EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[Fire Ant Farm]

OK, so I did a Day 7 Candle and weighing of the 6 Olive egger eggs (from the pen where Goodwin was, like those Marans eggs earlier) and the 5 Puppy (and one Switch) egg from by Naked Neck coop. Development in all but one OE egg (which was clearly, well, clear).

Despite being both BLUE and DARK, the OE eggs, again, lost too much weight (the NN eggs were spot on). I am thinking that there's an issue in that coop (different birds/breeds, same coop, same problem) - I need to check their oyster shell (maybe something got into their oyster shell feeder that made it unpalatable?). Interesting.

Meanwhile, bringing the other incubator up to temp so I can incubate them separately at a higher humidity for the rest of the time. (It was clean and ready to go in anticipation if possibly needing a different humidity.)


(I'm actually considering tossing a few more Puppy, Switch, and OE & Marans eggs in to each respective incubator, since I use a hatcher. I can join them to brooder together after the little ones get their feet under them...)

- Ant Farm

 

[DwayneNLiz]

OK, so I did a Day 7 Candle and weighing of the 6 Olive egger eggs (from the pen where Goodwin was, like those Marans eggs earlier) and the 5 Puppy (and one Switch) egg from by Naked Neck coop. Development in all but one OE egg (which was clearly, well, clear).

Despite being both BLUE and DARK, the OE eggs, again, lost too much weight (the NN eggs were spot on). I am thinking that there's an issue in that coop (different birds/breeds, same coop, same problem) - I need to check their oyster shell (maybe something got into their oyster shell feeder that made it unpalatable?). Interesting.

Meanwhile, bringing the other incubator up to temp so I can incubate them separately at a higher humidity for the rest of the time. (It was clean and ready to go in anticipation if possibly needing a different humidity.)


(I'm actually considering tossing a few more Puppy, Switch, and OE & Marans eggs in to each respective incubator, since I use a hatcher. I can join them to brooder together after the little ones get their feet under them...)

- Ant Farm

yes! more puppy eggs!
thats strange about those eggs

 

[microchick]

Okay so I guess by the first of March I'll be starting my first attempt to hatch eggs in my incubator so it's time to ask questions.

Weighing eggs. Do I do a base weigh at the start of incubation and then weigh with each subsequent candling? What weight changes should I be looking for? Just for an FYI I expect to be hatching bantam eggs. What weight changes specify a normal developing embryo?

I have a hygrometer set up in our house now so I can get a feel for humidity levels and it's been running in the 21-29% range mainly I think due to the fact that we heat with wood and it really dries out the air. I'm expecting that I will have to add a touch of water to the humidifier to keep it around 33-35%. I'm incubating in a Brinsea Eco Mini and plan to do a dry run the end of February with a button hygrometer/thermometer to get the humidity level locked down,

Using the manual turn style Brinsea, how often should I shoot for turning the eggs. I've read everything from twice a day to every two hours. We are retired and having to stay pretty close to home mainly do to having to keep an eye on our diabetic kitty so turning more frequently isn't a problem for me. I would just like to get a ball park figure of what you all do and how often when it comes to turning.

Thanks guys,

Bex

 

[BantyChooks]

Okay so I guess by the first of March I'll be starting my first attempt to hatch eggs in my incubator so it's time to ask questions.

Weighing eggs. Do I do a base weigh at the start of incubation and then weigh with each subsequent candling? What weight changes should I be looking for? Just for an FYI I expect to be hatching bantam eggs. What weight changes specify a normal developing embryo? 

I have a hygrometer set up in our house now so I can get a feel for humidity levels and it's been running in the 21-29% range mainly I think due to the fact that we heat with wood and it really dries out the air. I'm expecting that I will have to add a touch of water to the humidifier to keep it around 33-35%. I'm incubating in a Brinsea Eco Mini and plan to do a dry run the end of February with a button hygrometer/thermometer to get the humidity level locked down,

Using the manual turn style Brinsea, how often should I shoot for turning the eggs. I've read everything from twice a day to every two hours. We are retired and having to stay pretty close to home mainly do to having to keep an eye on our diabetic kitty so turning more frequently isn't a problem for me. I would just like to get a ball park figure of what you all do and how often when it comes to turning.

Thanks guys,

Bex

I don't weigh eggs, try @ChickenCanoe for that one

3x per day is minimum. I turn 5 as much as I can, and 3 if I can't.

 

[duluthralphie]

I do not weigh eggs as a rule either. I weigh eggs to get an idea of their size but has nothing to do with hatching and then I only weigh a couple eggs.

I do not candle as much as most people do, I wait until day 12-14, I find then I do not have to make a tough decision. They are either good or bad. I just throw the bad. or feed them to the roosters. (Eaters not breeders).

If I candle early it is because my trays are all full and I need room. I do not like doing that, but have been forced too. At day 14 you can see through even the darkest of shells. As the season rolls on I will throw the questionable ones I do "hail Marys" on now. I know they do not have a chance but i pray they do. My incubators turn 5 times a day I think it is. The old one might be 3. I put a marker on the high side to make sure it is turning when I check them. I can never remember if that side was up or down. This is only on the ones with windows, I do not open my incubators more than once a week, when I candle or pull eggs out.

I run 45% humidity during incubation and 70 during hatch.

Good Luck @microchick remember what we do is works best for us, you will have to experiment to see what works best with you. Ambient temps and humidity plays a part as does the amount of sunlight you get.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Okay so I guess by the first of March I'll be starting my first attempt to hatch eggs in my incubator so it's time to ask questions.

