BYC's 2026 Valentine's Day Hatch-Along

[Debbie292d]

Went to start the incubator today, and discovered we are missing the power cord! Husband seems way more upset about this than I am. He was ready to brave the pre-storm madness at Walmart to see if they have a replacement!

I talked him down from going out to buy a cord tonight, he looked up the type of connector it is and is going to check out the local hardware store in the morning before driving the next town over to check Walmart
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Despite arctic temps we managed to grab the 4 eggs laid today before they got too cold! Looks like we're going to have 40-43 eggs to set tomorrow. If it takes longer to get a cord we might have more.

Oh heavens! I hope he finds one!!

 

[Debbie292d]

Those setting chicken eggs for a Valentine's Day hatch, today's the day!

Getting mine in shortly. I have to run out to check for any new ones first, and it's -8°F out there (-18 wind chill). Dressing up like an Eskimo!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Replacement cord acquired! We're up to temp already, waiting on the humidity to come up a little before we set. And we're up to 41 eggs. Hoping for one more green egg, but nothing yet.

I have to run out to check for any new ones first, and it's -8°F out there (-18 wind chill). Dressing up like an Eskimo!

I feel that! We've already been out to the coop 4 times today. I'm not planning on leaving the house without snow pants until the temps are more reasonable

 

[redinator]

Why on Earth are my eggs going north?

 

[AinaWGSD]

Final count, 42

 

[redinator]

I really need to stop looking . . .

 

[redinator]

So I have question about eggs that are possibly (very likely) chilled when they arrive . . .

I know they're supposed to settle for 12-24 so the air cell settles, but if they're chilled should I put them directly in the incubator or wait until they get to room temp before putting them in.

It seems to me the shock of going from chilled to 99 degrees would be more likely to kill the embryos than letting them warm slightly at room temperature, but IDK for sure.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I don't know the for sure answer either, but in every other scenario you want to bring frozen or near frozen beings back up to "normal body temperature" very gradually. I would not put those eggs in the incubator until they've warmed up to room temperature.

 

[redinator]

I don't know the for sure answer either, but in every other scenario you want to bring frozen or near frozen beings back up to "normal body temperature" very gradually. I would not put those eggs in the incubator until they've warmed up to room temperature.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[redinator]

That's what I was thinking.

I have several hygrometer/thermometers I can stick next to the eggs to monitor the temps