Hatch-Along - Setting egg's Feb 18th, anyone else?

[Knittycat]

I keep having nightmares about the eggs being broken or the 'bator going on the fritz and cooking the things.

 

[Kilsharion]

I keep having nightmares about the eggs being broken or the 'bator going on the fritz and cooking the things.

Yeah - you must be dreaming of my life. My incubator's thermostat went crazy and jumped to 105 (for all of like 2 min). I had it popped open and was fanning it like crazy to get the temp down ASAP. Got it back down to 99 pretty fast, but ...

Thank g-d for alarming thermo-hygrometers, that's all I can say. So, we have to manually control the temp (I have a lovely husband who has said he will "Play Broody" for the next two days) while I wait for my new thermostat to arrive. That's what I get for reusing parts. If this batch of eggs make it - it will definitely be a matter of "survival of the fittest".

 

[Knittycat]

I've got the perfect storm of incubation stress.
a. this is a home made incubator. Although I ran it for two weeks before the eggs arrived, no problems, we all know that things change once you get the eggs in.
b. I'm using shipped eggs. Yeah. :/
c. this is my first time incubating. ever.
and d. This is a school project, so the incubator is at my daughter's school, which I have no access to over the weekends.

It had a brief spike up to 102 yesterday, but my quick thinking little girl knew to unplug it for a bit until the temperature came down, and call me. I came and plugged it back in, and adjusted the thermostat slightly down. I had nightmares all night about cooked or dropped eggs. I get in today, and the 'bator was at 97. Whew. Crisis averted, temp adjusted just a tiny bit up (it's a water heater thermostat). Things look like they'll be OK, but this weekend will have me on tenterhooks. I wish I could rig up a web cam or some sort of remote monitoring. I'd sleep much easier.

 

[knightie]

Had a panic attack.... woke up to (after being stable for three days before adding eggs) 109(temp of probe in homemade waterwiggler!) No I didn't touch it after adding eggs.... so yeah.... panic these were expensive eggs (at least for me and my friend) so yeah... I'm really really hoping all is good!

 

[Knittycat]

I'm so glad that I didn't add an e) these are my cream legbar eggs, 8 dollars an egg!!! *faints*

 

[DraigAthar]

I've got the perfect storm of incubation stress.
a. this is a home made incubator. Although I ran it for two weeks before the eggs arrived, no problems, we all know that things change once you get the eggs in.
b. I'm using shipped eggs. Yeah. :/
c. this is my first time incubating. ever.
and d. This is a school project, so the incubator is at my daughter's school, which I have no access to over the weekends.

Oh man. That IS a perfect storm. I don't envy you that anxiety.

 

[SIMZ]

We found a (well) used Sportsman on craigslist last weekend, and have spent all week cleaning it and getting it set up. It's been holding the temperature well for the last few days. My husband also added a thick plexiglass panel to the solid door.

I just couldn't see myself "waiting until day 23 to open the door". lol I start obsessing over imagined pips at the start of lock down.

So, it's back up and running again. A few eggs are ready for lock down on Sunday and they might just find their way into the "new" incubator. I'm also thinking of moving the rest. FUN!

3 shelves with a hatching shelf? I'll be unstoppable now! LOL

 

[Kilsharion]

Well, all is not lost. I managed to replace my thermostat much quicker than expected. It wasn't supposed to arrive for another five days. Rarely do I say this - but, bless the postal service! It arrived today. I'm now saying right where I want/need to be. Spyder Robotics is amazing. Their thermostats arrive with the units fully calibrated and very easy to follow instructions. Thankfully, I think I can still salvage some of this hatch....I hope....

 

[Matilda hen]

Well, Good luck everyone, I hope all work's out, and we all get a deacent hacth!!

 

[Kilsharion]

Just candled this morning and so far every one I checked is doing great! It looks like the cold temps in the incubator just delayed the "start" date for them a bit. We're off to the races