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

[Sally Sunshine]

i'm just staring and staring and staring at my eggs, lol, i know it's only day 18, but i'm so excited!!! can't wait for babies!!!

LMAO!!! you could see them rocking and getting reading any minute too!! I have found that they rock for a day or two before they pip! its actually quite cool to watch and will have your NOSE FLATTENED TOO!!! I tried video taping but I swear they are camera shy!!! LOL

 

[Sally Sunshine]

just locked down another 34 lol

OMG

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: So they come tomorrow! YIPPY! I have heard that if you have two people you can candle with two LED flashlights in a completely dark room at night. My daughter Harmony and I tried it, well she just is antsy lol.

Here is a good read to start......
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method

we can discuss if you wish!! I do the 99.5-100 temps and only add water if the humidity is below 30% and try to keep it below 40-45% and then lockdown I do 60-65 but it always goes into the 70's even 80s sometimes once they start hatching, thats ok.
oh and I found its easier to control humidity with different size containers just set in and then when its lockdown I add to those bottom water wells, its ALOT easier to add and take out. Remember its surface area that will raise your humidity not nessesarily depth.

Are you going to keep the eggs in the egg carton the entire hatch? I use and egg carton Styro with the bottoms cut out, I only let enough styro to hold them upright so I am sure they have room to pip and the egg gets oxygen. when lockdown comes I only keep them in the styro if the air cells are still bad, but to be honest, if they are that bad they hardly make it to day 18!! but you may have a jiggly one or two saddle shaped..

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

So they come tomorrow! YIPPY! I have heard that if you have two people you can candle with two LED flashlights in a completely dark room at night.  My daughter Harmony and I tried it, well she just is antsy lol.

Here is a good read to start......
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method

we can discuss if you wish!! I do the 99.5-100 temps and only add water if the humidity is below 30% and try to keep it below 40-45%  and then lockdown I do 60-65 but it always goes into the 70's even 80s sometimes once they start hatching, thats ok. 
oh and I found its easier to control humidity with different size containers just set in and then when its lockdown I add to those bottom water wells, its ALOT easier to add and take out.  Remember its surface area that will raise your humidity not nessesarily depth. 

Are you going to keep the eggs in the egg carton the entire hatch? I use and egg carton Styro with the bottoms cut out, I only let enough styro to hold them upright so I am sure they have room to pip and the egg gets oxygen.  when lockdown comes I only keep them in the styro if the air cells are still bad, but to be honest, if they are that bad they hardly make it to day  18!!  but you may have a jiggly one or two saddle shaped..

I was planning on the wet method to start but everyone seems to like dry. It's just soooo dry up here I worry. :/ I will have to find some little cups to put the water in below, I hadn't thought of that! Smaller, deeper cups will probably help keep the level stable longer too.

I was planning on taking the eggs out of the turner and just laying them on the wire. Figured that would leave less for the chicks to trip over as they make the final push to break free.

Do you have to set anything on the turner? I plugged it in and it is humming, but so far I haven't seen the turners in a different position. :/ Is it possible I just keep catching it when they are tipped that way?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: How high altitude are you??? I would DEFINATELY do a search "incubating at high altitudes" IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE I read that!!

oh I dont use a turner, I think you take it out for lockdown and lay on sides

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

How high altitude are you???  I would DEFINATELY do a search "incubating at high altitudes" IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE I read that!!  

oh I dont use a turner, I think you take it out for lockdown and lay on sides

6,000 ft. Hard to get higher than that and be in a major city! I will double check but I think recommended humidity for hatching up here with shipped eggs was about 55% to help with oxygen absorption.

Ahh. Dbl checked and its that I need to increase relative humidity because I need increased ventilation to get the eggs more oxygen.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: EXCELLENT!!!

 

[3Dchicken]

6,000 ft.

Hard to get higher than that and be in a major city! I will double check but I think recommended humidity for hatching up here with shipped eggs was about 55% to help with oxygen absorption.
Ahh. Dbl checked and its that I need to increase relative humidity because I need increased ventilation to get the eggs more oxygen.

What are you going to do with the eggs that you hatch if you live in the city?

 

[kelly77]

So I thought one of my hens was going broody. She had been sitting on 6 eggs ...been 3 days, but then tonight she was off them and she didn't seem to want to be on them when I put her back. She got right up again ...and the eggs were cold. So we candled them all and 3 have things moving inside ...so we put those back and took the undeveloped other 3. Ok so now Im wondering will those 3 live? Or does she need 6 to e a clutch? Can she get up to eat? I don't know what to do because if we add them to the incubator they will be in there with the others when they go into lockdown at a to early stage not being turned and in real high humidity. So either way ...hubby says let nature take its course this time

 

[sumi]

If she doesn't go back to the nest and sit then pop the eggs in the incubator. They can get quite cold and not come to harm. And she doesn't need 6, I've seen hens sit on 1 egg and hatch it. Broodies do like to get up and eat and have a dust bath and can stay off the nest for up to 30 minutes. But if she doesn't go back after longer than that...