APRIL HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[krstms]

Wow Zazouse that's a whole lot of eggs! Good luck with them!!!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Ok my chicks are due to hatch on the 5th, so I start my lock down on the 2nd or 3rd?? I have to add more h20 and keep the lid shut right????? Also, once the chicks start hatching do I take the vent plugs out or leave them in????? This is my 2nd attempt at this.

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
I had checked out some hygrometers at a local pet store recently. They had over a dozen, all in one spot laying on a shelf; there were several different readings & had considered getting 2 that read about the same. I have seen several people posting that they are using those, sometimes alone & sometimes along with a digital. Whatever you use, calibrate it! Check out page one of this thread for calibration instructions on my post. It can be done overnight with a gallon ziplock bag, small container of water & salt (kosher is best, from grocery store); then do the math & you'll know what your true reading is. Be sure to see the proper math instructions at the end of the info. Happy hatching!

I didn't do that but I do have one not opened and will calibrate it now. I dont want to lose these eggies.

 

[chickenmeadow]

D'Angelo N Va. :

Ok my chicks are due to hatch on the 5th, so I start my lock down on the 2nd or 3rd?? I have to add more h20 and keep the lid shut right????? Also, once the chicks start hatching do I take the vent plugs out or leave them in????? This is my 2nd attempt at this.

Whenever I do a "lockdown," I get excited & reach for my index card with a checklist of what to do. It's kind of a "security blanket" card. You're so close!!

Check out page 1 of this thread for my post on "When is Day 1" your day count should consider what time of day you started. If I set in the morning then it's Day 1. Oh, here's the info: *When is day 1 (see #69 & #70) http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res32-qa.html

I start lockdown on Day 18, no more turning eggs & up the humidity to 55% (that's the percentage used in the "dry incubation" method. Don't recal if you are using that or not, there are different ways of doing it that work for different people. Check out page 1 of this thread for my posted info on "Dry Incubation" method if you'd like, as a reminder of the lockdown steps.
*The “dry incubation” method (Day 1-17 & Day 18 "Lockdown" to Day 21+ hatch day)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
(see #3) https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113681&p=3
*Hatchability Problem Analysis (Description of daily embryo development, see Days 14-18 to understand what leads to Day 18 "lockdown")
(see pg. 11 - includes section on “Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities” in chicks)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204

I don't have vent plugs on my bator, but I understand that the chicks can use xtra ventilation.
Maybe, you'll get some other comments on that. Happy hatching!​

 

[chickenmeadow]

It's almost April!!! There are so many interesting eggs being set, it will be fun seeing & hearing about what hatches. Please list what they are when you post pictures, it's so fun seeing the different breeds when they're chicks. Like living vicariously, since I can't hatch them all. There's just something refreshing about those tiny little new lives that make us all smile. Thanks for sharing everyone.

 

[Jen4]

Good grief.... theres ALREADY tons of post here and its not even April!

Well I'm in again this month, got an order for 30 chickies... heres hoping for a better hatch this month, I started collecting eggs today, gonna throw acouple in the bator for myself too

I'm gonna start my hatch this Friday

Good Luck Everyone...

 

[mstricer]

Okay all you April hatchers according to Moon Lore and The Farmers Almanac the best dates to set are APRIL1,2,28,29. Let me know if any of you use these dates I am so interested if it works or not. I got my eggs. Yesterday and had to set last night. So, omeone please try and see how close this is. Thank you, Michele

 

[mstricer]

Mine does count for April even if I set in March. Right.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Quote:
Ok.. Ithought I knew what I was doing but now I'm confused... I set my eggs at 10:30am on March 25.. I was expecting Lockdown to be April 12 and hatch date to be April 15th.. Does this mean my dates are wrong?

Goddess

 

[Jen4]

mstricer - I'll try... I'll set my eggs on the 2nd and keep yall posted