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

[texasmomma]

I woke up to a third chick, but things were still the same with the others. So, I went in and assisted two of the eggs. One is out and the other has a beak out. The last two eggs have barely pipped, not sure what to do, if anything, about them. The membrane on the two I helped was rather dry and one was a huge chick that had trouble getting out of the shell even with my little bit of help.

 

[texasmomma]

For me since I know my incubator does this I watch pip activity if it stalls for 8ish hours or so I know there is a problem.

But even w/ all the failure today I will end up w/ 14 ish chicks I didn't have yesterday, and 12 ish chicks that would have died had I not intervened.

I wonder if this shrink wrapping problem is common with the Brinsea incubators in dryer climates. I am
guessing this has happened to me before, but I just didn't know it and was too afraid to open the incubator.

While I am sorry about your special egg, I'm glad to hear that you ended up with a positive result. Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[sonderah]

Philyaw539 that's great! I have the little giant still air incubator also. Didn't have such a great result. Started out with 18 eggs and after 10th day 4 wasn't good. 2 died zipping. 5 hatched, one pipping and 7 not doing anything. I had trouble with humidity, couldn't get high enough for the lockdown. Now I'm on day 22 , this is my first hatch!

I use an LG as a hatcher and have really struggled with humidity. This last time I filled the resiviors then put two wet towels on the rack and it went great! I can squirt water through the holes to rewet the towels if it starts going down some. Of course I hatch the eggs in a flat so they r not laying on the towels. Idk if that would work if they were. They r white kitchen towels so easy to clean. Bleach them with an extra rinse to get the bleach out, & the hatcher was SOOOO easy to clean. It was a suggestion I read here in BYC, but idr which thread. Lol

 

[Shellz]

Sorry to hear of the troubles. I had a miserable March hatch with my LG. Too many temp spikes & a few drops down to 97.7. I had only one healthy chick hatch out of 47. So much effort for bad result. I kicked that %#$&ing thing to the curb! My hat's off to those who persevere with the unit. I hear good results in more humid climates. Dry as a bone up here in Ontario, Canada.

I assisted 4 chicks from that hatch - 2 died & 2 had to be put down. I did a hatch in Feb too with the LG & assisted one chick that defied the odds. He's my biggest roo now at almost 6 weeks old & over 2 lbs! I'll never know why he thrived - perhaps I reached him in that golden hour? He was worth it!

 

[carousel86]

Sonderah, thank you. I to had problems with my humidity and put washcloths in the incubator. Only 5 hatched, 2 died zipping and this morning I help one out of it's shell because my humidity is still to low at 61. I have 7 more eggs in there not doing anything I'm on day 23. This is my first hatch not to bad, I wish a couple more would hatch, started with 14 eggs.

 

[MedicDog]

My temp was a bit wobbly when I left for work, I hope its stabilised! Two hours til I'm home.

 

[carousel86]

I never realized how stressful hatching eggs would be!

 

[Leavingegypt]

Well now I'm getting worried. I'm at day 13 here, not long for lock-down and my humidity stinks. I'm going to try the container of water in it on day 17. This is my first incubator hatch. I have had 2 broodies, one VERY good and the other not so much. First time I had 6 eggs, 5 hatched beautifully and 1 was a dud. The next time my Production Red was a bad broody. Stepped on eggs and newly hatched chicks. Tried and failed to save 2- ended up with 1 healthy chick- a ROOSTER! ARGGGGHHHH!
Anyway, so this time I borrowed an incubator. An LG still air unit. Humidity is pretty high here, but still chilly, so the use of a wood stove is sort of necessary- which might be a part of the humidity problem. I think we will not use it anymore, til chickies hatch. I have 17 in the bator, 1 at least I think is a dud. Sigh*

 

[sonderah]

I just ordered some of the things to build the cabinet cooler bator that Sally Sunshine has a link to!!! I started with an LG still air last fall, bought a Hovabator Genisis this spring & now just use the lg for a hatcher. So, can't do too many at once. When I get this built, I'll use both of my styrofoam incy's as hatchers! I will spend less making the cabinet sized than I did on my Hovabator! Awesomeness!!!!!!

I usually put eggs into lockdown on Tuesday. But I made a boo boo recently and I don't go into lockdown til Friday! Oops!

 

[Roxannemc]

I always use a soaking wet wash rag for days 18-21. Ups the humidity right away.If needed Re-soak it through a . soda straw into the vent hole and it will be fine. The sponges don't do it for me ever..
Must remember its the SURFACE wetness that ups the humidity not the DEPTH of the water .

My Hatch Day for LOs .... but im going out to my quilting bee. Get away for a while..
I am not expecting much since the temp went to 122 twice and 94 more than once in a one week period SO discusting since it was perfect the other 2 weeks.

.(IN THE GENESIS not this thing...)

No offense to those who have the regular hovabator etc..but I HATE this incubator..3rd ive had like this and ALL did the same for me eventually during every hatch.Maybe its me...IDK
Think i might try and make a cooler bator. Hear they are way more reliable than bought not sure why but that's what i hear.BEST by a mile I have seen on YouTube.... RUSH LANE POULTRY has a few on building one and a video on JUST the wiring one ...... GREAT!!!
I put on a computer fan in the still air with his video. SO EASY!

He has very easy and BEST close up instruction on wiring and also tells where to buy the things you need and what to buy.! Most don't tell that.Ive looked on youtube before but this guy is VERY detailed and easy to understand. ( ID USE SALLYS BUT I DONT WANT ONE THAT BIG)

Maybe some guys know all about wiring etc ..but me im an older woman raised by women and we painted the house wallpapered and aIve done a lot in myhouse and out built my coops but didn't do wiring so the details are what i need to get it done. Not gobble de gook on what someone is putting on the bator to regulate it and no details or close ups on what to do.

The new hatch I put in this regular hovabator a few days ago........ again was optimistic it will be fine,...HAHA.... most are very old 3-4 weeks its a test hatch see if they hatch and as usual was going fine then went to 110 last night day 3..... Why ? who knows.? GGGRRR
Will go in the Gen after this lockdown bunch is out. Some still might be saveable at this point

Might try my broody today though too. I have one girl who probably only has a few eggs might run a few of these others out to her but shes so tiny a silkie not many will fit. she cant do worse!.
Sorry about the ranting ..so frustrating.. as many of you know.