Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 Incubator is AMAZING!

[aart]

came in to check on the chicks in the brooder, annnnnnd had a chick in the incubator. Today is day 18.... How many degrees hot would it have to be to hatch 3-4 days early??

Probably not much...have had plenty of hatches start hatching on day 18, even a broody hatch.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Well, best hatch yet. 14 of 17 are hatched or zipping at this point (one of Jenny's eggs included lol). The remaining 3 haven't pipped yet...but being so early that probably doesn't mean a ton. If just these hatch that puts me at 67% of all eggs I set, and 82% of those that went past day 7 (all fertile eggs).

I'd be thrilled with that. I also figured that's what would happen on my last hatch of the year, lol. BUT!...around here, laying hens go for as much as $45 each at the beginning of spring...so having all these new birds at laying age will let me sell some of the barred rocks and pay the entire feed bill for the year.

Win/win!

I'll get you guys some video in the morning!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

So far we have 14 in the brooder. I'm super sad though! My lone Ayam Cemani/Australorp egg pipped...but all the chicks in there last night turned it upside down and a weird fluid built up around the opening and sealed it. Poor thing didn't make it. I REALLY wanted to see an Ayam Cemani and Australorp mix...and I think it would have been a great layer next year. There's still two eggs in there that haven't pipped. If they haven't started by tomorrow I'll candle and see if there's any sign of life. I'll probably let them go a few more days regardless after that to be sure.

So, 82% of fertile eggs hatched...and would have been 88% but for the sad accident. That's the best I've gotten so far, by a mile.

Lets cross out fingers for the next incubator!!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Here's that video...I'll keep you guys updated on the remaining chicks!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Second batch hatched today. All but two that made it to lockdown hatched...and one of those pipped around 6am...but still hasn't zipped at 10pm. I don't see any movement in the flap or the egg rocking at all. Going to let it go for a bit. 13 hatched makes for 76% of fertile eggs hatched, and 62% of set eggs. Still way better.

Soooo, I've learned that in my area, I just need standard humidity...and will work on calibrating my heat better.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Second batch hatched today. All but two that made it to lockdown hatched...and one of those pipped around 6am...but still hasn't zipped at 10pm. I don't see any movement in the flap or the egg rocking at all. Going to let it go for a bit. 13 hatched makes for 76% of fertile eggs hatched, and 62% of set eggs. Still way better.

Soooo, I've learned that in my area, I just need standard humidity...and will work on calibrating my heat better.

I'm glad your hatch rate seems to be improving at least! You don't count infertile eggs in your hatch rate unless your testing fertility rate for your flock as well so you're doing good!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

I'm glad your hatch rate seems to be improving at least! You don't count infertile eggs in your hatch rate unless your testing fertility rate for your flock as well so you're doing good!

Had a 14th hatch last night...which leaves just one egg in the incubator from what made it to lockdown...and put me at 82%.

This could be dangerous!!!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Oh, and...Jenny has chicks lol.

I'll be moving them to the coop in the integration area here today. Hopefully she'll stay put. She REALLY likes her corner nest box lol.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Had a 14th hatch last night...which leaves just one egg in the incubator from what made it to lockdown...and put me at 82%.

This could be dangerous!!!

Yay! I'm so glad the rates are coming up for you!

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Oh, and...Jenny has chicks lol.

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I'll be moving them to the coop in the integration area here today. Hopefully she'll stay put. She REALLY likes her corner nest box lol.

(the grass is always greener...) I'm in love with Jenny I think! And the spotted big babies.
All the chicks are cute for sure, but I have a thing for spots.

I finally got the next pen done and moved some birds. I took lots of pictures too and as soon as I can get them onto my PC I'll post some and link it here.
My Sapphire Gem/Australorp crosses continue to impress me. The grey cockerel I posted before will stay for now. He's the friendliest boy I've ever had, which I'm guessing he got from the SG as they are known to be under your feet puppies. At 17 weeks he is as large as my 18 week old Red Ranger boys. (I got a few to hopefully nab some genetics for my mixes)
And there are a few other SG x Aussies that are by far bigger than the purebreds. Several black ones and a beautiful black and red boy.

The Ameraucana/Autralorp boys are smaller but really beautiful. One is grey and red, the other a black base with some red feathers, and obvious green, blue, and purple sheen bands on the dark feathers. It's really cool and both of them already have long tail feathers!

Sorry, rambling...pictures coming soon!

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Yay! I'm so glad the rates are coming up for you!

(the grass is always greener...) I'm in love with Jenny I think! And the spotted big babies.
All the chicks are cute for sure, but I have a thing for spots.

I finally got the next pen done and moved some birds. I took lots of pictures too and as soon as I can get them onto my PC I'll post some and link it here.
My Sapphire Gem/Australorp crosses continue to impress me. The grey cockerel I posted before will stay for now. He's the friendliest boy I've ever had, which I'm guessing he got from the SG as they are known to be under your feet puppies. At 17 weeks he is as large as my 18 week old Red Ranger boys. (I got a few to hopefully nab some genetics for my mixes)
And there are a few other SG x Aussies that are by far bigger than the purebreds. Several black ones and a beautiful black and red boy.

The Ameraucana/Autralorp boys are smaller but really beautiful. One is grey and red, the other a black base with some red feathers, and obvious green, blue, and purple sheen bands on the dark feathers. It's really cool and both of them already have long tail feathers!

Sorry, rambling...pictures coming soon!

Spots are definitely fun lol. I now have three of them that look like twins...one is just smaller/younger, lol. Lucky was the only one who was different, so I'm guessing maybe there's some kind of sex link thing going on with the AC/Cornish X.

Oh, guess what? My Ayam Cemani pullet is now a hen, as well as my original blue Ameraucana (Sparrow, from the first hatch) lol. I had put the Ayam Cemani girl in the breeding pen with my splash Ameraucana rooster. I can't WAIT to see what those babies look like. The eggs were TINY though!!...so I don't have a ton of faith they'll hatch. But she laid a large one yesterday, so we'll see. I'd rather try and fail, than not try. My Ameraucana girl I noticed being bred by my blue Ameraucana rooster...so I immediately put her in a breeding pen with my main Ayam Cemani rooster (Johnny) and she laid a week later. I put my splash Ameraucana girl in there and another blue pullet today. Johnny got them immediately so I think it's going to be another week or so before I'm getting three blue eggs a day from them.

These Easter Eggers will be ADORABLE lol.

Oh!! Also!! One of Jenny's sisters started laying two days ago! The eggs are FREAKING ENORMOUS lol!! She's been being mounted regularly by my black Ameraucana rooster (who's lead roo now that Johnny is confined). I can't wait to see little Cornish X Easter Eggers, lol!! I've been searching and searching and can't find any online.


Soooo with all this intro...there's currently 14 eggs split by the above mixes in my incubator lol. Seven Ayam Cemani eggs, five Ameraucana eggs (both sets will likely be Ayam Cemani based Easter Eggers, but with alternate gender parents), and two of Brenda's black Ameraucana fathered eggs rounding up the batch!