Did I cook them??

[randerson846]

Last 3 days and only 5 days to go ahaha

 

[hildar]

Yeah, the first post looks like 25 days ago (mine says 3 weeks, 4 days aka: 25 days) but those are the first batch that I gave up on.

I'm going off of post #24, when I set the second set. Lacychick is right. Hers gives the actual days, rather than weeks like mine does for some reason.

Thank you Lacychick.

I use the calendar and actually x every day when I turn the eggs. However I am now turning the eggs more then once a day. Last year I went by incubator instructions, this year I am going by hen instructions, and am turning eggs 2 to 3 times a day. I want to see if the eggs have a better hatching rate if done more often, like the hen would do it. But you should write down on the calendar the day you set them the day due to hatch and 3 days earlier for lock down. This way you know when to do everything and you will know when they are coming.

 

[lauranickerson]

I've had one of the two plugs open on top of the incubator this whole time. I can't remember and the instructions don't say: Do I plug them both or open them both on lockdown? Or keep them the way they are. Friday night, I'm going to fill all channels with water and add a soaked sponge for extra humidity, from what I've read is recommended.

 

[lacychick]

I've had one of the two plugs open on top of the incubator this whole time. I can't remember and the instructions don't say: Do I plug them both or open them both on lockdown? Or keep them the way they are. Friday night, I'm going to fill all channels with water and add a soaked sponge for extra humidity, from what I've read is recommended. 

I'm on my first hatch but I believe you open them as they need plenty of oxygen

 

[hildar]

I always leave mine open. We found out if you close them the heat also rises. So if yours are open leave them open.

 

[lauranickerson]

Eeeeeks! Three chicks hatched a day early (Mother's Day of all days!) and three more hatched overnight! I can't wait to see how many more I have by the time I get out of work! There were 5 more pipped when I left this morning, and a couple were rolling! Soooo excited!

 

[jaytoddmartin]

Congrats! The fact they survived temps over 110 is amazing and inspiring to me. Thanks for sharing the story and keep us updated on the final hatch count ;-)

 

[hildar]

Wow that is awesome that they survived that, maybe I need higher temps on mine. Nothing seems to want to hatch at all for me.

 

[lauranickerson]

Well, 110 was on the ducks eggs I originally set when I started the thread, that didn't hatch. I feel like somehow they were infertile. These ones got up to about 106 at the most. I tired to keep it at about 102-103 the whole time (at least that's what my thermometer said).

So as of now, I have 16 in the brooder. There are 9 more eggs in the incubator (4 ended up being not fertilized) and at least one of those is pipped.

I will probably post pictures tomorrow. They are so dang cute!

 

[lauranickerson]

So, 16 is all that hatched, and three chicks ended up not making it (just weak ones, I think), but the 13 I have now are very active and strong. They are so adorable!