Hands on hatching and help

[Laurel Meadows]

I use an old Little Giant 9200. Just opening to grab out chicks or flipping pippers back over I rarely loose more than 2-3%.  But  I also when possible cheat and pop out the viewing window (and yes, usually burn myself on the heating unit, but it doesn't faze me anymore...lol) instead of lifting the top.

I start at 75% and yes it will shoot up 85%+ during hatches, but I use the extra humidity as the perfect times to do my meddling and it comes right back down. I definitely don't think 75% to start is needed for hands off hatchers. If you are keeping the bator shut, you don't generally need 75%+ whatever it is going to jump to with hatching too.

HIgh elevations does warrant higher humdity. It's so funny how something as seemingly simple as altitude can have such a different effect onsomething like hatching or baking.  

So glad you are starting to see an improvement in rates!

Yes, she is....I hope it's a she!  lol

Do you have the 1588?  I seldom see people not liking their hovabators. I want the 1583. The one Ruby just got. I love the viewing window, but I don't want the digital components of the 1588. I've seen a handful of people that do use higher than 65% at hatch have problems with the higher humidity throwing off the controls and having to reset the system.

I have a 1602 still air but would like the 1588...maybe someday lol. I struggle with my Hova when the eggs start generating heat. I turn it down and it still wants to run 104-105. Its less than a year old and it holds temp like a rock until about day 14 then it becomes really difficult

I often run my Brinsea Mini in the same room and it holds temp better, but oddly enough, the Hovabator gives me a better hatch rate every time.
I don't mind if my humidity gets into the 75% range during hatch especially like you said, if there is meddling or assisting going on. I usually just start at 65% so that it doesn't get too swampy in there. Not having a fan, it's like a sauna in there- the babies take forever to dry. I keep telling myself if I'm going to keep using the 1602 I need to get a fan for it!

 

[LadyCluck77]

Okay that's a good idea, I'll let her rest and warm up for a while. I had major trouble keeping any humidity in this hatch, it was only at 25 when I got home from work.
Thank you again for responding so quickly.

 

[Laurel Meadows]

ok heres first to, now pipps are going like crazy though

Aww very cute! Congrats!!

Well lol, all three cemani eggs have hatched and all three are crosses. I knew that was a definite possibility because I set them within three weeks of when the girls had been free ranging with my layer flock, but I had hoped for at least one pure one. Thought I got one too but then realized it had a rose comb It inherited that from Pretty Boy, my half cemani rooster that leads my layer flock:

So that baby is at least 3/4 cemani. There's one more that I think is Pretty Boy's too. Gonna have to see how they feather out. Might have to keep them if they're pullets. Also have two leghorns out! One Isabelle, one split to Isabelle. Have a few other pipped but none of the other eggs are doing anything yet.

Your rooster's name is very fitting! Love his coloring!

 

[slordaz]

3rd one if finally out of the shell in there, 4th one not making much progress and 2 more pipps I can see

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a 1602 still air but would like the 1588...maybe someday lol. I struggle with my Hova when the eggs start generating heat. I turn it down and it still wants to run 104-105. Its less than a year old and it holds temp like a rock until about day 14 then it becomes really difficult

I often run my Brinsea Mini in the same room and it holds temp better, but oddly enough, the Hovabator gives me a better hatch rate every time.
I don't mind if my humidity gets into the 75% range during hatch especially like you said, if there is meddling or assisting going on. I usually just start at 65% so that it doesn't get too swampy in there. Not having a fan, it's like a sauna in there- the babies take forever to dry. I keep telling myself if I'm going to keep using the 1602 I need to get a fan for it!

Yes, there is a difference between 75% in a still air and 75% in a forced air. Mine has the fan kit. I believe from seeing other's experiences that still airs show condensation quicker than forced too. Even with the fan at 75% my chicks don't really fluff up until I put them in the brooder under the light.

Okay that's a good idea, I'll let her rest and warm up for a while. I had major trouble keeping any humidity in this hatch, it was only at 25 when I got home from work.
Thank you again for responding so quickly.

I fill all my wells and add a small bowl under my screen at "lockdown" and then I add 2-3 wet sponges on my screen at egg level as well. I love using the sponges because it's so easy to rewet and stick back in when I need a humidity boost. The low humidity would definitely cause the sticky chick issues during hatch.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

3rd one if finally out of the shell in there, 4th one not making much progress and 2 more pipps I can see

Keep em coming!!

 

[LadyCluck77]

The little sticky chick has a head now! I went to check on her after an hour of rest and saw that her chin was glued to her chest. I took warm water and lots of q-tips and finally got the head off the chest. She started seeming cold again, so she's back in the incubator. Her entire body is sticky, she was even stuck to the paper towel on the workspace. Should I fill the sink with warm water and just wash all the stuff off? Maybe let her rest some more?

 

[PD-Riverman]

The little sticky chick has a head now! I went to check on her after an hour of rest and saw that her chin was glued to her chest. I took warm water and lots of q-tips and finally got the head off the chest. She started seeming cold again, so she's back in the incubator. Her entire body is sticky, she was even stuck to the paper towel on the workspace. Should I fill the sink with warm water and just wash all the stuff off? Maybe let her rest some more?

Dawn dish detergent and """warm"""(Not hot about 95 degree's is good) water will clean it right up. I put them right under the running water---not its head---everything else.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Dawn dish detergent and warm water will clean it right up. I put them right under the running water---not its head---everything else.

xs 2 Dawn blue

Just make sure she doesn't get a bad chill. Many people, I have myself, have used a blow drier on low warm heat to dry them

 

[PD-Riverman]

xs 2 Dawn blue

Just make sure she doesn't get a bad chill. Many people, I have myself, have used a blow drier on low warm heat to dry them

Xs-2 Yep I should have mentioned that. For sure dry them, then put them under heat--around 95 to 100 is good on one end of your brooder.