Gloom, Despair, and Agony On Me!

[Minniechickmama]

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I think we all have been there before. Doing this thing we are doing is not always easy and isn't always a great success, but you will get there. And if you have that hard of a time in getting them hatched, order chicks. It is terribly frustrating to do this hatching stuff. You wait for eggs, then you wait for them to develop just to candle at 10 days to find out half of them were clear or quit, then you have to sit on your hands for 2 more weeks waiting and wondering and hoping this one will actually give you something close to the number you were wanting. Then you get to the end and find out, half were too dry and half were too wet and you only get a 10% hatch rate. You want to scream. It happens to all of us at one point or another. I have been there at too many points and finally justified getting a big cabinet incubator. I will get my use out of it, and hopefully will recoup all the money I have lost due to crappy incubators. A lot of this, even with all the information, all the advice is still a trial and error and finding what works for you and where you live and how your set up is.

You will get there. Patience young grasshopper.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

I know nobody gives a hoot, or tired of my posts probably, but anyway, I called back Incbators.org and cancelled my order for the Reptipro 5000. No use in waiting on it to get here the end of next week.

I called my local post office and there all they can confirm is there was postage bought and paid for, and that is it. I wonder if the company forgot to mail it out or something and is making excuses. Beats me.

I have to re-evaluate whether I want to get another incubator or not now. Might just take my LG back and forget hatching eggs altogether. I've never seen such a mess of negative stuff happen all at one time over a little thing like this. It is bad enough that I do not know what I'm doing, but when you can't depend on others to fulfill their part when you are paying them for it, you're screwed for sure.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

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Hey Minniechicmama,

I guess you posted about the same time as I did, so I didn't see your post until I'd made mine. Just wanted to thank you for your kind words of wisdom.

 

[LuvMyBLR]

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Don't give up! I have a Hova-bator 1602N and the whole kit including hygro/thermo, turner, fan, and the incubator of course, only cost me $109 + shipping and it's doing awesome! everything that should be developing is. I only lost one baby so far and it was a blood ring. I know you've had a super hard time and I'm sorry. But maybe you should give it one more try? I even have one I'm borrowing that's for sale for $15. Where do you live? A little bit of chewed up sides, but doesn't affect the internal. Purely cosmetic. It has a fan too and is already turned to the correct temp. I'm using it for hatching is all. And my hatching should be over by July 6th at the latest. Actually I can use the other bator for the others so it should be fine by the 4th. If you want one new with all that I am using I can give you the link for where to find the whole package again... Just choose a different mailing service, even if you have to pay more if you want it sooner

Mine took forever.


Oh and nobody is tired of you. Everyone totally sympathizes and is hoping the best for you!

 

[blkwdw]

I hear your frustration and sympathize w/ you. I would, however, encourage you to not give up. I hope you are not doing this to make a fortune, because you wont, I assume you are not just doing it to just have laying chickens, otherwise I would suggest buying some day old chicks. Therefore I presume you are doing for the enjoyment of seeing whats going to hatch at the end of 21 days? So, I say, try it again. we all have misfortune and bad experiences, (hindsight is 20/20) and it is in these experiences that we grow and learn from our (and others) mistakes. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ok, so now I come down off my platform and say, sincerely, don't give up. try it again, after all, what else are you going today? My favorite motto is Endeavour to Persevere. Good Luck and Happy Hatching

 

[Memphisjourney2seramas]

I really know how you feel. I order a ton of serama eggs of ebay before I found this place. I was so excited that I had dreams about seramas all night long. The eggs got her and the box definately had a smell. I opened them and quite a few had broken, scrambled and ran down to the other eggs. I took the good ones and put them in a carton on the counter, drop some trash, went down to pick it up and grazed the carton. The carton then slingshoted across the room and broke a whole serama eggs dozen eggs. Then my hygrometer was off my 30 degrees, so I there was any hope I drowned most of them. then the power went out. When I finally remembered I had a plug that goes into a cigerette lighter I could plug the incubator into the power came on. I had one baby hatch out of eggs. I was so discouraged, but then I saw how cute my little miracle chick was and it all went away. I guess there is just a huge learning curve...so dont give up, you just learn from your mistakes and learn who to buy from and not to use. Needless to say I am getting more eggs and cant wait. So hang in there little buddy. It will be worth it. before you know it you will be a hatching expert and will have more chicks than you know what to do with!

 

[scatteredeggs]

I agree with LuvMyBLR - don't give up and keep it up. I have seen posts where LG bators hatching rates are good. And kudos to LuvMyBLR for offering information and a used incubator.
I am in the lockdown phase of my first hatching attempt using a DIY styrofoam incubator of 59 quail eggs. No rocking, no pipping, 15th day today. I think i had a low temperature, despite using 3 thermometers that had all been calibrated. i know i started with 99+ but somehow during the second week, it seemed to have dropped to 97-98. It would have been OK, (some say that lower temp may cause slower hatching). Hours before the 14th day, i did a lock down, upped humidity to 70% and did several temp adjustments. I think i just drowned my eggs with the high humidity. i'll see what happens and re think my hatching plans. i'm wanting to do guineas.

on the other hand, i have 24 leghorn chicks in the brooder, ordered from the hatchery by mail, i have 6 runner ducklings and 4 keets all purchased locally thru Craigslist.

i know hatching is awesome - seeing the miracle of creation right before our eyes.

we'll get there.

 

[bandbaustin]

Wow what a story, dont give up. I have good luck with my LG still air in the past. I can usually get about 90% hatch on my pheasant eggs from it. I used it exclusively for 3 years. It did take me a little while to get the temp set. I also hand turned. Now i have upgraded to a nice Sears redwood incubator. That thing is the best thing since sliced bread. Holds temp and humidity perfect!!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Orange - if you are going to order a different bator, go with a hatchery to get it. I have gotten supplies and chicks from Stromberg's and McMurray and they are both super to deal with. My stuff was shipped right away (supplies) and here in no time.
The other thing you can try if one is close enough, try a farm and fleet store that is within reasonable distance. Sometimes even grain elevators carry them.

But I do suggest following Chookschick's advice on things and try working out the kinks with your LG. You may be surprised when you get it set right. Also, use more than one thermometer. Some of the ones they send with the bators are so off it isn't funny. I went ahead and ordered a few extras for my small bators and then used a separate hygrometer for each. It did give me better results, even if they weren't great results.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

This is a pleasant surprise to hear from all of you. I appreciate each one of you, too. Whew, some of you had some pretty bad luck yourselves.

Well, I am going to keep at it. I just like to say stuff when I get mad. It's better than driving to the incubator place and running my car through the store.

Of course, I am going to keep working with the eggs i have in the LG. I have actually gotten it to not be so variable in temp. Still not real good, but better. Maybe something will come of it.

But I do need to find another incubator for the future. I know I'll enjoy it, and it can be handy to have besides just for hobby. The reason I got mine was because I couldn't find any chicks of this breed that I wanted, but could get eggs.

The Reptipro 5000 seems to be perfect for what I want, and maybe I'll order one sometime in the future at a time I don't need it NOW, but it sure did aggravate me that I couldn't count on them to get it to me. It wasn't a bad price either, at least I didn't think it was. I'll be studying on the various brands again to see what I come up with. I wouldn't mind hearing from everyone what type of incubator you use. It doesn't matter what kind, I'd just like to know how it does for you.

Well, I'm cutting out for a little bit. Thanks everybody. You all are very nice people.