California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote: Brinsea incubators even hatch Penedesenca chicks!

 

[gryeyes]

I know I want an incubator but I'm scared of screwing it up and killing all the eggs it sounds complicated

Do what I do: I approach every incubator hatch as "nothing will hatch.". Of course, I got stupid-proof Brinsea incubators with the humidity pump so I really can set 'em and forget 'em.

Hatching chicks are miracles. If one hatches and survives - regardless how many eggs I set - I am thrilled. If two hatch, I'm ecstatic. The time I had 33 chicks hatch I was so over the moon!

I don't candle eggs more than twice: at around 10 to 12 days just to see if any are developing, and as soon as I see veins developing in even one egg, I don't candle any more of them. I don't handle disappointment well. I may candle a second time at lockdown. Or I might not.

Yeah, I spend money on eggs when I join a Hatch-A-Long, but am never upset about any not hatching. Each chick is a miracle. If the Goddess grants me new chicks, I am grateful and even humble. (Well, except for the Trader Joe's eggs I incubated and hatched four White Leghorns. That was really special.)

Here's how I feel about incubating: 21 days ago, those eggs could have been breakfast. I have wasted money before in my life and will probably do so again. But if chicks hatch, it's a blessing.

I'm probably pretty odd in that respect. I kept seeing all the angst and sadness from other folks involved in Hatches and didn't want to get sucked into THAT. I was sure I would "kill" all the chicks.

Well, I didn't.

I haven't had great hatch rates, but they were eggs when I started and if they're still unhatched eggs after 25 days, I didn't lose a thing but money.

 

[ronott1]

Quote: X2

I posted recently that anytime I hatch 2 or more, that is a successful hatch. I have been skunked several times too.

 

[chiqita]

X2

I posted recently that anytime I hatch 2 or more, that is a successful hatch. I have been skunked several times too.

That is becuse they sent you all rooster eggs, and they refused to hatch for you, YES I TAKE IT PERSONALLY! (mwahaha)

 

[ronott1]

Quote: That may be true!

 

[chiqita]

That may be true!

OK I'm imagining you chatting with somone.
you " send me eggs from another pen next time, you sent me all roosters. I need eggs from your other hens."
them " What?? I thougth you said you had a zero hatch rate?"
you " Yes, I have the house set on a no rooster setting."
them " OK, how much do you want for your house???"

This conversation has ron quitting his job at the university, and being hired by a large hatchery that moves to woodside so he can go around and stroke the incubators.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

That made me laugh so hard, I had tears in my eyes! What a great plan for retirement!

 

[chiqita]

Here is a bitty brinsea for only 100. It is not close, but if you got ahold of them and they saw you were not a scammer bet they would ship it
http://eugene.craigslist.org/grd/3624287255.html
( yes I am searching the entire country for a brinsea cabinet. I missed one in LA last week >>)

 

[liz9910]

 I am sorry if I made incubating sound hard. It is not that hard so go get that incubator!

You will have an amazing time hatching chicks.

Ron don't worry you didn't I'm traumatized from doing an eggtopsy on an egg and killed the chick

 

[Deerling]

Our sweet baby died

She seemed like she was doing so much better, so we went to the feed store to get her a friend before they closed and when we came back she was on her back again, dead. And the two we picked up for her are both sick, too! One was trampled in the corner (think it's circling the drain, sadly) and the other seems like it might make it. I thought, hey, at least they wont trample her. Guess I should have just gotten lively ones. I'm sure if the one dies they'll give me a different one, though. It was my choice, and all the others looked healthy. The worst part is, I think I'll always wonder if maybe she got too hot and couldn't move. If we had stayed home she might have been okay.

I'd like to post a black and white picture I took of her before we buried her, but I don't want to bother anyone so you all let me know if that would be alright. It isn't graphic, of course. Just sad. She was so tiny, it looked like she was curled up back in the egg.