Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[bellah1]

I have a call in! and if they want to come I will request an appointment for sure!

And remove all electrical cords left from winter too! you know living in the woods is different from the city and people forget this. Its not often we get any visitors or anyone knocking at the door! we put a used shed up on the property and from purchasing the permit it triggered the county to come reassess the property, well they wondered around the property and here I was gun in hand wondering WTheck was going on! and a bit frightened for sure!


I love it! I like u even more now Sally!

 

[silver1313]

S

[SIZE=28pt][COLOR=FF0000]https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101[/COLOR][/SIZE]​

[SIZE=28pt][COLOR=FF0000]TEMPERATURE[/COLOR][/SIZE]​

Never trust the thermometer that comes with the incubator, always check it.​

The thermometer that came with my incubator was off by 5 degrees.​

[COLOR=FF0000]That could mean life or death for your babies.[/COLOR]​

[SIZE=14pt]With a[/SIZE] [SIZE=20pt]Forced Air Incubator[/SIZE] [SIZE=14pt](fan model) you can get the best hatch rate by keeping the temperature at 99.5º F. throughout the entire incubation period. HOWEVER, when using a[/SIZE] [SIZE=20pt]Still Air incubator[/SIZE] [SIZE=14pt](no fan) at 102º F. The reason for different temperatures is that with a fan model the circulating air warms all around the egg while still air temperatures are warmer at the top of the egg than at the bottom. Therefore, increasing the temperature at the top of the egg will compensate for the egg's cooler parts. The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg). Minor fluctuations (less than ½ degree) above or below 100 degrees are tolerated. Temperatures only a degree or two above the recommended temperatures can kill chicks within 15-30 minutes depending on how high the temperature is and the developmental stage of the embryo. A high temperature tends to produce early hatches. A consistently cooler temperature tends to increase incubation times and produce weakened chicks. In both cases the total chicks hatched will be reduced.  Prepare your incubator and run it for several days before adding eggs, to be positive you are maintaining correct incubation temperature. [/SIZE] [SIZE=11pt][COLOR=003366]NOTE: It is common that when adding eggs the temperature will drop but should come back up to correct temperature within an hour or two. Don’t rest the thermometer's bulb touching the eggs or the incubator. Incorrect readings will result. [/COLOR][/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt][COLOR=FF0000]Did you know that 10/13 day old embryos begin to produce excess heat in the incubator? Most large commercial incubators will spend more time cooling than heating![/COLOR][/SIZE]​

 [SIZE=14pt][COLOR=FF0000]CALIBRATION! YES! It’s IMPORTANT![/COLOR][/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Calibrate the thermometer/s you are using for your Incubator. I use 3 thermometers! You need to make sure your thermometer is reading correctly, Even one degree may cause serious problems with your hatch! [/SIZE] [SIZE=14pt]A simple method without specialized instruments and knowledge is to compare your thermometer/hygrometer with other devices.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt] [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt][SIZE=18pt]CALIBRATION of thermometers:[/SIZE][/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Freezing point method.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Fill a glass with crushed ice. Add a LITTLE clean water until the glass is full and stir. Wait 3 minutes then insert the thermometer tip into the ice-filled glass so it’s in the water ice mixture. Wait a minute and if the thermometer reads 32 F then it’s accurate, and if it does not, it requires calibration.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Boiling point method.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Boil water in a pot, about 6” deep. When the water is at boiling point, place the thermometer into the water and make sure that the tip stays in the middle of the boiling pot, away from bottom and sides. Wait 30 seconds and check if the thermometer reads correctly at 212 degrees if you are at sea level or below 1,000 feet elevation. The boiling point of water varies for different elevations: sea level at 212 F, 1000 feet at 210 F, 2000 feet at 208 F, 3000 feet at 206.4 F, 5000 feet at 202.75 F, and 8,000 feet at 197.5 F. The thermometer needs calibration if the reading is incorrect.[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Calibrate the Digital Thermometer[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Adjust the nut of the digital thermometer in order to correct the temperature. This is done by simply turning the adjuster until the correct reading is reached. Digital thermometers do not require any adjustment of a screw or nut. You simply need to locate the reset button. When the freezing point or boiling point of water is achieved, simply push the button and that’s it. Some digital thermometers may require you to push hold the reset button.[/SIZE]​

More information on Calibrating your thermometer/hygrometer: ​

              ​

[COLOR=0000FF]How-to-Calibrate-your-hygrometer/[/COLOR] ​

                               ​

http://cmfarm.us/ThermometerCalibration.html

 ​

http://www.ehow.com/how_6672710_calibrate-digital-thermometer.html​

http://www.canadacutlery.com/download/calibrate-a-thermometer.pdf​

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-calibrate-a-digital-thermometer​

VIDEOS SHOWING how to calibrate: http://www.youtube.com/results?sear.....0.0.0.2672.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1ac.​

[COLOR=FF0000][SIZE=14pt]NOTE: Some incubators, even expensive ones may have "hot spots" or "cool spots" depending on air circulation inside the incubator.[/SIZE][/COLOR]​

Ok that's funny cause I read it was meant to be 102. But the incubator states 100!! That's confusing. There is nothing stating about an egg turner tho. Would you say that I should still set it at 102 even with the turner??
And thanks for helping!

