FEBRUARY HATCH-A-LONG come join in

[PandoraTaylor]

Candled tonight and of the 7 set that are due Feb. 16th
1 was infertile
1 I dropped and was developing
5 I can see veining, development and movement.


of those 5,
2 seem really full already, but they have air cells, so they appear to be on schedule.

Temp 99-100.5
RH is 35-40%
Autoturner & Fan

 

[biomistake]

My incubator went into lockdown last night around 6pm with 31 out of 42 solid with an air pocket. Of the rest, which were infertile or dead, I am guilty of one count of eggslaughter. *which happened at the 7 day candling* Unfortunately, I am working nights the next 7 days so it will be touch and go as my wife is working every day also.

We will make it work

even if I lose a little sleep the little ones are worth it

 

[walkswithdog]

You know the old adage, don't sweat the small stuff, and it's ALL small stuff. Well, it just must be. Around the time I set the frozen eggs I found a few eggs, I found a few stuffed in a corner of the second pen, and figured what the heck, they were worse for wear - young pullets who hadn't learned to lay in the boxes yet. All three had slight cracks. Okay, waxed the worst of them and put them in with the others. Turned everything. The popsicles hatched out, and still two of the three found ones were rolling, at least I thought they were - dark shells. So I just kept rolling them whenever I thought of it. Two days ago I got to wondering when they were due to hatch. Probably soon, huh? Kept rolling them. No "lock down", no stopped rolling - I hand turn. No excess humidity. This morning I got up to a little black rock chick running around the incubator - OH HI BUDDY! LOL he's a loner though, the other quit a few days ago. So he'll also be a shirt chicken.

Sometimes we over think this thing. And in pursuit of the perfect conditions, really screw stuff up. I've had my best and simplest hatches since I did just set it up, and let it all "roll". Do what I's supposed to, let the bator work, and let nature do what it will do. There's a whole range of what will hatch eggs, perfection is in general, impossible, and you can go nuts trying to achieve it. This same chick was in the incubator when the temps dropped to 74 degrees when the power went out for several hours.

Yes, check your thermometer's accuracy and what the difference is between what your hygrometer reads and actual (though I dry hatch and don't bother). I didn't know when it would hatch or if it would, I just gave it the time and persisted. And voila, he hatched. Hang in there. Once you understand what you need to do with your equipment, it will work and it doesn't require perfection in either your equipment or what you do.

I'll snap pictures of the little self hatcher when he's dry. I like the baby black and blue rocks, they're cute things.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I put eggs in my new Brinsea Mini Advance on January 23rd! I've got three of my own Easter Egger eggs crossed with either my Blue Splash Silkie roo OR our Barred Rock roo. Should be interesting to see what hatches!!! This is my first incubation attempt and I'm Soooooooo excited!

 

[partimer]

Second set for 2010, 20% hatch on the Jan, hatch. 27 in the bator now due 21 st. Hard to tell fertility due to very very dark shells. The hens are Golden Comets, got them from Meyer hatchery last year. Good egg producers. Roos grew extremely fast. Lost 2 from ?????? on the Jan hatch, maybe a better one this time Gods will. Weather conditions don't help, fluctuating temps in and out. We'll do our best. What are ya'll feeding newbies????

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Medicated Starter Crumbles. Always. Good luck!

Unsolicited cute-kid shot of my daughter this Halloween in an un-prompted egg-laying simulation?

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

 

[walkswithdog]

I feed game bird starter here. Higher protein, faster feather and wt. gain, in winter I never feed anything else to chicks.

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

Well candled my 7 today to find 4 eggs that look good so I'm praying for atleast a 50% or I will have one poor lonely chickie... Then I'll have to drive to sonews and steal one of hers LOL.

 

[The Sheriff]

I finally have a pip in one of my BCM's.