first time incubating day 20

[crazy chkn lady]

I had no idea you could make a home made incubator.  Do you use a brooder lamp to heat it?  I can't wait to see those babies!!

 

I use a regular light bulb, just had to try a few until I found one that would produce the right temp.

 

[crazy chkn lady]

2nd chick hatched early this morning!! One more to go and I'm at work today, its killing me.!!

 

[FLMomRN]

Congrats! How exciting!! I'm glad to hear your incubator worked. I came really close to making one but I chickened out. Now I kinda wish I had tried it.

 

[jphendrix]

2nd chick hatched early this morning!! One more to go and I'm at work today, its killing me.!!

Congrats!!!!!!! I cant wait for mine to start hatching!!!!! Its all so exciting!!!!

 

[crazy chkn lady]

Got home from work today just in time to see my last baby hatch

Here's the other 2 all dry and fluffy

 

[NJNick]

Did all of them hatch on the 21st day. Or did some go into 22nd or 23rd. And what is your temp and humidity. And how many times should eggs be turned per day. Also do you think if they are not turned enough. Can they take longer to peep out.

 

[crazy chkn lady]

Did all of them hatch on the 21st day. Or did some go into 22nd or 23rd. And what is your temp and humidity. And how many times should eggs be turned per day. Also do you think if they are not turned enough. Can they take longer to peep out.

I set the eggs on 1-21 at 3:45 pm. The first chick hatched on day 20 at 3:15pm second one around 3:00 am on day 21 and third at 5:30 pm day 21. I tried to keep my temp at 99 degrees though I did have a few spikes in the temp. I didnt have trouble with the humidity it stayed between 50 and 60 and I brought it up to between 70 and 80 at lock down.. I turned my eggs 3 times a day, from what I've read if you don't turn them enough the chick could get stuck to one side of the shell and could be deformed or have trouble hatching.

 

[NJNick]

So you are saying. That if I turn 3 times a day. And temp is about 100. And with my incubator I use a GQF hydrometer with wet bulb reading of about 84the for first 18 days. And bump it up to about 90. For last 3a days.
It seems that I only get about 50% of my good candled eggs to come out. I need to figure what is wrong. Could it be too much humidity or incorrect temp.
Today at 5 pm will be the end of 23 full days.
I will take out the Black Javas. The Buckeyes some Delawares and Light Brahmas from a friend. And my Black Sex links R I Reds and some Auracanas.

 

[crazy chkn lady]

So you are saying. That if I turn 3 times a day. And temp is about 100. And with my incubator I use a GQF hydrometer with wet bulb reading of about 84the for first 18 days. And bump it up to about 90. For last 3a days.
It seems that I only get about 50% of my good candled eggs to come out. I need to figure what is wrong. Could it be too much humidity or incorrect temp.
Today at 5 pm will be the end of 23 full days.
I will take out the Black Javas. The Buckeyes some Delawares and Light Brahmas from a friend. And my Black Sex links R I Reds and some Auracanas.

sounds like you are doing every thing right, i would probably lower the humidiy a bit though. Too much humidity can cause moisture to build up in the air space of the egg and when the chick breaks thru it can drown.

 

[noahsmom]

I believe it is around 30% - 40% humidity for first 18days.

Congrats on your babies!! That picture with them all fluffed out is ADORABLE! What kind did you say they were?