Beginner's Hatch-A-Long

[Rabbit-84]

I found making my own home made incubator using basic stuff is working extremely well only down side is the temp can be a pain but I think I have it mastered but I am worried about my humidity as I could not get a digital thermometer that did both at the time any one have any tips that might be useful?

 

[My peeps]

I'm on lockdown and my humidity is out of control. It was 80% this morning so I had to open it and take the one small bowl out. Is it better to have the humidity too high during lockdown then not high enough? Ugh. I'm so scared I killed the chicks. No movement or pipping yet HELP!

 

[My peeps]

Not sure if I'm losing my mind or not but I swear I heard a chirping sound coming from one of the eggs!! Lol is that possible?

 

[ivyrash]

Not sure if I'm losing my mind or not but I swear I heard a chirping sound coming from one of the eggs!! Lol is that possible?

Yes, it is very possible to hear a chick peep through the shell. You may see the eggs moving also. Did you think 80% humidity was too high? I think after lock down mine was at least 80%. Humidity is not as critical as your temp but you do need humidity to be up there at hatching.

What day are you on? Some chicks will hatch on day 20 some will hatch on day 22, you are better to leave the incubator closed at this point. Take a breath and try not to panic.

 

[My peeps]

I read that humidity should be between 60-70% from day 18 until hatch. Is that incorrect? I swear I read something different on every site I go on :/ humidity is a 73% now.

 

[ivyrash]

I read that humidity should be between 60-70% from day 18 until hatch. Is that incorrect? I swear I read something different on every site I go on

humidity is a 73% now.

That sounds about right. Did you calibrate the hygrometer? If it's a touch high or low I wouldn't sweat it. You will do more damage fiddling with it to try to keep it just right. It's hard I know but try not to open it. When mine were hatching, I had to start a project and give myself a time limit to keep myself away. I would look at the clock and say, I'm not gonna look for two hours, and then stayed away from it.

 

[My peeps]

Lol. I've done nothing all day but stare at the eggs! I'm forcing myself to do some housework now.

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

FIRST BABY OF OUR SECOND HATCH!!!!

A little Buff Orpington. A true blue Americana has a crack!

I have SO worried over this. We also had temp go down (have no idea why - last time (our first hatch) temp stayed steady). Was suppose to lockdown Fri - but BUSY day and lockdown wasn't til almost midnight.

Sunday there was no peeping; maybe a little rocking by 3, but no more progress all day - (which was suppose to be day 21, but we were maybe a little late on lockdown, had temp drop a little and 1 1/2 days after starting first 2 doz we added 11 more so this will be a little staggered; can't find a candler anywhere - only have bar flashlight so haven't candled and had one stinker literally) - so all that had me worried we had maybe goofed majorly or maybe I hadn't cleaned it right or ......... ????!!! Was so disappointed and trying to figure what we did wrong. (Dh would roll his eyes and tell me to be patient, but he grew up on a farm - guess he was right! He said since lockdown was late maybe we should count Monday (today) as 21. If we do that our first hatch baby is on time!

Breathing sigh of relief I didn't somehow kill all the eggs! LOL

Amanda

 

[wolfandfinch]

Congrats Amanda!! I'm hoping that's all that's going wrong here and that we will start seeing some action soon. Right now no rocking or peeping on day 21. I have to work all day tomorrow too, so I can only check in at 7am the. Not again until 7am Wednesday

 

[My peeps]

The first chick hatched this morning!! It was one of my eBay eggs, a serama Cochin mix. I was up at 5:30 with the baby and still only a small chip in the egg. At 7 am I heard loud chirping and the chick was out! So far only one other egg has any movement. We have 7 left so hopefully we get a few chicks. I'm so excited!