APRIL Hatch a long ......Anyone?

[davewg297]

3 are hatched as of this morning of my little booted's! 4 more are on there way! Will post pics later today

 

[FarmGirlForLife]

Okay, so I'm going to sound like a dumb newbie but when do the eggs need to go into lockdown an how high should the humidity be? With our incubator it was kind of a go big or go home type deal. Its a homemade incubator made out of a fridge with the freezer on top. So far its been keeping humidity and temperature steady. The freezer unit on top is going to be used for lockdown. Only six more days until my first group is here!

 

[Tubbys Lil Farm]

Okay, so I'm going to sound like a dumb newbie but when do the eggs need to go into lockdown an how high should the humidity be? With our incubator it was kind of a go big or go home type deal. Its a homemade incubator made out of a fridge with the freezer on top. So far its been keeping humidity and temperature steady. The freezer unit on top is going to be used for lockdown. Only six more days until my first group is here!

Day 18 you stop turning, and humidity I believe is 65% (can't remember exactly. Someone else will chime in and help us out.

 

[Shellz]

I believe humidity varies by region. Some folks hatch well with lower percentages. Some higher. It takes some tweaking to find the right balance for YOU. Best to start with the unit's manual, or if homemade, keep notes. Find a range you feel comfortable with to start, take note of it & your results. Make changes with your next hatch based on your notes & observations. I fell for some bad advice my first time - said get it up to 70%, the more the better. Well, that drowned most of my chicks. Start with the standard info of 40-50% for first 17 days then up it to 55-60% As first chicks hatch, the action will naturally raise the humidity inside without any interference from you. First hatches should always be done with cheap eggs. You want to wait until you master your unit before diving in on those expensive eggs. Please remember, these numbers are guidelines only! Definitely stop turning those eggs day 18 too.

Good luck FarmGirlForLife!

 

[RookyChickMama]

Day 20 today! I have 5 eggs in hatcher, all eggs are rocking since last night! I'm so excited I can't wait for little chickies!! This is my first hatch, all eggs were alive day 18 on lockdown.

 

[MedicDog]

I didn't need to panic, tempreture balanced itself out but when I press minimum on my thermometer it says it dropped by 68 degrees farenheit... Hopefully I forgot to reset it before I put it in!

 

[CSWolffe]

Here's a tip for those of you who have issues with temp fluctuations: When I first set up my incubator, one of the cheap ones known for fluctuation, I set a ceramic tile underneath everything. That little bit of mass absorbs heat, and helps regulate. That's the biggest problem with cheapo 'bators, they don't have enough mass to keep things steady. Once I hit the temp I want, I've not had more than a single degree of variation the entire time.

 

[wabbit1964]

I had 25 eggs in the incubator after 7 day candling saw that there were some questionable (not fertile) ones... but let them be until day 12 day 12 I pulled 10 very clear eggs and have 15 that look to be developing. Seeing those lil chicks moving about inside the egg is so cool.

In addition to setting the incubator last month I Have also had one of the buff orp hens I hatched last spring go broody this past week.... that is the batch I am more concerned about.....

last thur or fri my daughter told me there was a chicken that wouldn't let her get the eggs, was always in the nest box. I told her to leave her be. I think it was Saturday my husband said there was no chicken in the nest boxes and he'd collected all the eggs ( I think he must have looked at that rare moment she was off the nest doing her business). She had only been broody for a day or two but still I'm thinking about those eggs now sitting mixed in with the daily collection and not knowing if I"m going to see any surprises when I go to cook... Anyway back to the broody... Sunday I was determined that in spite of the docs orders to stay off my leg I was going to take back the job of egg collecting and Sunday she was back in that nest box attacking me if I put my hand near...Monday still there, Today yep still there.... the box she chose was unfortionately a milk crate that there was no bedding in.meaning the eggs were settled into the holes in the crate making it so she wouldn't be able to roll them around plus not a good thing for baby chicks, they'd get legs stuck/hurt for sure. I had heard about moving broody hens to secure location (but didn't research before deciding to move her)... so I didn't wait till night but I moved her to a secure pen today with food and water of her own... she was still upset with me when I came back in the house... I hope I didn't ruin things... there are 7 eggs under her..or were under her until I moved her UGH.


So that is the status of my 2014 hatchalong update for April so far..... incubator eggs due 4/15 and broody hen's expected hatch 2 weeks after that if all goes well....

 

[Sterl18]

I never realized how stressful hatching eggs would be!

It was super stressful! Kept asking myself why not just buy chicks?! Now, less than a week after hatching I'm positive I will try it again. LOL

 

[pogmobum]

On day 18 here and the broody decided its a great time to get off the nest more frequently then she ever has, saw her off it three times today! As soon as i went to feed her she popped off and started eating, she never usually does that since i have the food so close to the nest. Oh well we shall see i guess. Its her first time so im cutting her some slack. :/