August Hatch-A-Long

[darkbluespace]

I wonder the same. When you get the eggs shipped you don't know for sure how long the seller has had them and how they have been cared for. I will say that my BLR eggs looked awesome when I candled before putting in bator. My blues, I didn't feel the same, kinda looked clear but I don't have a clue as for sure what I'm looking at. The BLR eggs looked like you could see the yoke which I think that is what your looking at...lol I just know come day 7 and I see it moving I will be happy!

I hope your new eggs do great! I candled my big batch of Seramas last night... and I believe I have 7 clear, 4 quitters and 17 developing! 17 tiny eggs : )

This one I have trying to pip today... this egg I can see shake with every single peck... for days now... pecking to pip internally and pecking to pip externally now. It is giving me a new appreciation for how hard they have to work to hatch. Endless hours of pecking! I see why they have to rest for a day once they pip out.

 

[Alaskan]

Quote:
I found that the best way to incubate, especially when you are starting out, is to weigh the eggs. Last year I did dry hatches, and did OK (everything that made it to lock down hatched. I had a big death rate early on in incubation though because of some crazy temperature spikes). This year however, I moved the incubator to a different spot. I was GOING to do a dry hatch, but this year was the first time that I tried weighing eggs.

Well, guess what? The reason dry hatches worked last year, was because the incubator was only separated from my bathroom by one small hallway. Having the shower on for a LONG time every day, made the ambient humidity in the next room over just perfect. This year my incubator was one room away from the wood stove, and a very long way away from any bathroom. So, dry hatching was WAY too dry. I never would have know I was killing my chicks until too late, if I hadn't been weighing them.

Anyway, the BEST explanation on how to use weight for incubating, is on this website:

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/How_to_weigh_eggs_and_calculate_weight_loss/

Even I could follow the instructions. hahaha!

And last year I was having such enormous heart failure over the incubator that I was using (the temp would NOT stay steady), so this year I spent a bunch of money and bought a Brinsea 40 (I did wait until it was on sale).

The Brinsea keeps a rock steady temperature, even with my house that has large temperature fluctuations. VERY nice!

 

[Alaskan]

Quote:
I would be such a nervous wreck! It is difficult for me to not intervene.

 

[darkbluespace]

I would be such a nervous wreck! It is difficult for me to not intervene.

I figure they all have to work that hard, I just can't usually see the evidence of it so vividly. She should pip by tonight and hatch tomorrow, I hope. It is a little absurd, this hatching one egg at a time... better to have more to spread the attention ; )

 

[Iko127]

I hope your new eggs do great! I candled my big batch of Seramas last night... and I believe I have 7 clear, 4 quitters and 17 developing! 17 tiny eggs : )

This one I have trying to pip today... this egg I can see shake with every single peck... for days now... pecking to pip internally and pecking to pip externally now. It is giving me a new appreciation for how hard they have to work to hatch. Endless hours of pecking! I see why they have to rest for a day once they pip out.

Thank you! So exciting!! I hope the chick trying to get out makes it ok!! Good luck with them all

 

[Iko127]

I found that the best way to incubate, especially when you are starting out, is to weigh the eggs. Last year I did dry hatches, and did OK (everything that made it to lock down hatched. I had a big death rate early on in incubation though because of some crazy temperature spikes). This year however, I moved the incubator to a different spot. I was GOING to do a dry hatch, but this year was the first time that I tried weighing eggs.

Well, guess what? The reason dry hatches worked last year, was because the incubator was only separated from my bathroom by one small hallway. Having the shower on for a LONG time every day, made the ambient humidity in the next room over just perfect. This year my incubator was one room away from the wood stove, and a very long way away from any bathroom. So, dry hatching was WAY too dry. I never would have know I was killing my chicks until too late, if I hadn't been weighing them.

Anyway, the BEST explanation on how to use weight for incubating, is on this website:

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/How_to_weigh_eggs_and_calculate_weight_loss/

Even I could follow the instructions. hahaha!

And last year I was having such enormous heart failure over the incubator that I was using (the temp would NOT stay steady), so this year I spent a bunch of money and bought a Brinsea 40 (I did wait until it was on sale).

The Brinsea keeps a rock steady temperature, even with my house that has large temperature fluctuations. VERY nice!

Thank you so much! In time maybe I can get a scale and a better bator. I'm going to do my best! My temp stayed great last hatch so we will see how it does this time

Good luck with all your babies!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Here's a new one on me at least.\

As you may know I've been hatching a lot of chicks.
I know a lot of people rescue chicks that don't hatch on their own but in my experience they don't do well.
I helped 3 chicks yesterday. One died immediately, one isn't doing too badly but has a bit of a club foot. The third has been floundering on its back. I gave it some water and a dose of vitamins and noticed something strange.
It has a 6 toed full sized, non-functioning foot growing from its tail and another protrusion further up the spine. '
I was going to take pictures and put it down but I called the vet school to see if they wanted to have it.
They're supposed to call me later tonight.
Other than foundering on its back it seems quite healthy and full of vim and vigor.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you so much!  In time maybe I can get a scale and a better bator.  I'm going to do my best!  My temp stayed great last hatch so we will see how it does this time    Good luck with all your babies!!

A scale is super useful. I use mine for weighing letters, and for cooking German recipes (crazy people do everything by weight), and for boyscout stuff, and school stuff.


Thanks for the !!! I am up to 19 now!

 

[Tazbeaux]

My second egg hatched this afternoon, It was a tiny baby with hardly any fluff. He still had membrane from the shell around and still attached to him which was tangling around his legs so that he was tugging on the attachment when he would flop around. I clipped off the excess when it looked dry enough and he is now in the "ICU" bator. He is taking small amounts of water with electrolytes and vitamins and maybe a bit of food. He is stronger and I will see if he makes it through the night.

 

[darkbluespace]

My second egg hatched this afternoon, It was a tiny baby with hardly any fluff. He still had membrane from the shell around and still attached to him which was tangling around his legs so that he was tugging on the attachment when he would flop around. I clipped off the excess when it looked dry enough and he is now in the "ICU" bator. He is taking small amounts of water with electrolytes and vitamins and maybe a bit of food. He is stronger and I will see if he makes it through the night.

I hope he's okay!!!