I like reading the information that you present. Yiu are very well educated. There are so many varying factors that can affect a hatch. When I first incubated... I started by trying to create the environment that a hen gives the eggs... My experiment was ugly. It was still air. It was regulated by cutting holes out of styrafoam but I was able to maintain that environment. I also turned the eggs multiple times through out the process. Way more than is suggested on this thread. I had a successful hatch. I have made an incubator using the notes on this thread. I really want to see how different the process will be in hatching in it. I have yet to have a successful hatch out of it due to life getting in the way. I really want to learn if those variables will really change the hatch rates of home grown fertile eggs. Anyway.... I'm talking to much I forgot where I was going with this.... Using aircells to determine humidity is the way I do it. I would like to try using weight instead and see if it makes it easier.
Thanks. When in doubt, I too look at what would nature do.
I'm starting to think that the first week or so, the eggs should be turned a lot more also.
This summer I turned by hand and didn't get up there to do it that often.
In my current cabinet, I have a couple hovabator turners. Eventually I want to build a 3 or 4 tray turner that I can automate. If I can get that done, I'll probably go for turning every 2 hours for the first week, then cut back to 5 times a day.
When I started weighing, I had 80 eggs set and weighed every one of them about every 5 days. I found about 4 eggs that were losing weight much faster than the others and one less. What I gathered from that is that I now weigh one of about every 6 eggs. That gives me all the info I need. Another option is to weigh a dozen at once to save time.
I've wondered about this myself. I have one that will get close to the 32, but at the 99.5 it's way off, by about 10F... so I've marked the paper behind it and put a 2nd and 3rd thermometer in with it to verify once or twice a week. It wasn't that off till I tried the 32F test also...
I think to verify a thermometer, the best comparison is with a medical thermometer which are extremely accurate and at close to incubation temps.
I originally had several thermometers that didn't agree with each other. I used the average and had terrible results. I threw them all away or moved them to outbuildings where accuracy wasn't important.
I now have 2 that I rely on. One is a thermoworks pocket digital that's accurate to 0.9F and a
Brinsea spot check. Lo and behold, they agree with each other.
What would you say if I told you that my peafowl hatch in 26-27 days whether they are in incubators or under broodies?
-Kathy
My best guess would be that your temps and humidity are spot on - because of the broody results.
Food for thought...
I just finished a hatching experiment with 4 Serama sized eggs. Placed three in the RCOM and one under the hen that laid it. Eggs were set the day they were laid, and would it surprise you to know that all four hatch in 21 days?
-Kathy
No surprise at all. Especially following the previous post information.
I don't think I chimed in on your previous 'rant', though I did read it. Not many stores left in upstate NY, it's a economically dying state. Wal-Mart is about a half hr drive for us so it's not a go to place anyway, and as far as groceries go not any cheaper than local stores. I've saw even many small chain grocery stores close their doors in small towns around here recently, stores that have been open for many decades. People would rather travel to save a few dollars I guess. I don't think they're saving much, a couple local stores, one privately owned since '76 in the town I work (they also own the gas station) offer .5-.10cents off a gallon on gas for purchases, makes a big difference.
I hear you before on the Home Depot, Lowe's, don't seem to be hurting our local hardware stores that carry all the same supplies sometimes cheaper, many contractors still make all purchases there, our local one family owned for over 100yrs. I think it's mostly small time contractors and homeowners that do most of the big box shopping. Same with TSC, most farmer's don't go there. I thought the one they recently put in across from a decade's old feed store that offers all the same stuff TSC does was going to be hit hard. I'm sure it hurt but still see the place busy. I get my layer mash there for $10 a bag.
Chainsaws, lawnmowers and lawn tractors, equipment, all are at local small independent stores for the same $$ as the big box stores.
More people should shop around before they go make their purchases at big box thinking that 'sale price' is saving them money.
As far as clothes, electronics, 'stuff', not many choices here anymore. Many including us do a lot of online shopping now, cheaper.
I know a few people that work at a local KMart, I see that whole chain closing after Christmas, going by way of Jamesway and Ames etc. hopefully Sears can stay afloat. The majority of their stores have been operating in the red for a long time. A lot of bad business decisions there IMHO. Crappy economy probably doesn't help much.
I just replaced a back windshield myself. Went for a 45min drive to a u pull it place for one for $35. My piano wire broke, been using it for yrs. Tried a cable, not enough bite, 2hrs later started getting MAD and hurrying, ridiculous, exploded the windshield and glass in my eye, had a wedding to go to so couldn't try another (didn't have to pay for it). Ended up going a hlf hr drive to pick one up already pulled for $75, couple hrs cutting out the old rubber seal from both car and window, $30 for a tube of the good window sealant, done. Sometimes I wonder if I'm saving $$ doing all my own mechanical work....
