Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 Incubator is AMAZING!

[CluckNDoodle]

I'm on well water...and didn't even consider it lol.

It's just to prevent mineral build up after continued use. We have terribly hard water here too so I can't even think about using it straight even though it's a clean community well.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I'm on well water...and didn't even consider it lol.

Well that's reassuring actually.
My filter isn't as good as a reverse osmosis.... but after a simple additive for chlorine and/or heavy metals meant for all water types, my tap water can go right into a tropical fish tank so hopefully it's not too bad.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Well that's reassuring actually.
My filter isn't as good as a reverse osmosis.... but after a simple additive for chlorine and/or heavy metals meant for all water types, my tap water can go right into a tropical fish tank so hopefully it's not too bad.

I'd think you'll be just fine.

 

[aart]

It's just to prevent mineral build up after continued use.

Hard well water here...using distilled made a big difference when cleaning up after a hatch.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Well that's reassuring actually.
My filter isn't as good as a reverse osmosis.... but after a simple additive for chlorine and/or heavy metals meant for all water types, my tap water can go right into a tropical fish tank so hopefully it's not too bad.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I used our hard water in our fish tanks as well. Fish require minerals in the water as far as I'm aware, you can't use distilled water in a fish tank.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I used our hard water in our fish tanks as well. Fish require minerals in the water as far as I'm aware, you can't use distilled water in a fish tank.

You can, so long as you use an additive to put the minerals in the water. Several different products are out there to either remove things like chlorine from tap water, or add good things to bottled or distilled water. I've used both water types when setting up fish tanks.

If hard water deposits are the main thing about using well water/unfiltered water...and not a high worry of introducing bacteria, then I'm hopeful my filtered tap will work if I run out of distilled.
Even without a large home filtering system here I do not get any deposits on anything. While I'm not a fan of city water in any way, it's been nice at this new place not to have rust and lime deposits on everything and my laundry is clean. Like clean clean. That never happened at the old farm.

 

[Faraday40]

What's the consensus on water?
Filtered tap water or distilled water?

Another question-
What are you guys using for marking on the eggs with, I've seen what looks like pencil, markers, crayons, and sharpies. What should I use?

I just filter my tap water. Since the water is evaporating, the minerals will stay behind and shouldn't affect the hatch either way. Of course, less minerals in the water will make the incubator easier to clean afterwards. Just make sure to clean your incubator well between hatches to avoid growing bacteria.

I normally use pencil to mark eggs. When hatching with a broody hen, the pencil will rub off, so those I mark with Sharpie. Never had any problems. It's not like you're drawing a work of art on the shell. A few little marks have never made a difference.

 

[CrisAnderson27]

I just filter my tap water. Since the water is evaporating, the minerals will stay behind and shouldn't affect the hatch either way. Of course, less minerals in the water will make the incubator easier to clean afterwards. Just make sure to clean your incubator well between hatches to avoid growing bacteria.

I normally use pencil to mark eggs. When hatching with a broody hen, the pencil will rub off, so those I mark with Sharpie. Never had any problems. It's not like you're drawing a work of art on the shell. A few little marks have never made a difference.

That makes sense. I was hesitant because with the way people talk about some little bit of gunk on your fingers killing the egg, I figured the chemicals in a sharpie would be instant death lol.

On another note...11 Ayam Cemani eggs...all ready to go on day 18. Lockdown is on. In 3 days we'll see how many make it through. The last time I started with 20 and by day 18 was down to 10. I'm very excited about this!

@CluckNDoodle I think we have two pullets, and FIVE roosters lol. I was reading that pullets develop wing and pin feathers WAY before cockerels, and I've got two with wings that touch behind them, and 3/4" pin feathers...after 8 days. The rest have little L shaped winglets, and fuzzy butt tails without feathers. One of the females is a splash, the other is a blue. That leaves the black, two blues, one splash, and one weird mix of splash/blue as roosters.../sigh lol. So I spoke to the breeder and she agreed, said that works 99% of the time on her birds. I told her I wanted HENS lol! Sooooo, she made me a deal on not one...not two...but TWENTY THREE more hatching eggs . Her webstore deal is 12+2 for $45, with free shipping. I got another 8 as well. 17 blue/black/splash, and 6 self blue/lavender. HOPEFULLY they aren't 70% freaking roosters lol.

So, the saga continues!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

That makes sense. I was hesitant because with the way people talk about some little bit of gunk on your fingers killing the egg, I figured the chemicals in a sharpie would be instant death lol.

On another note...11 Ayam Cemani eggs...all ready to go on day 18. Lockdown is on. In 3 days we'll see how many make it through. The last time I started with 20 and by day 18 was down to 10. I'm very excited about this!

@CluckNDoodle I think we have two pullets, and FIVE roosters lol. I was reading that pullets develop wing and pin feathers WAY before cockerels, and I've got two with wings that touch behind them, and 3/4" pin feathers...after 8 days. The rest have little L shaped winglets, and fuzzy but tails without feathers. One of the females is a splash, the other is a blue. That leaves the black, two blues, one splash, and one weird mix of splash/blue as roosters.../sigh lol. So I spoke to the breeder and she agreed, said that works 99% of the time on her birds. I told her I wanted HENS lol! Sooooo, she made me a deal on not one...not two...but TWENTY THREE more hatching eggs . Her webstore deal is 12+2 for $45, with free shipping. I got another 8 as well. 17 blue/black/splash, and 6 self blue/lavender. HOPEFULLY they aren't 70% freaking roosters lol.

So, the saga continues!!

Oh man, that's a lot of boys! I think I may have gotten lucky with my Marans this time. I'm guessing 3 or 4 pullets. I only see one (maybe two) that I know is a boy. I checked vents but I'm not 100% at it yet. That also invalidated my splash sexing method though unless I sexed them incorrectly. I'll know soon enough!

Goo luck on your next round! Lol

 

[CrisAnderson27]

Oh man, that's a lot of boys! I think I may have gotten lucky with my Marans this time. I'm guessing 3 or 4 pullets. I only see one (maybe two) that I know is a boy. I checked vents but I'm not 100% at it yet. That also invalidated my splash sexing method though unless I sexed them incorrectly. I'll know soon enough!

Goo luck on your next round! Lol

The brighter of my two splash chicks is the roo. So maybe not lol!

They're currently in their brooder dust bathing in the new pine shavings, of all things...lol. These Ameraucana are so different than my barred rocks were...its adorable, lol.