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

[duluthralphie]

Please move the sight 1 inch ahead and 1 inch down to get a better kill shot...

 

[Chaos18]

 

[Chaos18]

Please move the sight 1 inch ahead and 1 inch down to get a better kill shot...

Will make the adjustments for the next one.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Sorry bubbles! Ralphie for you! Ouer Shabbat dinner today A grilled duck stuffed with granny smith apple and cinnamon, marinated in honey garlic,lemon and garnished with blood oranges! With Quinoa pomegranate, pecan and cranberry salad

Shalom Benny. It looks delicious.

it is cooking the smell is good!

 

[Akrnaf2]

Aizenberg!! That's what happens when you mess up with the wrong teacher!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:

Question regarding temperatures:

I have four thermometers in my still air incubator. They are a digital one with a hydrometer, a metal one that came with the incubator (from about 2001), an outdoor weather station therm with hydrometer, and a flat one you put of the eggs. All reading 100-101.3 Or so. I've even tested a laser therm and it read around 99.

I put the flat therm on top of the eggs, out of curiosity, and it read 106! I need suggestions! Is that normal?

This is my third attempt at hatching recently and have not been successful with the other two. The last batch had formed chicks with unabsorbed yolks.the first batch was a humidity error.

I hatched when I was younger (2000-2001) and never had as many issues. Actually I never had any issues and good hatch rates.

I did buy a forced air incubator and letting it get up to temp,

Something wrong there. In a still air, there should only be 1F difference between the top and the middle of the egg.
The first place to look with failed hatches is temperature.
Just because the thermometers agree with one another, doesn't mean that is the actual temperature. Wouldn't be the first time.
Most thermometers are only supposed to be accurate to ±2°F and most in my experience don't meet that standard.
Infrared/laser thermometers aren't that good. The most expensive ones ($600+) come within 2% with a repeatability of .3 °F. Those within most of our reach are good to about ±4°F +0.09°F.
That's good enough for most things but none of those numbers are good enough for incubation.
There is the need for calibration or starting with a guaranteed accurate thermometer.
These are the two best I've found that don't cost an arm and a leg.

http://www.thermoworks.com/RT301WA - accuracy to ±0.9°F and adjustable calibration.
http://www.brinsea.com/p-394-spot-check-digital-incubator-thermometer.aspx - accuracy of ± 0.2ºF

That's what I did for my first hatch. I was trying to keep from having to open the lid on the incubator this time, so I built a flat platform that is already on a slope one way, then attached a string on the low end and through the lid so I can pull it up to the opposite angle. But I don't think I am going to be able to do the suggested 38 degrees that way. Should I just incubate them flat and turn them by hand if that is the case?

I read 38* on your incubation information page, Sally Sunshine. Can you chime in??

Tilting the incubator, or tipping an egg carton in a still air will thermally stratify. High side will be warmer, low side cooler. Possibly significantly.

Ok so humidity for the first 18 days should be like 35 to 45% and like 55 to 65 for lock down is that right

It depends on the eggs. Weight/moisture loss is what dictates humidity.

yes I dont remember what had worked best.but I wanna do my best because I will have at least 40 in the Bator.how long can u store them for

Hatchability drops off significantly after 7-10 days depending on storage conditions.

A few years ago it was $4500 here, but there are a lot about now. Lots of people have got them thinking they can make big money. Only a few made anything significant.

I don't have time to wait for real money for a rooster that I want to move on. Just want to enjoy the birds.

Hard to sell a single rooster for big money, even with extremely rare breeds. I prefer to eat most of them.
Quote:

Ok, question..... it may sound dumb but I'm seeing a pattern. I have a new red rooster with my favorite hen. I've been incubating the eggs I get from her with other eggs and although I don't get many eggs from her cause it's winter. Each time it comes to hatching date they die right before. Or they don't grow at all. Could he just put off weak offspring or something??

Hard to tell this time of year with short photoperiod and limited available forage.
Since they're in separate flocks, nutrition and disease are possibilities.

Thanks. I have been saving a long time, and this will be the first time I have ever taken two weeks off.

@Fire Ant Farm Well, the first part in the Tetons is finalized. I will fly into Idaho Falls and drive over and spend a day hiking at Jenny Lake. Then I will join Swift Creek Outfitters. I am doing their South Buffalo and Continental Divide horse pack trip it will be 6 days and include the major solar eclipse on August 21st. You can see details on that ride on their website. And this summer from me that is if I ever get a signal. I will fill you in a bit on Yellowstone later for now I have to drive. Have a great day.

Sounds great. I'm sure you'll have a great time. I love the Tetons but I've only been there in winter. Consistently the coldest place I've ever been.

In 2 weeks, I'll be skiing in Colorado. Lucked out and got cheap airfare and lodging in a log cabin.

No problem there!
I say if you can't beat them, join them!

Olives.
For dinner we had chicken breast stuffed with basil, olives, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes. Paleo except for the cheese.

I lost another duck.

This time there was a body. I used the remains to bait the live trap. I have my suspicions... Who wants to play csi again?


No blood. Spine and leg picked clean. No flies or ants.

That's raccoon damage.

Well, folks, I spent my evening at a talk by Neil deGrasse Tyson. It was an ASTONISHINGLY good talk - I've listened to every single Star Talk podcast, and read his books, and worried about recycling of material, but except a few jokes and anecdotes, it was fresh and new. And that man moved ALL OVER that stage (oh, and he lectured in his socks.) I had AWESOME seats!

Row 2!!!!!

Looking backwards at the packed Tobin Center:







I also got to meet him (very briefly) - I was nervous and don't remember much. I just remember I sort of gushed like the fan girl that I am.

My life is now complete. (Until he comes to San Antonio next time...)

- Ant Farm

@Kev

That's awesome. I would have loved it.

Morning everybody

Good morning.

 

[Chaos18]

....
Good morning.

How goes it?

 

[meltel]

Touche'

But......

Now what does that tell ya

 

[Akrnaf2]

Shalom CC! Long time.....

 

[Chaos18]

Touche' But...... Now what does that tell ya

That everybody needs a sidekick? Either that or I'm better at slinging ice than you.