April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

[annabell254]

I keep hearing about 'peeps' when can I start to hear them peep inside the shell? I would assume it would be faint and only able to hear it with the egg close to the ear.... not with the bator still locked up? and what about lock up .... I thought the last few days you are not supposto open the bator at all??? but I want to hear them! also I am still confused about when to stop turning them and when to increase humidy !

I am on day 17 of my first hatch!

 

[PugBug]

With shipped eggs I let them sit for 12-24 hours before setting them. Once I set them I do not turn them for a full7 days. This helps the embryo get stronger and sometimes the air cell will reattach.

I agree, I learned this from Brooks & Rox, it has helped mine since doing it. All my eggs have been shipped & this is the best method I learned!

 

[PugBug]

Howdy! I have a few minutes before off to the next chore...but just wanted to say hi! I am finally able to collect eggs to put in the incubator again-having a week off has thrown my schedule for a loop! But the new babies are doing very well-the new silkies are just awsome! I knew that once we got some they would quickly be our favorite-and they are. I might be getting 4 splash silkies by weeks end...then I think we will be good for now.

I am so anxious to see how my blue and crele polish feather out. They are so cute, I'm already thinking about what I will do with their eggs and babies, but that will be awhile-I might get some eggs out of our new flock by Oct, my other polish took forever to lay and I've heard that silkies take a long time to get to the POL too. They are just over 2 weeks and already have escaped the brooder twice! They are getting so big-so fast! After getting a new batch of ff started for the bigger flock they are laying so much better. I guess me being gone a week threw them off schedule too...but I do have to give my sister 2 thumbs up, she kept everyone alive for us while we were gone. She hates chickens but she put on her big girl undies and did the job very well.

So I am setting more eggs out of our own flock...I hope to get several dozen by fri. I will set as many as I can but I doubt I will have as many as last time-seriously thinking about making myself a hatcher...that way I can keep the eggs going every week. EEEKKKK that's a scary thought-ooooo but exciting

. I moved everyone outside yesterday-my house doesn't smell like barn anymore-it was so nice to have my room back! So off to the next thing on the list!!

Happy Hatching Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm wanting to see how they feather out too! LOVE, LOVE the Polish! I have 1 polish bantam chick that hatched a couple wks ago, looks like blk WC, or maybe blue WC. Hard to tell yet. Plus I set 18 pol ban a few days ago!

 

[pogmobum]

I keep hearing about 'peeps' when can I start to hear them peep inside the shell? I would assume it would be faint and only able to hear it with the egg close to the ear.... not with the bator still locked up?  and what about lock up .... I thought the last few days you are not supposto open the bator at all??? but I want to hear them! also I am still confused about when to stop turning them and when to increase humidy !
Stop turning on day 18 so tomorrow for you, yay! Increase humidity to about 60-65% same day, you can hear peeps when they pip internally ( break through the membrane into the air cell )

I am on day 17 of my first hatch!

 

[PugBug]

I keep hearing about 'peeps' when can I start to hear them peep inside the shell? I would assume it would be faint and only able to hear it with the egg close to the ear.... not with the bator still locked up? and what about lock up .... I thought the last few days you are not supposto open the bator at all??? but I want to hear them! also I am still confused about when to stop turning them and when to increase humidy !

I am on day 17 of my first hatch!

I increase humidity during lockdown/hatch which is days 18-21, but sometimes goes a few days over. Only time I open during that time is to add warm water if needed for humidity. As for hearing peeps, they can get quite loud and yes I've heard them w/ the bator closed. I have had hatches where I don't hear them until they are externally pipped and trying to zip out. Just depends...

 

[pogmobum]

Oh ya and DONT open the bator once your at day 18 or humidity will drop, they can go for two days without food or water after hatching.

 

[PugBug]

good luck to you both!

 

[Arkansas81]

I keep hearing about 'peeps' when can I start to hear them peep inside the shell? I would assume it would be faint and only able to hear it with the egg close to the ear.... not with the bator still locked up? and what about lock up .... I thought the last few days you are not supposto open the bator at all??? but I want to hear them! also I am still confused about when to stop turning them and when to increase humidy !

I am on day 17 of my first hatch!

Hi! This is what worked for me...I did lockdown on day 17, I had my temp and humidity day 1-17 99, 35-40%. When I did lockdown I tried to keep my temp around 95-100, and humidity around 70-80%. I stopped turning when I did lockdown, and I ddnt open up the bator until mine started hatching and they were playing hockey with the other eggs. Depending on what type of bator you have-I have a little giant still air. To up my humidity I filled the water well, then put 2 sponges in there, placed the sponges under the air holes. When I saw that the humidity needed to be upped during lockdown I poured VERY hot water thru the air holes onto the sponges.

I am going to try shelf lining paper so there is a better-easier walking surface for the chicks and when I turn them. I removed the chicks that hatched when I had about 20 out, and around 5 left to hatch. The chicks were popping everywhere, and it was a mess in there so I made sure my humidity was up well over 80% and removed the chicks very fast.

I ddnt start hearing them peep till about day 21-22, mine didn't hatch till around day 23. But you will be able to hear them no problem with the bator closed...they are quite loud. Also be prepared for the stinky smell from the ones hatching...not pretty but normal. Just make sure your humidity stays above 70% and temp 95-100, and make sure you can add hot water to the bator without opening it to adjust the humidity and I'm sure you will be fine. Find a book, movie, house cleaning to do otherwise you will drive yourself nuts with anticipation...or talk to your friends here. Try to relax and enjoy the experience, it will go by very quickly. Good luck!!

 

[Everlong9750]

Hey, I'm waiting on an April hatch too. I have 12 eggs set today and are due on the 23rd. There are 6 Copper Marans, 2 Blue Marans and 4 Olive Eggers. This is my 2nd time incubating eggs (first hatch I only got one little guy) fingers crossed cause I really want some chickens!

 

[Nursiedeer]

SAD... I honestly don't think any of my eggs are going to hatch.
I think they were never fertile..at least most of them look that way.
Might have one or two that developed. Either they are too dark (pale blue) to see or there is not a singl one out of the 15 with an air sac left...
I haven't taken them out, since I don't smell anything and I have a very sensitive nose.
Candled most of them last night in desperation and still see nothing.
They would be due to hatch next wednesday...
BIG sad face...:-(