December Hatch-A-Long 2014

[PD-Riverman]

I dont know if this has to do with her being broody but my buff orp has been laying in the neighbors back yard.

All of my broodies stop laying after they become Broody!

 

[mistyhollow]

What do you use to separate breeds of eggs in the brooder/incubator? If they all hatch at once? I have two different sets of eggs due to hatch at the same time from two different breeders and would like to keep them separate.

 

[Sustained]

LOL, Some mornings before daylight I go to my chicken yard and Listen---I have about 30 roosters---most are young over 20 of them are already crowing---some of them just learning---It is so funny to listen too. I do not have any neighboring homes near by so I am Good!! OH all the young roosters that I am not going to keep-----Go the Auction as Soon as I can tell they are males---usually about a month or so old.

I love the sound of a rooster crowing but I'm a country gal among city folk. I'm not sure how I would feel about 30 of them sounding off at once though LOL

How early do your silkies generally crow? I thought I read that you hatch them also. I'm on my phone app and scrolling very far up is a bear sometimes The little guy I have now, or at least I think it's a male, is starting to make turkey sounds. Or at least that's what it reminds me of

 

[Sustained]

What do you use to separate breeds of eggs in the brooder/incubator? If they all hatch at once? I have two different sets of eggs due to hatch at the same time from two different breeders and would like to keep them separate.

Just to be sure who came from where? There are leg bands you can get at any feed store that will help you identify them. Just make sure to keep an eye out and use the next size up before it gets tight.

 

[mistyhollow]

Yes, but I leave them in the incubator until the majority are hatched. I try not to open the incubator once they start hatching. So leg bands won't help once they are all bouncing around together.

 

[Sustained]

Yes, but I leave them in the incubator until the majority are hatched.  I try not to open the incubator once they start hatching. So leg bands won't help once they are all bouncing around together. 

Ohhhhh I see what you mean now. Hmmm... Well honestly I would put a piece of sign board (the plastic kind that looks like cardboard so it doesn't wilt from humidity) down the middle with maybe scalloped top and bottom to allow air to flow freely through both sides. Maybe some small holes along the body of it as well. That's about the best idea I can come up with.

 

[mistyhollow]

Ohhhhh I see what you mean now. Hmmm... Well honestly I would put a piece of sign board (the plastic kind that looks like cardboard so it doesn't wilt from humidity) down the middle with maybe scalloped top and bottom to allow air to flow freely through both sides. Maybe some small holes along the body of it as well. That's about the best idea I can come up with.

I found some helpful posts on this forum. Some made a cage out of hardware cloth, others used the plastic canvas cut into sections and tied together. Not sure what works better. Sock dividers were also suggested although I have no idea what those look like!

 

[Purpletie3]

Day 6 silkies/sizzles and day 2

So, I just got a new thermometer/hygrometer...it's supposed to be accurate to 1 degree and 5%humidity...I put the probe in my incubator and it reads 104.3. I put it in an ice bath and it reads 36.5. What a bunch of crapt they have on the market selling as accurate.

What do you use that you feel comfortable with to be accurate?

 

[PD-Riverman]

What do you use to separate breeds of eggs in the brooder/incubator? If they all hatch at once? I have two different sets of eggs due to hatch at the same time from two different breeders and would like to keep them separate.

I use a hatcher which has 4 different trays and these trays can each be divided into several sections if I want/need to keep them seperated. If I was using a styrofoam type incubator and wanted to keep up to 4 different type eggs separated I would use 2 pieces of 1/2" hardware cloth and make a close fitting + design to set it it after I took the turner out. I would use the hardware cloth so the air is free to move---no blockage. If you plan to use this + often I would split clear tubing to go over the top of the wire to keep from getting snagged----use small tie straps to attach it.

"I" Would NEVER open the Incubator while the eggs are still hatching---NEVER--for NO reason. I tell my family "I will break your arm if you open my incubator during this time" LOL. You can open yours if you want!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Day 6 silkies/sizzles and day 2

So, I just got a new thermometer/hygrometer...it's supposed to be accurate to 1 degree and 5%humidity...I put the probe in my incubator and it reads 104.3. I put it in an ice bath and it reads 36.5. What a bunch of crapt they have on the market selling as accurate.

What do you use that you feel comfortable with to be accurate?

I have not read what type incubator you got, but keep in mind that if you stick a probe in the top of a still incubator---I will read higher---the higher up in the incubator the probe is also if the probe is close to the heating element. The probe needs to be at egg level to get a better reading. If you got a fan in that type incubator it will make the temp some more even but it will still be some higher in the upper section.

I use a smaller digital cheap Wal-mart thermometer($10 to $20) that also shows the humidity in my styrofoam incubator( I do not have a thermostat in my cabinet incubator) Using this type thermostat I set my styrofoam incubator---If my eggs hatch a day early or a day late I make a note on this thermometer with a permanent marker---if the eggs hatch early---on my next set I will set the incubator 1/2 degree less, if they hatch late I set it 1/2 degree more. I want most of my eggs to hatch late in day 20 to early in day 21 for regular chicken eggs. Keep in mind DAY 1 IS 24 Hours after You put the eggs in the incubator---not the same day you put them in.