Forgive me, BYCers, for I have sinned......

[mothersin2ition]

I feel the need to confess!!

I always put my eggs on lockdown early- the night of day 17.
I always open the bator, mess with the eggs, candle the eggs, etc WAY too much.
I don't *do* lockdown very well. I am always messing with the eggs.
I am quick to intervene.
My temps and humidity are always swinging up and down.

Augh!!!! There, I feel better now that that's off my chest. I also realize I am super lucky in that Ive had everything that's made it to lockdown has hatched so far. Of course, I've only incubated once before my current batch that's on lockdown. I'm really trying to take a more hands-off approach. I am the kind of person that just has to mess with everything. When Im pregnant, I always try every trick in the book those last couple of weeks before my due date, to try and jump-start labor..... of course it never works

PS Im really not looking to be lectured, I meant this post as a kind of funny, I need to get a grip sort of way.

 

[Kyhen]

 

[Turner]

That is a great post! I have hatched a few but being a vet tech etc and breeding and showing horses, dogs and cats....I know if a chick is in trouble and needs help. You have to give them time but if it is not working out I will intervene - have been successful so far and when you are paying for shipped eggs it is worth it not to loose any!

 

[Mahonri]

Can't believe no one has come on and told you how many Hail Mary's you need to say.

God loves you.

We love you.

...and if they all hatched... why worry?

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I'm not as bad as you, but I'm no angel when it comes to hatching either! I candle all the time, I have trouble sitting on my hands when a chick needs help... During my hatch in April a few of my babies got shrink-wrapped because I opened the incubator (there were twenty-some chicks running around and I couldn't stand leaving them in there any longer!) and I had to pull everything off of them. They looked funny for a while but did pull through! I'll try not to open the incubator this hatch, but it sure is hard sometimes!

We all have our flaws. Just do the best you can and TRY to follow the right protocol...to the best of your ability.

 

[gryeyes]

One of the reason I bought the Brinsea Mini Advance incubator(s) is the fool-proof, "plug and play" nature of the digital controls. And I set everything up in the guest room, out of sight and where I seldom travel in the normal course of my time at home.

I did this because I know how easily I obsess about things, and I bet I wouldn't be able to KEEP from messing with them. Lockdown seemed to be - for this newbie to incubation - a sacrosanct period of time. But ohhhh, that second day! I spend so much time sitting on an ottoman, quietly listening for peeping eggs. And after a pip, I start wondering if I could get away with calling in sick so I can stay home and watch very closely for the rest of the process... yah... two days....

On the other hand, it IS a rush to come home and find chicks have hatched!

I was even afraid to candle eggs, because - first: what was I looking for? Second: if an egg didn't develop, I'd be crushed "early" in the process. A little sadness for each one... so I didn't candle the first set of 7 eggs I incubated.

Second set, I got up enough courage to candle an egg - and then I saw the first veins and a beating heart! OMG. OMG.

Now it's a fight NOT to candle eggs whenever I think of it.

Totally understand you. You betcha!

 

[drumstick diva]

As a former teen who never met a pimple she didn't poke, I totally understand. My hands have a life of their own. I can say I am NOT doing something but, oh yes the hands are. I suppose we could consider hand cuffs or straitjacket but, then could probably mess with the brooder, eggs. using our toes.

 

[drumstick diva]

Is the Brinsea mini advance really that foolproof? This fool would love to know.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
It's good. But not as good as the Ova Easy.

 

[geebs]

I too must confess... I am not always on task with my bator.... I have tried several things that I found out don't work... sniff sniff... Thanks for giving us this place to post OP.