APRIL Hatch-A-Long 2015: PLEASE READ FIRST POST

[LBKS]

Hi all, I sent a pm to join.

My rooster is a Dominique and I set 3 eggs from my Rhode Island Red, and 3 from my Ameracauna. No telling what these little chicks will look like. (Hoping for a good hatch rate!) I set them on April 7, hatch day should be April 28.

This is my first hatch and I'm feeling rather anxious! Today is day 7 and I'm planning to candle them this afternoon!

So excited!!!!

Welcome! Good luck on your candling!

 

[toynutz]

We have lockdown! Did a midnight candling and all 12 are still looking good! They seemed on-track for day 18 air cell size, so I added hot water to all trays and went to bed. At 6 a.m. the humidity was at 75% but the temp was only 99... guess it takes more to heat all the water too. It's almost to 100.5 now, so I think they'll be fine.

It's so hard not to peep at them every hour... I just can't wait for them to start pipping and popping!

 

[randerson846]

We have lockdown! Did a midnight candling and all 12 are still looking good! They seemed on-track for day 18 air cell size, so I added hot water to all trays and went to bed. At 6 a.m. the humidity was at 75% but the temp was only 99... guess it takes more to heat all the water too. It's almost to 100.5 now, so I think they'll be fine.

It's so hard not to peep at them every hour... I just can't wait for them to start pipping and popping!

good luck what are u hatching

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

We have lockdown! Did a midnight candling and all 12 are still looking good! They seemed on-track for day 18 air cell size, so I added hot water to all trays and went to bed. At 6 a.m. the humidity was at 75% but the temp was only 99... guess it takes more to heat all the water too. It's almost to 100.5 now, so I think they'll be fine.

It's so hard not to peep at them every hour... I just can't wait for them to start pipping and popping!

It is hard. I hope you enjoy every nail biting moment. You are gonna do gret. Remember that when you doubt yourself!

 

[LBKS]

Had 2 still trying to hatch today on day 25, can't see this hatch ending more than above the about 50% rate it's at now, 23(-1 hatching death)/44. I can't wait to build my DIY incubator, these sytros are awful.

 

[randerson846]

Had 2 still trying to hatch today on day 25, can't see this hatch ending more than above the about 50% rate it's at now, 23(-1 hatching death)/44.  I can't wait to build my DIY incubator, these sytros are awful.

23 out of 44 is still reasonably good for a styrofoam incubator, my first incubator, was a styrofoam incubator, and out of 15 I got 2, I had read every thread on here about hatching, and it didn't help!! Styrofoam incubators are awful, afterward I just threw it in the bin, the next one I had was a 60 egg manual incubator, I got for £50, and it was ok, I used it for 2 years, and then I just sold it about 2 months ago, I'm going to save up, and invest in a decent one, at the minute, I have borrowed 2, an octagon 20, that I have 5 geese eggs in, and it is pretty good, I might save up, and get an octagon 40 and the other one I have, is a janoel manual 56 manual incubator, and the temperature is around 0.5oC - 1oC of a degree higher than it reads, but it is ok, but defiantly the octagon 20, is the best one if used so far good luck on the rest of the eggs, be patient, some may just be late

 

[LBKS]

23 out of 44 is still reasonably good for a styrofoam incubator, my first incubator, was a styrofoam incubator, and out of 15 I got 2, I had read every thread on here about hatching, and it didn't help!! Styrofoam incubators are awful, afterward I just threw it in the bin, the next one I had was a 60 egg manual incubator, I got for £50, and it was ok, I used it for 2 years, and then I just sold it about 2 months ago, I'm going to save up, and invest in a decent one, at the minute, I have borrowed 2, an octagon 20, that I have 5 geese eggs in, and it is pretty good, I might save up, and get an octagon 40

and the other one I have, is a janoel manual 56 manual incubator, and the temperature is around 0.5oC - 1oC of a degree higher than it reads, but it is ok, but defiantly the octagon 20, is the best one if used so far

good luck on the rest of the eggs, be patient, some may just be late

The hatch rates drove me nuts, I ended up getting a temperature/humidity logger that is super accurate (as I recall, 0.1 degree of precision, +/- 0.5 accuracy) to troubleshoot it. Temperature spikes, humidity problems, you name it, graphed out over the 21 day period. Finally realized I had to dry incubate as the humidity was always too high. I'm just toughing it out now telling myself that only the hardiest chicks are hatching so it'll toughen up the flock long term. I hate it though, wish they'd all hatch.

I keep looking for quality used incubators to go on sale, but so far no luck nearby. Just other folks off loading styrobators. Hence the DIY route because the nice cabinet incubators are well out of my price range.

 

[randerson846]

I know, I would love a cabinet incubator too, but they are really dear , what were u hatching? And is there any pics

 

[LBKS]

I know, I would love a cabinet incubator too, but they are really dear , what were u hatching? And is there any pics

Silkied Ameraucana Project eggs - it's all I hatch. Let me snag a photo.

 

[randerson846]

What is the silkied ameraucana project? I haven't heard of it, and they are really nice, there is a wide range of colours