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I posted at 5:11PM my time (central) (about 2 1/2 hours ago). They PMs came in quickly after that. Actually, the first 2 came at the same minute I posted 5:11PM, then 5:12, and so on. MANY even PMd me more than once.
About the incubators .... Do you all like the still air to hatch with, or do you prefer the fan? I see forced air to incubate, and still air to hatch?
well im poor so i only have one bator to incubate and hatch in. Do alot of people here use dual LG's to incubate then hatch in?? Kinda makes me feel inadequate lol!
I started that way and when my hens started laying..I needed a second bator.. I ordered silkies to hatch and was on a waiting list from 2 different breeders..After waiting weeks they both showed up about 2 days apart so I needed a 3rd..My hubby walked in with a big box and said quess what came
lol... i'm hoping to only need 1 incubator... might need another for the peacock eggs come spring... *crosses fingers for that*
unless i happen to trip over some MFCochin eggs i really don't want to hatch anything else until spring and i have time to build my chicken condos the way i want.. lol..
To answer the 'bator question, I'm using a Hovabator forced air, hand turning, purchased used. So far I like it, but this is only my second ever hatch.
Anyway, today was super-anxious. Late last night I couldn't stand it anymore and candled - 13 of 19 Serama eggs showed definite little spiders!
A couple even have what look like tiny eyes beginning - so cool.
Then, UGH - I wake up to the first rain we've had in about nine months, and no less than THREE power outages. I don't know how long the first one was (came and went before I woke up), but the second two were thankfully short. However, I was on pins and needles all day, running around to either throw blankies on the incubator, rip blankets off the incubator, or hover over the incubator, watching the temps. And I about had a heart attack this afternoon when I checked the min/max temp on my Fluker's thermometer - max temp recorded since I'd cleared it at noon was 118!!!
I am praying it was a mistake - I had been checking temps every half hour or so all afternoon, and it was always a bit under 100. So, yeah, I have a few new grey hairs now... pray for my wee babies.
hope everything is okay...
you will have to post pics of those when they hatch.. i just learned about them, and i'm thinking i'm gonna need a few of those added to my wish list.. lol..
So how is everything goin guy's?? I've had no power outages and no temp changes what so ever. Humidity at 50 to 51 temp staying firm at 99 to 100.
I had a question for everyone here. When you add water in your bator for when the humid starts dropping "especially near or on lock down" you all take your tops off and add water correct? Well i have made a little invention that has enabled me to add water to the inside of my bator WITHOUT EVER having to open my bator once during the entire incubation...(except for when i need to take out a baby chick of corse
)
Everyone knows that opening the incubator at any time during the incubation drastically changes the conditions on the inside after you shut it again. Especially when it's lockdown and you have babies pipping but your humidity is too low, and you know if you don't get it up, you will lose your chicks.
Just wanted to ask if anyone here has their own little method to adding water without having to open their incubators. I Thought about making a few set's of my invention to sell here on BYC, but i wouldn't go through with it unless everyone here in the Halloween hatch thought i was onto something. I can take pic's to show everyone my idea as well if i have poked your curiosity button enough lulz!!
i'm down to 6 out of the original 14 that are good.. one slipped out of my hand the other night after i candled it.. and darn murphy and his laws.. of course i had a good one not a blank one.... but still, 6 doing well is more than i need.. lol...
we're on O for halloween names....
OogeyBoogey
OOhm
that brings us to P.. easy one.. i'll let you guys have at it.. lol..
Well my turner has issues now! It was bowing up and only turning one way and sticking! Then it bowed out and only turned one in the middle. So I took the 50 something eggs out of the turner and laid them flat on the screen.
It has hatched a LOT of eggs in its life. I am going to go take it apart and see if I put it together wrong but I doubt I will put it back in this time.
I may swap them into egg cartons so I can just turn them quickly in batches.
Edited to say that we candled as we swapped them and only two were duds.