December Hatch-A-Long!

[chonsey]

I found a post on this website with pictures of no aircell showing on dark eggs until day 10 so don't give up.

 

[CrazyChickLady7]

Joining! Just put my eggs in about an hour ago

 

[chonsey]

I had a light blue egg I couldn't see thru. Pointy on both ends, it was a double yolk that quit. That's when I tried a phone App flashlight. It let me candle them right in the auto turn tray without touching the egg.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Power outage! Had to have the generator hooked up - moved the newly hatched baby chicks and my farm innovator model 4200 with my eggs - had to hook it up to an extension cord in my kitchen! I might still have a battery backup for my computer in storage. I need to pull that out and hook up my R-com to it. Never even thought of needing or using a battery backup for my incubator until now.

Experience with the farm innovator model 4200. I was right there when it spiked and pulled the lid off. The gauges no longer display correctly after my first hatch. All of a sudden it was off by 13 degrees? Wonder if the high humidity affected them in lockdown. So I bought a thermometer and humidity gauge on clearance 3 inches by 3 inches digital display and works great. I need to look up the warranty or maybe they can tell me how to fix it.

I'll still keep the farm innovator in case someone gives me extra eggs or I'll use it to participate in the New Years hatch-along, too. Will be plugging the r-com in and checking calibration later today. I'll be testing my thermometers again, too.

Omigosh...power outage?

Good for you for being prepared!!

That was one nasty spike! I think the lady I got some of my chicks from had an issue with humidity and her controls/gauges...but I don't think it was your brand.

You should totally put on some eggs for the NYHAL. I'm already relieved I have plans now for Christmas/boxing day and New Years...hatching

baby chickies!!!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Check out the learning center. I LOVE IT! What I understand is the first day you put the egg in the incubator is day one and hatch day is day 21. I've learned this depends on temperature/humidity control during incubating or how the heat is distributed in the incubator. You can have cooler and warmer spots, I keep my farm innovator at 99.5 f and 40-45% humidity 1-18 and then day 19-21 increase humidity 60-65% and stop turning eggs (remove auto turner) for lockdown. They should be internally piping @day 19 - I use my flashlight apps for candling on my cellphone. When you can see their little beaks move in the air cell area. They are getting ready to start unzipping! Sometimes you can hear them chirp inside the egg.

I've read where they can hatch days later if temps got low anytime during incubating-like power outages or calibration goes out on gauge or thermometer is off a degree. I had a power outage today, so the eggs in my incubator may not hatch out on day 21. I just have to make sure they didn't get too cold for too long. If the temperature is slightly higher than your chicks may hatch sooner. I've learned a lot these past couple of months from the learning center and others, I use the search engine all the time and read up on other people's experiences and photos. I just had some healthy chicks hatch days early on thanksgiving.

Well I have learned something.

How did I miss that internal pipping starts at day 19???

Geez I read, and read, and read about incubating when I started incubating this summer. THANK YOU for noting that specifically because I'll watch for that.

Hopefully the power outage did not affect your eggs

and they hatch perfectly on day 21. 'Cause it's a darn long day to make it to day 22

I'm still a bit worried about seeing 102 and 101.8 on my thermometers...it freaks me out!

But the 2 degree difference that showed up from doing the ice water calibration means my temps should be at 100. I'm keeping it at 100 instead of 99.5 to give a bit of cushion on each side...just in case.

Here's my eggs last night in my bator. (Please ignore the corner thermometer saying 101.4. It is so, SO wrong...I've since moved it.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Wife has got me into these **** chickens so have a new incubator coming and 24 Serama eggs and 18 painted silkies eggs...guess i will be looking for help lol....Incubator is a farm innovations pro 4250 any suggestions are welcome....

That's fantastic!

I'm pretty new here myself

You're gonna have tons of fun!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Welcome Pandapaw and CrazyChickLady!!

 

[chonsey]

Well the $2.00 thermometer I bought for my aquarium is now my Control thermometer for my new r-com incubator. It measured exactly 32 deg f at freezing temp. Looks like it's time for a new battery on my other temp/humidity digital unit. Candled my eggs, looks like air cells are forming. Found a couple saddle shaped ones.

 

[rockinD]

I'm on day 19 with 10 Swedish Flower eggs in the bator. I hatched only 4 of 19 EEs last month (12 went into lockdown and 7 of those were definitely viable at lockdown with a few in question). I feel some of it was my fault because I wouldn't stop meddling and opening the bator during lockdown. So, I've vowed to leave it totally alone except for adding water as needed until the first external pip. Then nada until it's done! Keeping fingers crossed I have a better hatch this time!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Well the $2.00 thermometer I bought for my aquarium is now my Control thermometer for my new r-com incubator. It measured exactly 32 deg f at freezing temp. Looks like it's time for a new battery on my other temp/humidity digital unit. Candled my eggs, looks like air cells are forming. Found a couple saddle shaped ones.

That's great to hear! I'm kicking myself that I forgot to get an aquarium thermometer when we were in the city last week. I had it written down on my last list, but I didn't get there. This time I forgot!

An aquarium thermometer would take up only a fraction of space compared to my huge outdoor ones. And probably I could hang it on the side if it was one of those metal ones.

And I couldn't agree more...definitely replace batteries. Excellent suggestion! I replaced the battery in two of my digital thermometers the other night and the one is now super responsive, which is a nice surprise. It's also accurate with the bulb thermometers.

I didn't even go by it last time.

I also put new light bulbs in just in case. One burnt out last time, but I can't remember which one now. My air cells are looking good so far. (I couldn't help myself last night)