Classroom Incubation- Japan

[HiyokoInNippon]

So, I am wiring up my incubator after frying one thermostat and ordering two more, just in case. Learned my ad/dc lesson *sigh*. I have FINALLY figured out my wiring and have it all set up but ran into a problem. It seems like the thermostat is only tripping on when it needs to cool instead of heating but this thermostat is for either or! Now I'm confused.

There are only three buttons, set, +, -. Kind of baffled.

Help? Solved, I just needed to press and hold set. *shrug*

Edit- Finished my build and going to temperature now! Lookie at the piccies below! Yes, my apartment is a mess.



So, I could not find any corks (this country is a fan of screw caps) so I used some 100Y store lip gloss containers as plugs instead. They are fairly large. I taped everything to the cooler and will make a cover for all the wires and crap once it is in its forever home so that curious children's fingers will not touch anything.

Are four holes enough? Should I add two at the other end?




Three water filled heat sinks. The grate I bought does not fit the box perfectly so I shoved it to the side and added a copper coil (we made maglev trains and had these left over) so that no eggs will fall off.

I got a comp fan but it had four wires and no matter what I tried, the fan didn't start so I got this at the 100Y shop for 300Y (I know, Daiso has a lot of stuff but they do mark up the highest so not everything is 108Y(screw you new tax))

The thermohygrometers both read different so I figured I'd split the difference. Rainy season so all I need to do to increase the humidity is open a hole. For when I really need it higher, there is a sponge in the bottom to make damp.

I lined it with tinfoil to reduce light leakage because the light was driving me nuts at night going on and off. I hope the less light escaping also upps the efficacy of the lightbulb heater.

I am using a water filled baggie for the termocouple but I think because the volume is so large, it is not accurate? I think I might need to xnay that or use it for the thermometer and not the thermocouple.


I am thinking of one thing though, should I add a plate or bowl of baking soda to absorb any odors/gasses that may still be given off by the box? Or is that kind of silly?


For turning, I am going to be using the tilt the box method as the eggs are going to be disturbed enough with weighing and candling as it is. No point in bothering them 5 times a day on top of that. I am going to leave them in their cardboard holder with the bottom cut out unless that would be bad?


Anyways, hope this ends up interesting. Will post more as it comes.

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

This moves into the classroom tomorrow. I hope at least two hatch, better than 1 but no more than 5, please? ^^;; I am going to be housing the suckers on my porch until they reach slaughter age. No one to give them to here and I refused to do this unless we could guarantee that the chickens would not me killed after they hatched.

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

So, day 1 and the eggs are set. Some eggs I could find the air cells, some not. I have an LED bike flashlight that is super strong which I am using for candling.

Right now, with no water in the box (unsealed, there are water heatsinks) it is at about 65-70% humidity. Eek. If they don't lose weight on schedule I'll add a dessicant pack to the box. Bloody rainy season.

Their temporary home while we clear out a space in the back for them.


12 babies, sitting warm

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

And here is egg 10 under light. I think it had developed a bit before getting to me as the yolk seems to have a protrusion of some sort.

 

[Ravynscroft]

That protrusion is probably just the chalazae, connects the yolk to the albumen... initial development will be a spiderweb network of red veins... to help get humidity lower, I heard putting dry rice in a dish or unpopped popcorn helps...
Hope you are successful in your hatch for the kids... good luck!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm not sure what that could be...it looks too dark for chalaza to me, but my candling skills are only so so as I generally use a dollar store flash light. It looks more like a possible crack in the egg or simply pigmentation showing up on high setting. Does it move with the yolk? Chalaza is usually just grey shadow strings that anchor the yolk as the yolk moves. ETA: It might possibly be a blood ring indicating a quitter, but it is in a bit of an odd place for it to be that. (See candling photos below). And yes, it is possible to be the very early start of development, but again that is an odd place for it to be. Eggs can begin development, then go into stasis upon cool down to begin again upon warm up, but only if they've been re-warmed after a day or so.

You don't mention what grade you are doing, but I'll link a really good 4H egg/hatching unit hand outs....I teach afterschool ESL, and my Korean students really enjoy the hatching unit (it is in English, but I am assuming you are teaching ESL...or at least most of your students speak English pretty well.)

https://catalog.extension.oregonsta...oregonstate.edu/files/project/pdf/4-h1500.pdf

(The above says $5 on it, but allows download, and the unit has been free for the taking for years online.)

Then my favorite embryo development video:

Great candling photos can be found here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

Good luck with your hatching project for the kids. Keep us posted
LofMc

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

Thanks all! It is attached to the yolk and not a crack. As it is the first day, I am not going to get worked up. The pic was mostly for the kid's benefit as we will be making a candling chart for them, pic every day.

As for the age, I am teaching 2-6 year olds in two classes. The older class is going to be more hands on with them, the little ones will just get to ooh and aah.

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

So, as I may have mentioned, the destiny of these chicks is slaughter before December at about 20 weeks or so. Two of my older students adore birds and were horrified to hear it. I had to point out to them that that grilled chicken they liked had to come from somewhere, the poor dears. Now they each want to take a chick home. Errr, not happening... besides how I am sure they will be raised, the fact that they were egar to give them back to me once they were full grown for slaughter? Way to freak a gal out. If I'm going to eat them then they will get the best **** life I can give them first.

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

As of right now there are two eggs that MIGHT have vascular development, day 3. One egg has a spot on the yolk.


Mostly you just see my vascular development in this pic though ^^;;

As for their home... their forever home in a closet -_-;;



Using the tilt the 'bator method since they get handled to much daily anyways, one less stress for them, yea?

Also, opened the first vent hole. Going to see how this affects humidity before opening the others. I don't want it to spike. I am also really thinking about putting in the baking soda to clean the air a bit.

 

[HiyokoInNippon]

Day four. Keep on telling myself I am going to post the pics And I did!^^;;

It will be a miracle if these suckers hatch considering how often they are handled. Seeing some weights go down, a few raised but considering the equipment, I am taking those weights with a grain of salt. My humidity is holding at 40% and temps are stable. I don't think many of these are going to hatch, they don't look very developed but, hay, it is only day 4. We will talk more on day 7 about viability, ne? Pics will be edited in later. Done!



Though you can't see it in this egg, some others I candled that day (I have anywhere from 2-4 classes a day I have to candle for, not including parents and coworkers *sigh*) did have serious veins.