DRYHATCH SUCCESSFUL!!! Look what it brought me :)

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I always did better with dry hatches, too.

Let me know if you end up with an extra pair of those BLRW's.

I'm on a list for a pair next spring but you're closer than N.C. and I'd love to buy some from you!

~Heather

 

[joebryant]

10 BABIES
I might have as many as 15 (maybe more?) by noon tomorrow; however, I'm perfectly happy having these ten even if no more hatch.
I probably shouldn't have, but I took off the lid, removed the spent shells, and took the photos.
EDIT:
9:51 P.M. #11 hatched - #1 in row #4
9:52 P.M. #12 hatched - #5 in row #5
10:32 P.M. #13 hatched - #4 in row #5
10:56 P.M. #14 hatched - #6 in row #2
11:47 P.M. #15 hatched - #1 in row #2
New ones Friday morning:
(?) A.M. #16 hatched - #2 in row #4
6:15 A.M. #17 hatched - #1 in row #3
8:30 A.M. #18 hatched - #1 in row #5

 

[JanieMarie]

Beautiful babies there Joebryant! Never tried it in a carton before but looks like your having a great hatch! What breed ya got there?

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Thanks, JanieMarie, they're bbs Orpingtons. I am in the process of now of breeding my own line of (hopefully) very dark blue. In this hatch as of 8:30 A.M. #18 popped out (see above). There is only one splash and probably close to 50/50 of blues and blacks.
I will never hatch again without an egg carton; it made a BIG difference.
I started with 27 eggs, and was hoping for at least ten after considering the egg gathering in cold weather. So far 18/27=66 2/3% so I'm elated and floating on a cloud. Heck, I'm going to leave those last nine eggs in for two more days just in case there's a slowpoke in there somewhere.
BTW, these are a Christmas gift for my doctor's wife (super-nice lady). I called her yesterday when there were eight. She's ready with large box, heat lamp, feeder, waterer, wood chips, paper towels, etc. all ready to go. I told her yesterday that we'd hope for TEN; eighteen is going to be a big surprise... sure was for me.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Those are precious babies Joe. I think a dark blue line would be great. I love all blues, but a dark blue would be striking. I was wondering how the rest of the hatch would go after you opened up the incubator to add water.
Mine will shrink wrap if I do that. I am glad yours are doing great. Good job!

Got any pics of them all fluffed out?

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
rustyswoman, thanks, I took some when I delivered them and put them in their new brooder. I took some pictures and will put them on after I get some rest. I didn't get much sleep last night, and getting those 18 imps set up and started drinking and eating... I'm worn out!

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Totally, absolutely understand that feeling! LOL Get some rest Joe

 

[JanieMarie]

I go into lockdown on Sun with 12 eggs. I think I'll try it in the carton. The carton in the pic looks lower than a standard carton. Or am I seeing wrong? So I just cut out the bottom? Does any one ever moisten the carton for humidity? Any tips or words of wisdom? Maybe I should start a new thread for this? More questions than answers. Now its my turn to stress! BTW Dry hatch worked wonderfully for me so far! Used basically the same methods as rustyswoman.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
JanieMarie, I replied with the following on another post a few days ago. Hope that it helps:
***********
The following is only what I've read; it does not come from personal experience, so take it with a box of salt:
I have 27 eggs for my doctor's wife that will be going into paper mache egg cartons tomorrow, Tuesday, for the final three days. I have cut a small hole in the bottom of each egg section for air flow around the eggs. I will put the eggs in with the large end at the top. Supposedly this gives the chick inside two-three days to get into position to begin pecking its way out, causing the top half of the egg to break away. Meanwhile, with my humidity's being between 60%-70%, theoretically any excess moisture will go to the bottom of the egg, saving the chick from drowning when it first pecks into the air space at the top of the egg.
Supposedly, using this method keeps the hatched chicks less exposed to cracked egg shells, and it makes it easier to clean the incubator once the chicks are removed. Guess I'll know for sure Thursday.

The alternative is to lay the eggs on their side on the floor of the incubator, slightly tilted with large end up. This supposedly will produce a hatch similar to what happens when the eggs are under a hen. I've done that, and it worked, messy, but it worked.

 

[joebryant]

Here they are at their new home. My doctor's wife was/is very excited that there were 18.
These 18 gives her a chance to have eight hens, one for each grandchild to name: