Hatch-ALong - Setting first eggs 4/5, hatch day 4/26. Anyone want to join me?

[foxflower]

Thank you for the link. I find that (wet bulb method) interesting, but a bit confusing. Do you have to make the pvc thingy or just use 2 thermometers, one wet and one dry, in the incubator. I have a Brinsea Eco and that of course is a forced air and could buy a couple glass thermometers (there is one attached that I use to read temps).

 

[dretd]

I just got two glass cheap glass thermometers that read the same number in the store ( didn't use them for temp in the incubator, only to calibrate/decide to ignore the hygrometers). It's amazing how many thermometers read different numbers. A few degrees may not be a big deal when you are wondering how cold your house or porch is, but it could be the difference between hatch or no hatch.

I couldn't find the original link I used, but the one I provided shows the chart you use and a rough idea of the wicking. The idea is based on evaporative cooling. If you get out of a swimming pool with a breeze, you will feel very cold initially as you dry off. You will feel less cold at a warmer ambient temperature and you will also feel less cold if it is humid outside.

Mind you I did this a couple of years ago when I built a home made Coleman cooler incubator and was running through all the parameters and realized that my house humidifier said 40 or 50 the digital in the incubator read 16 with water pans full. No way. It worked ok to calibrate and I have a cheap-o coil type similar to the one I use in the house and it was close enough- within 5%.

I have since thrown my notes away when I gave up on the Coleman so I am just reading the coil type one as if it was accurate, ignoring the 5/16% from the two digitals and weighing my eggs to track moisture loss. Before, I drew lines on the individual eggs to show the air cell's enlargement but decided that would take too long so I am going off the weights only this time around and we'll see what happens.

After hatch I was going to run some experiments on the incubator before giving it back to my friend. Stuff like is the temp colder right under the fan and do the eggs that are set under the fan lose more moisture because they are in a stronger breeze. I will try the saltwater method for the hygrometer calibration, too.

 

[foxflower]

Well, next time I'm near the pharmacy hopefully I'll remember to pick up a couple more glass thermometers.

This morning I noticed the broody hen was off the eggs--first lengthy stretch in a week. So I figured I'd take a look at the eggs while she was off. I started looking at the eggs and they all seem to be developing fine except 1 and it was clear! I couldn't figure out how it was clear when there had been veining before. It was a dark egg so I wondered if I just couldn't see in it well enough in the lighter environment of morning. I looked at the others and tried again, nothing. So I looked at the end for markings to see which it was...nothing.

It's a fresh marans egg!

When the hen got off to stretch her legs the marans hen laid an egg. It looks just like the welsummer egg in there. Duh, put in 4 and there were 5. Good thing they're marked!

 

[dretd]

Well, next time I'm near the pharmacy hopefully I'll remember to pick up a couple more glass thermometers.

This morning I noticed the broody hen was off the eggs--first lengthy stretch in a week. So I figured I'd take a look at the eggs while she was off. I started looking at the eggs and they all seem to be developing fine except 1 and it was clear! I couldn't figure out how it was clear when there had been veining before. It was a dark egg so I wondered if I just couldn't see in it well enough in the lighter environment of morning. I looked at the others and tried again, nothing. So I looked at the end for markings to see which it was...nothing.

It's a fresh marans egg!

When the hen got off to stretch her legs the marans hen laid an egg. It looks just like the welsummer egg in there. Duh, put in 4 and there were 5. Good thing they're marked!

That is so classic. My first broody I decided to let set eggs kept getting booted off the nest by the big girls so they could lay in their favorite nest--which is of course the one with the most eggs in it. It took me a couple of days to realize I needed to mark the eggs that I started with so I wouldn't end up with a staggered hatch!

I remember looking for glass thermometers and found not a one at the dollar store matched another and ended up getting them at a hardware store (I think Sutherlands or Ace). Its so long ago now my brain has jettisoned the information.

Back then I also got some cheap aquarium thermometers (which are now in my aquarium)--those glass tubes that have a pointy weighted end where the bulb is thats designed to float. They came recommeneded before and they seemed to work pretty good perched between the eggs (hand turned in a paper egg carton). This time I have an egg turner (wow-that is so much easier!) and I couldn't figure out how to perch the thermometers to make it work.

 

[roostercluck]

I put my incubator into lockdown last night. I can't wait to see what happens. Hopefully they will hatch soon because I am getting anxious.

 

[Comeonbroodyhen]

I put my incubator into lockdown last night. I can't wait to see what happens. Hopefully they will hatch soon because I am getting anxious.

Keep us posted !!

 

[dretd]

I put my incubator into lockdown last night. I can't wait to see what happens. Hopefully they will hatch soon because I am getting anxious.

I know what yo mean! Twenty one days seems like such a short period of time but I feel like the kid's who say: 'are we there yet, are we there yet.....'

Did you candle before lockdown?

 

[SmittenChicken]

Hi all- Hope your eggs are coming along nicely! Tonight I will put mine in lockdown -- can't believe it's here already. So excited and more than a little nervous!
I did one more candling the other night at day 14, and put photos up here if anyone's interested: http://www.homegrowngourmet.org/chicken-hatch-day-14-candling-2/

I'm pretty sure one of my embryos is dead (last photo), and 3 of my eggs somehow ended up with the aircell side down -- they were all from a fresh batch with very dark, round shells and so I guess I missed the aircells and started them upside down. I turned those 3 over on day 14, but I'm worried it's too late -- not sure if they will hatch at all, or pip the wrong end. Anyone have experience hatching upside-down eggs?

I'll post an update when I lock down tonight, planning to do a quick candling again at least for those 4 eggs and to check the other aircells.

Good luck to all of you in the home stretch!

 

[foxflower]

The eggs under the broody seem to be doing fine. I couldn't find one under here last night to candle, but she might have just had it tucked up really good. The eggs in the bator are all viable except 6. There were 3 I'd call early quitters and 3 that might not have been fertile. 2 viable barnies and 16 viable crele project birds. Both sets were shipped. The ones under the hen came cross-country and I seem to be getting 4/18. The crele and barnies came from within Ca and I appear to be getting 16/24....much better rate. Now, if I could get mostly pullets I'd be really happy!

 

[Pancholoco]

Lockdown here too.