First hatch from the new Dickey incubator!!!

[Titanpaul726]

Well I finally had my first hatch. I set 42 chicken eggs and hatched 30 chicks. I had 10 eggs that apparently weren't fertilized as there was no embryo development at all. I'm not sure about two of the eggs. I think I'm going to candle all 53 of the batch of eggs I put in yesterday, which brings up a question. Would keeping the eggs out of the incubator long enough to candle all 53 at once take too long? Or should I candle them in small batches, say 20 at a time?

You guys were right when you said this was addicting!

 

[keesmom]

You can do all of them at once. Broody hens take breaks, so a quick 5 minutes out of the incubator won't hurt things.

 

[Titanpaul726]

Thanks Keesmom. I thought it would be OK but wanted to check with you guys.

 

[Titanpaul726]

Got another 23 going into lock down tonight. I candled them all two days ago and they all appear to be viable.

 

[Titanpaul726]

Day 21 has arrived. Woke up at 6 this morning and what do I find? 1 little chick has hatched and 4 more are starting to break through. Had to go to work so I don't know what's happening now. I need to retire!

 

[AClassicalLife]

Very exciting!! I am thinking about getting a Dickeys. It would be my first incubator, though... Nervous.

 

[Titanpaul726]

Very exciting!! I am thinking about getting a Dickeys. It would be my first incubator, though... Nervous.

I think you will love it. It takes a little time for the initial set up, but once that is done, it's easy going.