Weighing eggs. Do I do a base weigh at the start of incubation and then weigh with each subsequent candling? What weight changes should I be looking for? Just for an FYI I expect to be hatching bantam eggs. What weight changes specify a normal developing embryo?

I have a hygrometer set up in our house now so I can get a feel for humidity levels and it's been running in the 21-29% range mainly I think due to the fact that we heat with wood and it really dries out the air. I'm expecting that I will have to add a touch of water to the humidifier to keep it around 33-35%. I'm incubating in a Brinsea Eco Mini and plan to do a dry run the end of February with a button hygrometer/thermometer to get the humidity level locked down,

Using the manual turn style Brinsea, how often should I shoot for turning the eggs. I've read everything from twice a day to every two hours. We are retired and having to stay pretty close to home mainly do to having to keep an eye on our diabetic kitty so turning more frequently isn't a problem for me. I would just like to get a ball park figure of what you all do and how often when it comes to turning.

Thanks guys,

Bex

SOOOooo

make sure to turn a minimum of 3x a day, always do it an odd number, that way the longer period of rest is alternated
i like ~35% humidity

HUMIDITY Humidity is NOT a set number!

It is a tool to get the correct weight loss in the egg! post #7068see Hatching Eggs 101

WHY do we need less humidity to get the best weight loss for colored hatching eggs during incubation? post #36320
Reducing humidity during the first 18 days of incubation post #109266
KEEPING MOLD and BACTERIAL from growing in water WELLS during incubation post #1644
Humidity pumps DIY ETC post #79960

Weighing Eggs, why and HOW TO! post #70097

 

[microchick]

Thanks duluthralphie and BantyChooks. I figure you all are seasoned hatchers and I'm a newbie.

And DwayneNLiz too!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Okay so I guess by the first of March I'll be starting my first attempt to hatch eggs in my incubator so it's time to ask questions.

Weighing eggs. Do I do a base weigh at the start of incubation and then weigh with each subsequent candling? What weight changes should I be looking for? Just for an FYI I expect to be hatching bantam eggs. What weight changes specify a normal developing embryo?

I have a hygrometer set up in our house now so I can get a feel for humidity levels and it's been running in the 21-29% range mainly I think due to the fact that we heat with wood and it really dries out the air. I'm expecting that I will have to add a touch of water to the humidifier to keep it around 33-35%. I'm incubating in a Brinsea Eco Mini and plan to do a dry run the end of February with a button hygrometer/thermometer to get the humidity level locked down,

Using the manual turn style Brinsea, how often should I shoot for turning the eggs. I've read everything from twice a day to every two hours. We are retired and having to stay pretty close to home mainly do to having to keep an eye on our diabetic kitty so turning more frequently isn't a problem for me. I would just like to get a ball park figure of what you all do and how often when it comes to turning.

Thanks guys,

Bex

I weigh eggs. Make yourself a spreadsheet, and weigh the eggs when they are set. You are expecting the eggs to lose 0.65% of their weight per day, so you multiply that times the number of days (with the day you set being Day 0 unless you set early in the morning) to get expected % weight loss.

Then, when you weigh at candling, you calculate:

[1 - (set weight/current weight)] x 100 = percent weight lost.

You compare that to expected.

I have been tweaking my spreadsheet (one I got from someone else and then modified) this hatching season to make it easier with formulas embedded. Remind me later and I'll clean it up and share so you can enter and it will calculate for you.

Turn a minimum of 3 times a day. People say more is better, but if you have to open the incubator to turn, that's a down side to that. I just turn before work (~7-8) after work (~5-6), and late at bedtime (~11)..

Sally says to start at 30-35% - I have found that that is indeed a good place to start (as have others). Then on Day 7 you can see where you are and go from there.

- Ant Farm

 

[Akrnaf2]

Okay so I guess by the first of March I'll be starting my first attempt to hatch eggs in my incubator so it's time to ask questions.

Weighing eggs. Do I do a base weigh at the start of incubation and then weigh with each subsequent candling? What weight changes should I be looking for? Just for an FYI I expect to be hatching bantam eggs. What weight changes specify a normal developing embryo? 

I have a hygrometer set up in our house now so I can get a feel for humidity levels and it's been running in the 21-29% range mainly I think due to the fact that we heat with wood and it really dries out the air. I'm expecting that I will have to add a touch of water to the humidifier to keep it around 33-35%. I'm incubating in a Brinsea Eco Mini and plan to do a dry run the end of February with a button hygrometer/thermometer to get the humidity level locked down,

Using the manual turn style Brinsea, how often should I shoot for turning the eggs. I've read everything from twice a day to every two hours. We are retired and having to stay pretty close to home mainly do to having to keep an eye on our diabetic kitty so turning more frequently isn't a problem for me. I would just like to get a ball park figure of what you all do and how often when it comes to turning.

Thanks guys,

Bex

The turning is not a fixed number, as much as you turn it is better for the embryo. The bird turns the eggs dozens of time a day! But you should keep in mind one thing that you should not let the egg stay 2 night in a row on the same side! So you always have to turn an Odd number of turnings in a 24 hour
Period. 3 is the minimum 5 and more is better!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thanks duluthralphie and BantyChooks. I figure you all are seasoned hatchers and I'm a newbie.

And DwayneNLiz too!

and you can always pop in with questions, or if you need explanations