Giving incubating a shot

[luvmychicknkids]

Well, they lay down if you don't have a turner, but a auto turner holds them upright just like this. It is something a lot of people have been trying and having great results. I actually took mine out to hatch and laid them flat just because I wanted to be able to see the whole egg in case they pipped in the wrong place. A lot of people, however, leave them in for hatching, too. Yeah, you just tilt the carton from side to side, propping it up. The lids seemed like a perfect choice to me because they were the exact right length and the level of tilt I got was just as far as I could safely tilt them without dumping the eggs. I am sorry I am bad at explaining things.....reason #1 I did NOT becoem a teacher!!! LOL

I am just glad I have learned enough on here to be able to help someone else!!! I couldn't believe how nervous I was over hatching. And it gets worse and worse as day 21 gets closer!!!! LOL But, we are here to hold your hand!!!

 

[goatkeepers]

Ok! I think I got it now!!

So you're rocking them back and forth 3 times a day, from side to side, right? Big end (air bubble) always stays up.

It's not you that's bad at explaining, it's me being slow!

I want to make sure I got it 100%

Thank you so much, I will go cut the carton now.

I'll keep you updated in the next few weeks to see how it goes.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Yup, you got it!!! Yes, definitely keep us updated!!!

I have eggs that ship tomorrow so I will be putting some on SOON!!! Will be hatching pretty close to yours.

Enjoy.

 

[goatkeepers]

They are in!! It's a little cramped with the egg carton and the lid to prop it up but I got it all wedged in there. Let's hope the humidity and temp hold. What do you keep yours at?? Humidity is what I am most unsure of. I know temp around 100. But humidity I have read anywhere from 42-65% for the first 18 days, then higher. So what do you use?

What kind of eggs are you getting? That will be so exciting that ours are due around the same time!

(If my eggs are fertile and our home-bator works.

)

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Actually I didn't have a hydrometer for my last hatch...

and my babies dried out and had to be helped. It was an emergency hatch (my roo was killed and I wanted his babies) and I didn't have one, so I WILL have one this time.

I am gonna have to read over all the humidity posts again though.

I am getting Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (my DREAM chickies) and another box of assorted types. All pure but pretty much a surprise on what is there.

I am getting 6 of the BLRW and at least 18 (but probably more) of the assorted box. I am reallly excited. A littel nervous about shipped eggs but I am hoping for the best. What kind and how many are your babies?

 

[gumpsgirl]

This is exciting goatkeepers! Keep us posted as to how your bator does. I was chicken to make one, so I bought one instead. I envy all of you do-it-yourselfer's!

 

[goatkeepers]

I am just having a hard time keeping the temp stable right now.

Going to check on it again after this post...

Luv, I have no idea what they are!

Our neighbor collects all eggs from his 40-50 chickens (all different breeds) into one bucket so there's no telling what they could be. That's why I don't even know if they are fertile, since some of his chickens have roos with them but others dont. And like I said, all eggs get thrown together, fertile and not.

So.. we'll just see how things go.

I can't wait to see your chicks when they hatch! I'm sure htey will be beautiful.

Gumpsgirl, this was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and I don't really have the money for a fancy bator, that's why we were so "brave".

 

[luvmychicknkids]

That is really cool.....it will be kinda like opening presents...see all the surprise chickies.

Not sure what kind of temp issues you are having but I would just put it in the most temperature stable area of your house and where there are no drafts. Even with store bought bators the outside temperature seriously effects the inside temp. Since you just put them in it will take a bit for the temp to go up to where it needs to be and stay there, too.

Now is when a few deep breaths seem to help.

 

[goatkeepers]

I bought a dimmer for the lamp cause I read it's easier to adjust the heat that way, but it's either too hot or not hot enough. And when I get it just right, the hum. is too low.

I have a little table fan blowing from the outside onto my ventilation holes that I poked into the styrofoam bator, cause I figured that would help the circulation inside. I wonder if I should turn that off...

I'm going to the store for some chocolate ice cream to calm my nerves!

be back later.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I would turn the fan off...but that is me. It is going to be blowing cooler outside air in making it hard to control the temp. Enjoy that ice cream!!!! You deserve it.....starting a hatch is nerve wracking!!!!