First time incubator questions.

[sassycassy427]

Hello E1, I have another ? about my hens missing feathers..I read somewhere that the hen will peck their feathers out to set on her eggs, is that true??.. My 2 hens that have no feathere under their tale, they have none underneath either, is that a sign they getting ready to set??..Ty all u have been so helpful for Dummies Old me..Tks

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hello E1, I have another ? about my hens missing feathers..I read somewhere that the hen will peck their feathers out to set on her eggs, is that true??.. My 2 hens that have no feathere under their tale, they have none underneath either, is that a sign they getting ready to set??..Ty all u have been so helpful for Dummies Old me..Tks

They pluck their breast feathers when they are going broody.

 

[sassycassy427]

Ok ty so much..

 

[DesertBrahma]

I have 5 out of 12 that are live. 4 of the duds were completely clear, and the other 3 didn't make an air cell. I've pulled them, and moved the 5 live eggs around a little. I still have my humidity between 30 and 40 %. Usually it's sitting at 34 to 36%. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If all 5 of these live I'm thinking of trading them for some Turken chicks. I don't know why but the Turkens fascinate me. I think i wasn't turning them right, and having too much humidity, and bumps in their temps. I didn't open the incubator until today. Except when my 2 yr old opened it a few times it's stayed shut. He can't get to it now. Also I'm discovering the bathroom it's in has more stable temps than i thought. You live and learn right. If everything goes right i will hopefully have 5 chicks to brood.

 

[FridayYet]

I have 5 out of 12 that are live. 4 of the duds were completely clear, and the other 3 didn't make an air cell. I've pulled them, and moved the 5 live eggs around a little. I still have my humidity between 30 and 40 %. Usually it's sitting at 34 to 36%. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If all 5 of these live I'm thinking of trading them for some Turken chicks. I don't know why but the Turkens fascinate me. I think i wasn't turning them right, and having too much humidity, and bumps in their temps. I didn't open the incubator until today. Except when my 2 yr old opened it a few times it's stayed shut. He can't get to it now. Also I'm discovering the bathroom it's in has more stable temps than i thought. You live and learn right. If everything goes right i will hopefully have 5 chicks to brood.

Awesome news. Glad you have 5 good ones so far! Fingers crossed for a great hatch.

I've always heard to turn an odd number of times a day so that the "down side" alternates every night. Minimum of three times, five is better.

Live and learn is the name of the game. Maybe if you trade these for Turken chicks, you could get some hatching eggs as well and try again with different eggs? Might be fun.

 

[DesertBrahma]

I have an egg turner in there now so i don't have to remember to turn them. I'm thinking of adding a fan to it now. Depends if I actually get anything to hatch this time. I'm not as sure of myself hatching anything. If i don't this time I'm going to let Big Mama, or Madea do the job. They'll get something to hatch. Then I can get the chicks to trade, or sub in some Turken eggs. Hmm there's a thought. Let them brood some Turken eggs for me.

 

[DesertBrahma]

Ok I'm on day 10. Again. I did my second candle this morning, and marked the air cell on each. I saw movement on all 5 eggs. Now if I can keep from messing up and loosing this batch I'll be feeling ecstatic. I did have a medical emergency and the eggs took a big time back seat to taking care of my son the humidity went down to 16%. When I went to check them this morning I saw that and immediately started getting the hot water going to rewet the sponges and bring it back up to the 35% I have been keeping it at. The temps staid right on target at 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit so that was a blessing. I'm actually seeing better movement this time around than I did the last batch. I hadn't opened the incubator since day 7 when I candled and only saw growth in 5 eggs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this works.

 

[FridayYet]

Great news! Got my fingers crossed for you and hope your son is OK!

 

[duluthralphie]

I wish I could help you, I do not use still air incubators so it is different for me. I have done lots of dry hatches at 15% humidity that work well. 35% to me never works too high in my experience. In my large incubator I run 25%.

I also only candle once. I do not like touching the eggs I feel it is just one more chance for something to get into or on the egg. I candle on day 18 when I move the good eggs to the hatcher.

 

[DesertBrahma]

I'm only going to candle once more before I take them out of the egg turner. He's doing great now. Scared to crud out of me i can tell you. He's excited because he'll finally have his chick. If this works I'm going to get a couple dozen eggs from the lady in town that has the Turkens and incubate them. She said if i hatch anything i don't want to keep she'll take the chicks back. Then i can trade her the ones i want for the ones i don't. Plus I can always raise them for meat depending on breed. My 4 yr old can't decide if he wants a Turken, or a Brahma chick right now lol.