Hands on hatching and help

[pipAchick]

Morning to all! Snow flurries here in Va this morning sorry to all the folks up north dealing with April

 

[WVduckchick]

We are frozen too!!!

I try to keep mine under the deating elements too, but my center is just the opposite. The perimeter-outer corners and the center run cooler. I have the heating element that runs around the top in a circular square. I try to balance my eggs between the two sides, under the element leaving the center bare.

I'm just the opposite. As long as it doesn't push above 101, I'd rather have it a tad high. right now I have one side showing 100 and the other hitting 101. I tried to rebalance and rotate during turning this morning, but I still have that difference. I am keeping a close eye on it though. I want the 100, but not the 101.

This is the first hatch I have been playing the humidity game too- and I don't like it...lol I actually added water along with my sponges yesterday trying to hold humidity up above 40. At this point it could run 50% and I wouldn't be worried and ya'll know how I feel about humidity above 40 the first 17 days....lol I'd better get some cute little silkie chicks after all this....lol Yesterday morning showed 14/18 developing. I hope they are all still developing. We hit day 6 tonight so either tomorrow night or Thursday morning I'll be doing a complete candle and marking air cells so I will know if they are all still developing. I want to get better batteries for the flashlight too and see if I can at least see the air cells in the greens. I put new batteries in it, but they are the cheapos and I think that is my problem, so I need some duracells!! I can usually at least see the air cells, but not this time.

Actually, I'll be happy if it just stays between 99-102!

Amy? Running 40-50% humidity???!?!?

But seriously, that's adapting to your eggs, breeds, and conditions, and knowing your own incubator. All eggs are not created equal!

I filled the 2 small side wells and was only showing about 30-35%, then filled the inner square well, so we'll see what it shows when I get home. I do like that I can use my straws again to add water. I'll throw in a couple dry sponges when I put the eggs in, but didn't want to open it while I was testing.

Good luck with candling tonight. Hope you get some good pics too.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Actually, I'll be happy if it just stays between 99-102!

Amy? Running 40-50% humidity???!?!?

But seriously, that's adapting to your eggs, breeds, and conditions, and knowing your own incubator. All eggs are not created equal!

I filled the 2 small side wells and was only showing about 30-35%, then filled the inner square well, so we'll see what it shows when I get home. I do like that I can use my straws again to add water. I'll throw in a couple dry sponges when I put the eggs in, but didn't want to open it while I was testing.

Good luck with candling tonight. Hope you get some good pics too.

IKR?? But these darn little silkie eggs need higher humidity. The air cells are already good for day 7...lol They are so small it doesn't take much for moisture loss apparently.

I candled a couple of the Spitz last night to get pics and could not get a decent pic. Going to try in a bit since we are still on day 5 and see if I have better luck. The day 4 pics were awesome. One day I will invest in a professional camera-and learn how to use it...lol

 

[Laurel Meadows]

I was really surprised. The styrobator held heat for quite some time though and super thankful we have a wood stove. We're having a house generator installed in July thank goodness! I'm more worried at this point about the pigeons contaminating the eggs. They're getting their own brooder today and then I'll pull the eggs, quick clean the bottom of the bator. I'm not sure if I'll have to clean the eggs. Hopefully it's just going to be a little wipe off here and there.
How well did the Brinsea hold heat? Did you do anything extra to try to maintain heat?

The Brinsea held heat much better than the styro, but I think the fact that there was only one egg left in the Hova had a lot to do with that. I had that malpositioned stuck zipper in the Hova and I had just topped off water to keep the humidity up before we lost power. So I decided to try the heated rice in baggies for warmth in there rather than transfer it to the Brinsea although it was a tough call. My Hova temp dropped really fast. The Brinsea drop was much more gradual.
What I did- I just unplugged the Brinsea and set it up on a bucket about a foot away from the stove. Wrapped it in a fleece blanket with an open side to the stove and rotated it around every so often. I had the chicks in front of the stove in the laundry basket and left the Hova where it was- just added rice and covered with a fleece blanket. I left a peak above the vent hole to allow the zipping chick to get fresh air.

That's great news that you're getting a generator!! We don't lose power very often here so it's hard to justify the cost for us.

 

[caesargirl]

We lose power constantly

 

[WVduckchick]

The Brinsea held heat much better than the styro, but I think the fact that there was only one egg left in the Hova had a lot to do with that. I had that malpositioned stuck zipper in the Hova and I had just topped off water to keep the humidity up before we lost power. So I decided to try the heated rice in baggies for warmth in there rather than transfer it to the Brinsea although it was a tough call. My Hova temp dropped really fast. The Brinsea drop was much more gradual.
What I did- I just unplugged the Brinsea and set it up on a bucket about a foot away from the stove. Wrapped it in a fleece blanket with an open side to the stove and rotated it around every so often. I had the chicks in front of the stove in the laundry basket and left the Hova where it was- just added rice and covered with a fleece blanket. I left a peak above the vent hole to allow the zipping chick to get fresh air.

That's great news that you're getting a generator!! We don't lose power very often here so it's hard to justify the cost for us.

Just looked at your FB page. What area of Ohio are you in?

 

[BigWeenMachine]

OMG!!! Woke up and found significant progress on our pipped duckling. So I played him a video and he hatched right before my eyes!!!! So exciting. Still no pips on the other three though so maybe this lil guy can talk the other ones outta coming out too. It's only halfway through day 27 so they have plenty of time.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

OMG!!! Woke up and found significant progress on our pipped duckling. So I played him a video and he hatched right before my eyes!!!! So exciting. Still no pips on the other three though so maybe this lil guy can talk the other ones outta coming out too. It's only halfway through day 27 so they have plenty of time.

That's great! Congrats!!

 

[WVduckchick]

OMG!!! Woke up and found significant progress on our pipped duckling. So I played him a video and he hatched right before my eyes!!!! So exciting. Still no pips on the other three though so maybe this lil guy can talk the other ones outta coming out too. It's only halfway through day 27 so they have plenty of time.

Pics when you get a chance! Congrats!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Sooooo, my father gave me his flashlight cause it has better batteries (apparently) so I was able to get a glimpse of the green eggs and their air cells. Surprised to see the air cells aren't bad and I believe 5/6 are developing. I also pulled a couple of the Spitz to try pics again and I got a couple good ones. This would be my official candle for day 5 of incubation.