Hands on hatching and help

[Blooie]

Tails. I'm moving them. <gulp>

 

[BigWeenMachine]

I'm so torn on what to do with my staggered hatch! I went looking for another bator to use as a hatcher (after testing the new FI still-air styro and not liking the results!), but couldn't find one locally, and I'm almost out of time. So I kept the FI and I'm going to try to get it stabilized with water this evening, to try to use as a hatcher. But it scares the crap outta me.

I have 2 good lav orp eggs and 7 tiny golden sebright eggs, and 4 old English game bantam eggs on day 17 today. Then last Monday, I added 6 more lav orps, and 4 mutts (light brahma over golden comet). Looks like all 4 of the mutts are developing, and at least 4 of the LO's, so I don't want to lose them. I could put them in the styro, just until the others hatch in the Brinsea, then move them back, but I think I'd rather hatch in the styro.

So with that few eggs, if I decide to hatch in the styro, should I concentrate them in the center square, or scatter them out?

Suggestions... anyone?

Ugh, I am feeling your pain with the FI incubator. Mine is even a circulated air unit and it still has ridiculous temp differences all over the place. I'm reading anywhere from 101 to 96.1 in it and I'm using it for a hatcher too right now..... I've got the eggs between the high and low readings right in the center with the pip facing towards the cooler side and away from the heating unit. My guess is to avoid blasting them with hot air or drying out the membranes when they fully pip.

 

[Blooie]

Ruby, I'm sorry, I didn't see your question. The ones that are in the FI are in the auto turner, which I liked a lot because with the horrible air cells they were moved slowly and regularly - I'm doing the ones in the Brinsea by going from one flat side to upright to the other flat side. I feel more comfortable doing the turning as each incubator was designed to do because I still have wobbly air cells, even though the chicks are obviously active in the eggs.....I'd hate to keep jostling the air cells if I can turn the eggs without doing that.

 

[pipAchick]

Tails. I'm moving them.

Lol...steady hands girlfriend-steady hands

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Thanks for that video on calibrating thermometers Ruby. Will a regular old meat thermometer that is properly calibrated give an accurate reading in the incubator??? I don't know if it has to have contact with a liquid or solid to read correctly. All my thermometers that I've used are incubator thermometers that don't go below 90 degrees so I can't even calibrate them to know how accurate they are. I've bought about a dozen thermometers so far and am just going off the ones that have remained most consistent and read the same as other ones I believe are accurate. I havn't actually calibrated any of them because none of them are calibrateable.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Wow. I really hate my FI incubator. I just found a spot that was 94.5 right next to one of my eggs. Stuck a clothes hanger in there and moved the incubator thermometer closer to that egg to get the temp to come. This incubator is getting the axe as soon as these 6 eggs get hatched, or killed by it......

 

[WVduckchick]

Just remember, that some fluctuations will happen when the heater kicks on and off. Average temp is the key! (Of course, you don't want tooo hot or cool for tooo long)

Also, I realized as I was checking several of my thermometers, at room temp they were all reading the same. Inside the incubator, they read different, but they are also different heights! (different sizes, some stand up, some lay down) So top-o-the-egg-height, is where they need to be checked. Gotta figure out where the sensor is on some of them.

 

[BigWeenMachine]

Just remember, that some fluctuations will happen when the heater kicks on and off. Average temp is the key! (Of course, you don't want tooo hot or cool for tooo long)

Also, I realized as I was checking several of my thermometers, at room temp they were all reading the same. Inside the incubator, they read different, but they are also different heights! (different sizes, some stand up, some lay down) So top-o-the-egg-height, is where they need to be checked. Gotta figure out where the sensor is on some of them.

Okay, I think I have it adjusted now. It's is reading about 97.5 to 98 on the bottom and then 99.5 to 100 on the top and it is within a half degree difference all the say around the eggs now. I heard a couple peeps while I was checking temps so there is definitely something going on in there. First pip still hasn't made it through but the bump he made is getting bigger so he's trying!

I think I put my screen that the eggs are lying on in upside down cos the water from my reservoir is actually touching the screen. I think it may be getting the bottom of the eggs wet where they lay on the screen, is that a problem at this stage in the game???

 

[WVduckchick]

Okay, I think I have it adjusted now. It's is reading about 97.5 to 98 on the bottom and then 99.5 to 100 on the top and it is within a half degree difference all the say around the eggs now. I heard a couple peeps while I was checking temps so there is definitely something going on in there. First pip still hasn't made it through but the bump he made is getting bigger so he's trying!

I think I put my screen that the eggs are lying on in upside down cos the water from my reservoir is actually touching the screen. I think it may be getting the bottom of the eggs wet where they lay on the screen, is that a problem at this stage in the game???

I can't say what kind of problem it would be, but I wouldn't want my eggs touching the water. Hopefully someone else has some thoughts.

I'm planning to put some rubber shelf liner down on my screen to hatch on. Too many horror stories about feet getting caught in those screens.

 

[Blooie]

<<<<smacking head hard>>> Duh, Diane, DUH DUH DUH!!! The stoopid thermometers are in the incubator. The incubator has a stoopid auto turn cradle. You poked the probe of the digital up through an empty egg holder space and very cleverly taped it in place so the tip always stayed at the top level of the eggs. The probe is going with the cradle - toward the center, away from the center, rinse, repeat!! Aurghhhh!!

Oh my word!! I need a margarita and about an hour in the corner!