first time incubating

[dl9976]

I use egg cartons as well and it works great..I cut the egg cartons down and leave the eggs upright, like they have been during incubation. Only thing is if you have a fan be sure to place the egg cartons well away from the fan or their little heads can get stuck in the fan.

hope this helps!

 

[dl9976]

By the way from my experience during incubation better temp be too low than to high...just be sure during hatching that it is warm enough and that your humidity is high enough..they get dried out and stuck easily...i usually keep mine at 70% anything less and I get fatalities.

 

[Niema17]

By the way from my experience during incubation better temp be too low than to high...just be sure during hatching that it is warm enough and that your humidity is high enough..they get dried out and stuck easily...i usually keep mine at 70% anything less and I get fatalities.

I think my hatching temp is too low as my chicks seem to be hatching on days 22-23

 

[ChickSter99]

Ok....Could hardly sleep last night for worrying. Bators are normal this morning

. Humidity is up in one & down in the other. I'm afraid to open them but the turners block access to the water troughs (wish they had one of these things scratching their head. lol).

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Ok....Could hardly sleep last night for worrying. Bators are normal this morning

. Humidity is up in one & down in the other. I'm afraid to open them but the turners block access to the water troughs (wish they had one of these things scratching their head. lol).

Sounds to me like you're doing fine. Remember chickens don't have a thermometer OR a hygrometer in their nest!

There is a fairly wide range of "normal" temps and humidity that will still hatch most of your chicks, you just want to avoid the massive swings! My bator had temp swings from 97 to 106 and I was scared I lost them all, but yesterday they started hatching and all but one are out today! Now granted I double check the temp ALL DAY LONG so I caught temp swings quickly. I'm just saying you are probably over thinking things, don't be so worried!

 

[ChickSter99]

Sounds to me like you're doing fine. Remember chickens don't have a thermometer OR a hygrometer in their nest!

There is a fairly wide range of "normal" temps and humidity that will still hatch most of your chicks, you just want to avoid the massive swings! My bator had temp swings from 97 to 106 and I was scared I lost them all, but yesterday they started hatching and all but one are out today! Now granted I double check the temp ALL DAY LONG so I caught temp swings quickly. I'm just saying you are probably over thinking things, don't be so worried!

Thank you. Can you tell this is the first time I've done this? This is more for my kids so, I'm taking it more seriously than I should. I've spent a lot of $ and time for them. I just don't want to fail them. The more involved I've become, the more excited I am about it. Wonderful about your hatchings.

What did you hatch?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Well I THOUGHT I had 3 wheaten marans eggs and 3 americauna eggs, but 1 americauna candled clear, and 2 wheaten eggs hatched black chicks- I am thinking I have 2 black copper marans, 1 wheaten marans, 1 americauna, and 1 americauna still in the egg (I hope!).

 

[dl9976]

If they are not hatching until the 22 or 23rd day then def the temp was a little low...they def should hatch on the 21st day, mother nature is very precise about this is the elements are right.

You are doing great for your first hatch...it is all a learning experience..Try not to fret too much

Congrats on the new babies!

 

[dl9976]

I put fish tubing inside my bator during lockdown so that I can refill the water without having to open...I use the end from those cheap summer picnic ketchup bottles and attach it to small fish tank tubing...works great!

 

[ChickSter99]

I put fish tubing inside my bator during lockdown so that I can refill the water without having to open...I use the end from those cheap summer picnic ketchup bottles and attach it to small fish tank tubing...works great!

Wonderful idea! I have the tubing. I have a 55 gallon aquarium so, that is on hand. I just have to round some thing to hold the water.