Hatch-Along - Setting eggs this weekend (Jan5/6) WHOS WITH ME!

[chicken pickin]

Thank you

I had a broody hen just once before. She growled at me when I was collecting eggs from under her, we didn't let her sit. I just didn't know if collecting eggs and leaving them in a spot happened sometimes before broodiness. But nobody was guarding the eggs so no broody right now.


I'm using the still air incubator that's $60 from feeders supply. You can see it in these pictures.


I read right after we marked the eggs with X's and O's that you're not exactly supposed to use markers but pencils

(My nephew first Pic). Yet another thing that will be different with our second go around. Second picture is me hovering over the bator watching the temperature (ignore my long johns ... I always wear them when I work outside).

And here are the parents! Black Australorps

I agree very nice looking birds! And I wouldnt worry about the sharpie marker. I used pencil my first time but decided this time sharpie would show up better. Ive read it has no ill affects on the type of writing utensil used.

 

[SarahJaneB]

I agree very nice looking birds! And I wouldnt worry about the sharpie marker. I used pencil my first time but decided this time sharpie would show up better. Ive read it has no ill affects on the type of writing utensil used.

Ah encouraging, thank you

 

[SarahJaneB]

Small variations that dont last for a long time are ok they dont tend to effect the inner temp of the eggs unless they stay that way for awhile. Personnally with my LG still air that I use to have and my LG forced air , if the temp changes and dosnt go to where its sapose to in a half hour or so I click my room temp up one or two degrees or cover half of it with a light towel and check in like 15 minutes to see if that gets it up and for high temps I simply open the bator a crack for 60-90 seconds then sit and watch and see where the temp settles back to in a bit.
I have used a few baby food jars as well. It depends on how much room you have .

I haven't had any big variations except for when I candle/turn them but the bator's not open but for a few minutes each time and the temp goes back to normal really quickly so it doesn't worry me. But i think there will be room in the bator next hatch still even though I plan on about 30 eggs next go around ...

 

[CamiLynn]

I'm late, but I would like to join please. I recieved a Farm Innovators Model 2100 for Christmas. Put my first eggs, collect from my hens, in a couple days later and none of them took. I figure my bator temp was way to hot, after I did some research. So, I adjusted some things and started a new batch of 10 eggs. Some went in on the 5th, 6th and one on the 7th. I hadn't thought to come here before placing again, so I am sure I have made more mistakes. I candled last night and I am pretty sure I have some veins going!!

I know it is still a waiting game, but it is also quite exciting! Hoping to find some eggs to hatch from different breeds of chickens, than one's I already have, especially amerucana and olive egg layers! I am really wanting a bunch of different color eggs....a rainbow!

Good luck to everyone's hatch and thanks for the education I am sure I will be getting every day on hatch eggs on my own.

 

[FeyRaine]

I'm late, but I would like to join please. I recieved a Farm Innovators Model 2100 for Christmas. Put my first eggs, collect from my hens, in a couple days later and none of them took. I figure my bator temp was way to hot, after I did some research. So, I adjusted some things and started a new batch of 10 eggs. Some went in on the 5th, 6th and one on the 7th. I hadn't thought to come here before placing again, so I am sure I have made more mistakes. I candled last night and I am pretty sure I have some veins going!!

I know it is still a waiting game, but it is also quite exciting! Hoping to find some eggs to hatch from different breeds of chickens, than one's I already have, especially amerucana and olive egg layers! I am really wanting a bunch of different color eggs....a rainbow!

Good luck to everyone's hatch and thanks for the education I am sure I will be getting every day on hatch eggs on my own.

Welcome to the fun! We have ppl w/ eggs set anywhere from the 4th or 5th til about the 7th from what I've noticed. I set mine about 9pm Eastern on the 5th, but I'm doing Chickens AND Ducks so its all just gonna be everyone w/ hatching across , what about 2 weeks or so, good fun!

The chicken eggs I have in now are green & choc. from which I expect a full range as they are a Barnyard mix incl Ameraucana & Maran & SFH > should be a rainbow if enough hatch!!

I also have just today figured out the whole swap stuff and am getting really excited -- I will have a purebreed trio in spring so I'll be able to swap some of my eggs for some of the breeds I want (more eggs, more hatching, more chicks, more chickens, more eggs....)

 

[SilkieSensation]

Thank you

I had a broody hen just once before. She growled at me when I was collecting eggs from under her, we didn't let her sit. I just didn't know if collecting eggs and leaving them in a spot happened sometimes before broodiness. But nobody was guarding the eggs so no broody right now.


I'm using the still air incubator that's $60 from feeders supply. You can see it in these pictures.


I read right after we marked the eggs with X's and O's that you're not exactly supposed to use markers but pencils

(My nephew first Pic). Yet another thing that will be different with our second go around. Second picture is me hovering over the bator watching the temperature (ignore my long johns ... I always wear them when I work outside).

And here are the parents! Black Australorps

I have used just about everything but ink pen to mark eggs (afraid it will crack them). Crayons, colored pencil, regular pencil, nail polish, water based markers, permanent markers, etc. None of them have harmed any of the eggs. I actually make sure I use permanent marker for broody eggs because it's the only thing their constant turning & hot tushies don't rub off. Nothing like trying to pull the fresh eggs from under a broody when all of your crayon or pencil markings are now gone and you are a week into incubation.

 

[CamiLynn]

Well, I candled again (with an LED flashlight) this evening when I turned the eggs and out of 10 eggs, it looks like 7 have life for sure, one looks to be getting viens (its only been in since the 7th), one is porus, but I can see viens and one looks to have the start of a blood ring (dark red line in two places but not a ring or circle). So far so good...if I can just keep my hands off them!

 

[chicken potpie 2020]

iv done shipped eggs a few times and the fresh eggs from my girls just do so much better

 

[sticknstring]

OOops-a little late posting. I set some shipped eggs in an LG (first time hatching and I'm consumed with it!)

I wish I had read this thread earlier-lots of great info here. Hope I didn't botch it

. I recieved 9 marraduna bosque hens(Greenfire), only let them sit for 8 hrs on the 5th before putting them in the incubator. The 9 BLRW(Foley/paul lines)) were shipped a little late(supposed to arrive same day). Put them in the incubator on the 7th after letting them set for 8 hrs also. I originally wanted to go with a dry hatch(till lockdown)-I read alot of success on here. I'm was holding at just under 30%. We got 2 days of solid rain and it is holding at just under 40%. Do you all think I should bump up my humidity? I have been holding my temp at 98-99(top of the eggs)-is this too low? I'm seeing alot of 100-102's on top of eggs on here.

I will say the LG has been very stable. Going to candle this weekend!! can't wait!

 

[Antgarner]

I candled two, one from each of my incubators, and it looked like they have a red hue to them now. However, it is my first time hatching poultry eggs, so I have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing. I'm going to wait until the 12th or 13th, when I'm going to weigh them. I'm not posting much, but I've read every post on this thread so far, so I've taken all advice into account and am running different settings to see what works.