April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

[MadamContrary]

Day 12 and I had a terrible dream that my Hubby smashed my eggs! Hopefully it is not prophetic LOL. Anyway, my lavender splash Ameraucuna are on their way today! The seller said my extra eggs will be pinks from her blue Ameraucunas! Nice little surprise! Also, the one questionable EE egg has a dancing baby in it now! I finished building my hatcher from an aquarium that never ended up with fish in it. I lined all but one side with styrofoam, added a CPU fan and now I just need get a couple more thermometer/hygrometers. I don't think digitals like to be inside the incubator, may go with a probe style for the next try. Annnnnndd....

CONGRATS TO ALL THE HEALTHY HATCHES!!!!

 

[Deerling]

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!

Those eggs are absolutely lovely! Pretty picture.

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...:-(

That's so disappointing! I'm sorry. Where did you get the eggs?

 

[annabell254]

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!!

OK Great! thanks for the advice!!!!!

I was thinking about moving them to my still air incubator for the hatch as it is the cheaper one!

they are in a brinsea advanced now (and it has very little, if any, extra room in it.) ... and I also want to try and keep the brinsea clean

Will this be ok, for sure????? and any advice on the move...

 

[hokankai]

Just set up for lockdown! It was quite the process dividing up the hatcher. I am incubating for 2 different people, and also have the 3 eggs my broody gave up on. Here's what it looks like, haha.

I'll have to make room for the sponge once the time comes too!

 

[pogmobum]

W

...

Just set up for lockdown! It was quite the process dividing up the hatcher. I am incubating for 2 different people, and also have the 3 eggs my broody gave up on. Here's what it looks like, haha. I'll have to make room for the sponge once the time comes too! [/quote Well aren't you organised

 

[Partyfowl]

...

W

Just set up for lockdown! It was quite the process dividing up the hatcher. I am incubating for 2 different people, and also have the 3 eggs my broody gave up on. Here's what it looks like, haha. I'll have to make room for the sponge once the time comes too! [/quote Well aren't you organised

Holy moly! Love it! You should come hang with me and we'll organize my barn.

 

[hokankai]

Ha ha I had to keep them organized because they are for other people and they wanted them to be separated into breeds and given leg bands

 

[Arkansas81]

OK Great! thanks for the advice!!!!!

I was thinking about moving them to my still air incubator for the hatch as it is the cheaper one!  they are in a brinsea advanced now (and  it has very little, if any, extra room in it.) ... and I also want to try and keep the brinsea clean

Will this be ok, for sure????? and any advice on the move...

Moving them is just fine, but try to keep the move quick and make sure the eggs don't roll/move around to much. I've seen the brinsea-they look small. I hatch in my lg, everything seemed fine. Be prepared for a mess. Just make sure the still air has been up and going before you move. Just keep a very close eye on the temp/humiidity. Once you lockdown dnt open the bator! If you need to up the humidity well over 80%. The only thing you might need to possibly open the bator for is if you have a bunch hatch and they play roller hockey with the other eggs.

Once they pip externally it could take 12-24hrs before they completely hatch. So dnt panic if it seems to take forever. Humidity is the most important thing to keep up with. Ask lots of questions-there's always someone around.

Good Luck!!

 

[pogmobum]

I know, but still, wow i probably would have just written on the eggs and then get driven crazy trying to keep tract of live chicks lol

 

[annabell254]

Moving them is just fine, but try to keep the move quick and make sure the eggs don't roll/move around to much. I've seen the brinsea-they look small. I hatch in my lg, everything seemed fine. Be prepared for a mess. Just make sure the still air has been up and going before you move. Just keep a very close eye on the temp/humidity. Once you lock down dont open the bator! If you need to up the humidity well over 80%. The only thing you might need to possibly open the bator for is if you have a bunch hatch and they play roller hockey with the other eggs.

Once they pip externally it could take 12-24hrs before they completely hatch. So dont panic if it seems to take forever. Humidity is the most important thing to keep up with. Ask lots of questions-there's always someone around.

Good Luck!!

I dont think my humidity gage is right! and I tested it in the brinsea just now and it said 26% humidity and the brinsea is at 45%......so wrong, wrong, wrong!
because of the low humidity I had put tinfoil under the screen to cover the holes and can put 1/8 inch of water across the entire bottom and the chicks will be about 1 inch above that on screen floor ... I figured that would bring the humidity up, as I have to vent it about an inch on both sides to keep the temp under 104 but now am worried about too much humidity...

should I be concerned? I can try to find another humidity gage at tractor supply tomorrow before lock down... if you know of a accurate one!