I don't know what I would have done. Messed up all my eggs probably. Aaaghhhhhhhh!!

102 works best for still air with orcwithout a turner

 

[silver1313]

With or without a turner I mean

 

[Mianna]

that sounds normal have a pic or did it already fall off, no bleeding right? if there is blood just blot and squeeze those cords with a sterile gauze or something. try to keep other chicks from pecking at it.

The chick finally scraped it off while scooting around on the shelf liner, and there was no blood on the chick or on the liner, yay! Here's my next silly question, these guys are black Barnevelders from Paul's Rare Poultry, One of my chicks is solid black, the other is black with brown markings, from looking at the pics on his site of the adults, would it be safe to assume that the solid black baby is a hen and the one with brown markings is a rooster? His photos of adults are here:

http://paulsrarepoultry.blogspot.com/

ETA: I really appreciate all of the help and encouragement, thank you guys so much!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

My eggs were just put in the bator (they have wobbly air cells) and the air cells are about the size of a quarter instead of a dime. Is there anything I can do?

you will need to use your humidity to create the best weight loss in the egg. I would run 45 humidity and at candle on day 7 see what they look like, still getting too big up humidity.
This is common, you have the wobbly ones air cell up right?

See the shipped egg info in the hatching 101 article
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[PoultryGirly]

you will need to use your humidity to create the best weight loss in the egg.  I would run 45 humidity and at candle on day 7 see what they look like, still getting too big up humidity.
This is common, you have the wobbly ones air cell up right?

See the shipped egg info in the hatching 101 article
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Thanks! I will try to up the humidity! Yes, the air cells are up!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Ok that's funny cause I read it was meant to be 102. But the incubator states 100!! That's confusing. There is nothing stating about an egg turner tho. Would you say that I should still set it at 102 even with the turner??
And thanks for helping!

I don't know what I would have done. Messed up all my eggs probably. Aaaghhhhhhhh!!

I don't have a turner! I have always read 102 at the TOP of the egg in still air, I don't think it matters with turner or not, that way the "inner" part gets the warmth as well.
You got this! read the article and catch the errors before its too late and you got yourself some chicks!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: With some lines of Barnevelders, you can sex chicks as day-olds based on breast down color. Chicks with white breasts are usually male and chicks with dark grayish breasts are female. Chicks can also be sexed by feathering rate. Pullets tend to feather out faster (tail, linger wings, back and breast). Cockerels tend to feather out slower (no tail, bare back/shoulders, shorter wings, bare breast). By four-weeks of age comb size/development also starts to become visible.https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/tls-ranch-barnevelders


also see http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8021075

 

[chicknfun]

I have a call in! and if they want to come I will request an appointment for sure!

And remove all electrical cords left from winter too! you know living in the woods is different from the city and people forget this. Its not often we get any visitors or anyone knocking at the door! we put a used shed up on the property and from purchasing the permit it triggered the county to come reassess the property, well they wondered around the property and here I was gun in hand wondering WTheck was going on! and a bit frightened for sure!


I love it! I like u even more now Sally!

LOL, I guess that means no one took offense to my asking if that huge scary smiley had a version packin a shotgun!
Hey, I shoot skeet, not animals
Sorry I had to sneak in quick
Sal, It will be ok with the coops, the cords would be the issue, as long as they are hiding, you're good....The other stuff I said about is just the Paralegal in me, you're good

You know, I can't help it, all questions, gotta cover all possibilities,

Bye again!!!!

 

[silver1313]

my incubator is having issues but its staying at 101.8 exactly so im gonna leave it be lol growth looked good when i candled and humidity is good ... looks like even one of my duck eggs had some veining.. one would make me happy !!!
so ordering shipped eggs next week and the nice lady basically covered all our questionaire without me asking so im not as leery as i was at first thought of shipped eggs !!! I cant wait to get them started either ... this will not only be my first shipped eggs hatch but my first staggered hatch as well !!!! and my last hatch for awhile with all the traveling etc over the summer ....

YAY !!!