December Hatch-A-Long 2014

[Renee572]

Ok I finally managed to get my humidity and temp to my liking, It took me all afternoon, night and this morning but I think I've done it. It did get too high (56%) at one point this morning but it dropped back into the 40s pretty quickly which is what I was afraid of for when it comes time for lockdown. I am sure I can get the humidity as high as it needs to be but I have a hard time believing it will stay that high for any length of time. I have been using a straw to add hot water since I started incubating because I wanted to make sure I had a way once I was in lock down. However I don't have any straws long enough to reach the second water well in the hovabator. I don't have any sponges at the moment so now my shopping list for this week consists of the rubber matting to put on top of the wire bottom, sponges, and a longer straw.

I have my egg carton all cut down the way that it needs to be and ready for whatever remaining eggs I will have for lockdown. I am getting so excited and nervous the closer it gets. My hatch date is Dec 13th and then as soon as the chicks are ready to come out of the bator they will go to my neighbors house to live in the brooder for the first month or so. And I will be headed out of town for Christmas on the 20th so I will only get to see the fluffy butts for a short time before they are probably no longer fluffy butts when I get back. When they come back to live in my backyard they will be funny looking teenagers!

Anyway, hope everyone is looking good today. Good luck to any that are candling, in lockdown, or beginning to hatch. Can't wait to see pictures. And welcome to those who have just joined or are waiting on eggs to be delivered.

 

[Iko127]

I am in North Central Florida and I concur on the major temp ranges! Mine go into lock down on Thursday and we'll see if the cold temps those few days were too much. Last I candled they were going strong, but you just never know. I have marans that I think probably won't fair well because of the humidity spikes and declines, but we'll see this weekend!

Good luck with your hatch! Mine go into lock down on Friday!!

 

[Iko127]

Ok I finally managed to get my humidity and temp to my liking, It took me all afternoon, night and this morning but I think I've done it. It did get too high (56%) at one point this morning but it dropped back into the 40s pretty quickly which is what I was afraid of for when it comes time for lockdown. I am sure I can get the humidity as high as it needs to be but I have a hard time believing it will stay that high for any length of time. I have been using a straw to add hot water since I started incubating because I wanted to make sure I had a way once I was in lock down. However I don't have any straws long enough to reach the second water well in the hovabator. I don't have any sponges at the moment so now my shopping list for this week consists of the rubber matting to put on top of the wire bottom, sponges, and a longer straw.

I have my egg carton all cut down the way that it needs to be and ready for whatever remaining eggs I will have for lockdown. I am getting so excited and nervous the closer it gets. My hatch date is Dec 13th and then as soon as the chicks are ready to come out of the bator they will go to my neighbors house to live in the brooder for the first month or so. And I will be headed out of town for Christmas on the 20th so I will only get to see the fluffy butts for a short time before they are probably no longer fluffy butts when I get back. When they come back to live in my backyard they will be funny looking teenagers!

Anyway, hope everyone is looking good today. Good luck to any that are candling, in lockdown, or beginning to hatch. Can't wait to see pictures. And welcome to those who have just joined or are waiting on eggs to be delivered.

The best thing I found was the air filter tubing for fish tanks. I find it in the pet section at walmart, very cheap and then you can cut it to the length you want it and tape it down where you need it to be. I then just have a syringe that I use to draw up the water and squirt in the tubing. You can put it to come out in any of the wells this way. Good luck!

 

[ftpagain]

i am putting 36 eggs in today. i got them from a lady that has 2 roosters for about 40 hens. I'm thinking the number of fertilized eggs is going to be pretty low but maybe they are extra manly roosters and they got it under control

 

[Purpletie3]

go ahead and join!!


Is there a hole in the incubator you can put a straw through to wet a sponge? That's what I did on the last hatch.




ok tonight is lockdown for incubator #1 I know temps wil lbe fine but I am SUPER worried about humidity. I havent been able to get it to stay above 47 for any length of time. Gonna add 2 more water containers tonight and try more sponges too...only problem with the sponges is that they need to be rewet like once a day and I know we arent supposed to open the bator during lockdown. I also thought about putting a layer of paper towels under the sheld liner the eggs will be laying on...but again that would have to be rewet so I dont know.

Suggestions?

 

[Purpletie3]

i am putting 36 eggs in today. i got them from a lady that has 2 roosters for about 40 hens. I'm thinking the number of fertilized  eggs  is going to be pretty low but maybe they are extra manly roosters and they got it under control 

Good luck! Does she hatch any? Hopefully those are busy roo's lol

 

[Purpletie3]

I

Day 14 candle on my Hovabator Vicki splash & sizzles. There are def 6 splash and all 6 sizzles developing. Three are questionable. 6 booted out of the incubator... Looking forward to hatch next week!

 

[ftpagain]

Good luck! Does she hatch any? Hopefully those are busy roo's lol

i don't think so. she said "I'm getting more chicks next spring" so i'm guessing they come from somewhere else.
oh well. i just can't wait already LOL

 

[ochochicas]

i am putting 36 eggs in today. i got them from a lady that has 2 roosters for about 40 hens. I'm thinking the number of fertilized eggs is going to be pretty low but maybe they are extra manly roosters and they got it under control

You'd be surprised at how much "energy" those roosters can have. My younger rooster can easily service 10 hens in one evening. Considering they are fertile for two or more weeks after being with the rooster he could potentially produce chicks with many hens. However, I have hens that just don't like him and steer clear. He ends up hooking up with the same hens day after day.

Now I have a new rooster that is a few months older than the other one. The hens that don't like the first rooster seem to fancy the second one. The first roo is out of commission for a while and the new rooster is taking care of almost two dozen hens. I hope you get a good hatch rate with your eggs!

 

[ftpagain]

Considering they are fertile for two or more weeks after being with the rooster.

that i did not know!!!

i thought it was one time one egg type deal