FEBRUARY Hatch-A-Long, come join in!!

[Illia]

No veins and no large dark mass - No fertility. If it keeps up like that to day 10, go ahead and chuck it. The movement is often from the little chick itself, but if it is only a part of the chick you see moving, it is likely the heart.



Well, my hatch is done. . .

Shamos - 5/10 - Some looked to have died long ago, some died right when they tried internally pipping. One in particular had blood around the mouth.

Marans mutts - 4/7 - Some were duds, died a long time ago, some died right before hatching time.


But, I've got 4 little fluffy-butts with beard/muffs, feathered legs, and tiny little crests, and I've got 5 very leggy, skinny looking blonde Shamo chicks.

I'll post photos later on. . . I must say, yes, Shamos are very leggy even at 1 day old.


I'll be setting ANOTHER batch of eggs pretty soon!!

 

[Pavla]

I am setting 9 Mille Fleur D' Uccle Bantams tomorrow morning. My first hatch, in a homemade incubator. Fingers crossed!

 

[NicoleRM]

It's hard to see in my bator, but I think I saw signs of pipping on a few eggs this morning before leaving for work! I'm so glad I'm not at home - I'd be agonizing over what's going on in there.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Illia - looks like you did pretty good on your hatch rate. Being 'new' it seems like it would be hard to see them not make it through the actual hatching process. Mine our due to hatch Saturday and I know I'm going to be freaked out. The long legs/shamo sound wonderful and fun.

NicoleRM - what day are you on?


sandracollins - having the hen do the work would be nerve wreaking to me too, at least the first time. I am loving being about to look at the eggs in the bator and easily candle. But your are doing it the natural way and that's an awesome experience too.

I did my last candleing last night day #17 and remove the one 'clear' / slight mass egg that I suspected wasn't any good. So eight heavy mass with viening close to the air sac eggs. I put them in lock down this morning before work .... all the water channels were already filled (and I was only showing 55% humidity) so I soaked in warm water two wash rags and put them on the bottom of the bator. I folded paper towel and put the 8 eggs on the them is various places on the wire mess to give them each some 'space'.

My only concern was my temp (based on the digital GQF hygrometer) had been only showing 97F for an hour after lock down (humidy showed 75%), even after turning the heat knob some more. I opened both of the red plugs on top of my Little Giant for air flow (though I do have the fan in the bator) to lower the humidity a bit. I had to leave for work so now I'll have to talk my boyfriend through increasing the temp if it isn't at 99-100. Guess those added wash clothes worked but are playing havoc on my temp. I'm also confused before I have a mercury thermometer in there too and it shows 100.

 

[NicoleRM]

Quote:
22! I had some low temps though due to my inability to do simple math (lol) so I suspected they'd be a bit late.

 

[bunnibird55]

My 28 NH eggs are now in lock-down! This is my first time incubator hatch and I am a nervous wreck. We did NOT lose power thank goodness and I am off work today because of the weather - I think I am going to stare through the bator windows all day.........The next few days are going to be torture!!!! I at least have a real good digital reptile hygrometer and thermometer in there - humidity is back up to 70% but I too am having trouble getting the temp back up to 99.5....I know....patience and keep my hands out!That is HARD!!!!!!

 

[IroquoisEgg]

hey hatchers!!
what's the humidity supposed to be at while they're turning? Silly question but so far I have no idea what it is just keeping the center trough filled...only they're 3 rd day. When is my hygrometer going to get here?? I ordered through GQF website and have heard nothing. Also ordered fan kit...but have conflicting views about the safety of taking the eggs out for installing it. What if I put them in the brooder under the heat lamp for warmth?

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
Great idea.

 

[funnybirds]

Quote:
Is there anyway to test the temp under the brooder lamp before you do this? And how long do you think it will take to install the fan kit? What day are you on?
Just curious. Best of luck!

 

[funnybirds]

I'm a DORK.
I managed to drop an egg and break it while rearranging eggs for turning (it's crowded in there). It bled , so it was viable.
Now there are 13 and an unbelievable amount of guilt on my part.
UGH!!!