I think you've heard me say this, I work at a dairy plant. All cold storage thermometers are icebath calibrated against a state certified glass thermometer. All HTST probes are calibrated in a hot water bath at temp against another state certified thermometer. I don't see how calibrating thermometers in a ice bath gives accuracy at at 70degree or so warmer temps. If it did the FDA and State Agriculture Markets inspectors and the proper procedure would be just icebath. IDK? Guess it gets them close.
I just pray my incubator is close, I've only hatched once with it so far and it was good so I'll go with it :-D
See what happens this spring, will be using it a few times.
Lowe's and HD are closest to my house and their prices are good but If I want to save time, I'll drive 2 blocks farther to go to the old time hardware store. They almost always have what I need and can get in and out in a hurry, even if a bit higher in price.
The old time feed store is only 5 minutes from my house but they aren't good about rotating their feed and sometimes it is very old. About all I buy there is pine shavings and seed. There's a Farm&Home across the highway from
TSC (both over a half hour away in IL). Farm&Home is cheaper and has a better selection than
TSC. I wish there were regular mills but they are too far away. Independent mills have gotten away from making their own feed because they can't move enough feed to keep their supplements fresh.
I usually do all the work on my vehicles except internal transmission work and internal engine except timing chains. I've recently wished I hadn't bought an exhaust system in an effort to save $150. It would have been done by now but I'm still on it.
The economy is fairly crappy. I know my fortunes have certainly changed in the last 15 years.
Wow! Didn't realize my comment was that long on this little phone...
Sorry...:-D
No worries.
You did all that on a phone? I'm impressed!
-Kathy
I couldn't do it.
So out of my 6 Seramas eggs 2 hatched. My incubator stopped turning for quite a few days before I noticed.@Sally Sunshine
That may have been the problem. At what point did the turner stop?
Something else to think about... If 28 days is considered the norm, how can one know when they should stop tuning and up humidity? The first six I hatched were incubated by a turkey, and those pipped internally on day 24, then hatched on day 26. The next year I did ten in the RCOM, and this time they pipped internally on day 25 and hatched on day 27.
-Kathy
Stop turning and up the humidity early. A couple days difference on humidity, or turning for that matter won't make much difference. Turning isn't nearly as important when the embryo is about to position itself for hatching.
......not sure how you guys/gals tell how a chick is sitting n such for being "in position" heh...
...
I can't. The eggs are usually too dark to see anything but a dark mass.
When I had the back window of the truck shattered State Farm sent a guy from Baltimore to fix it right here. Totally covered, no deductible. It's my understanding the same holds for windshields.
Mine was $500 deductible so it was on my dime.
Well....I've never incubated. just used broodies. I'm here learning and slowly collecting parts for homemade 'bator. I've seen people waiting for drawdown and others waiting for internal pips prior to lockdown/cessation of turning. Many using day counts find early pips/hatches before lockdown.
I'm thinking - leave broodies alone beyond observing and look at candles to determine lockdown in artificial incubation. Still reading for now.
The only time I do anything with broody eggs is when she comes off to eat and defecate. I just mark them and remove volunteers added later.
evening all,
thinking starting meal worms for the kids(birds) any thoughts?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/492636/mealworm-farming
The shotgun behind the dog suggests that it may be the type of Irish Setter popular with market hunters in the early 20th century. Red Setters, as we know them, are the result of crossing Irish Setter field lines with English Setter field lines in an attempt to rejuvenate the field lines of the Irish after the "bird sense" was bred out of them by the show dog faction. The modern Red Setter would be laughed out of the show ring for its smaller size and lack of over-abundant feathering, just as the show-bred Irish would, in most cases, be non-competitive in the hunting or field trial world 'cause their conformation and longer coat puts them at a distinct disadvantage in heavy cover, and most of them wouldn't know a game bird if they tripped over it.
See how smart you are?
because it couldn't brake the cap off after zipping
What did you do then?
Final count of four of six hatched.
Not bad for shipped eggs. I hope you get a cockerel and 3 pullets.
The second one is adorable.
Minor beak fracture
Elector PSP from the Chicken Chick
Wind chill doesn’t count, right?
BYC's 52-week Photography Challenge. Week 4: (Jan 26 - Feb 1, 2026). Theme: Books!
BYC's 52-week Photography Challenge. Week 3: (Jan 19-25, 2026). Theme: Hot, Hot, Hot!
