to snatch it out quickly.

Yeah, I'm not too happy about the fan either, but it's crucial right now for temperature control. I'll keep an eye on it. I read about people wrapping the fan in cheesecloth, so I may do that if it becomes a problem... Just didn't want to do it early, in case it impeded airflow (because I know airflow is a problem in this incubator). On the bright side, it does have a cage around the propellers (not all mini fans do), and the propellers themselves are some kind of floppy silicone material, so at most they'll bruise, they won't cut. My kids have a couple of these fans to play with, with exposed propellers, and they don't hurt at all if you touch them while spinning.