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

[dretd]

Getting ready for lockdown now... and just found out we may get ANOTHER late season snowstorm.

dretd- I think Colorado can thank us for putting eggs in the incubator. Maybe if I wash my car we'll get two feet.

You're funny!

I am in a quandary though. I have one heat lamp only and that is needed for the brooder. I normally fit it with a 250 watt red bulb for heat for the chicks. But it also double-duties in the hen house fitted with a ceramic (reptile) heat bulb on a on at 20 degrees off at 30 degrees switch in the winter. It looks like it will be really cold for the next couple of nights so I need to have it still in there. It had better start warming up or my chickens will be cranky cuz the first chick that hatches get the lamp. It doesn't keep the hen house toasty, but it does take the edge off and I haven't had as many problems with frostbite since I started using it.

So yes, its definitely the incubation that's responsible for these snow storms. You do realize that we will need to hatch out chicks every year about this time to be assured of a good and moist spring! At least that's what I'm telling my hubby

 

[TXTiffany]

Sorry for the confusion, I ended up setting mine the night of the 4th so for me, day 18 started at about 7:30 p.m. tonight. As far as I understand the day 18 thing isn't exact, it has more to do with how much weight the eggs have lost and the position of the aircells.

Speaking of which, my aircells looked really good and several were dipping down to the side already. My eggs were pretty close to the target weight loss, too, so I've locked them down and now just waiting for the humidity to stabilize.

I culled 1 more egg, the one that I thought was dead last time, and it definitely stopped developing a while ago. I think there's still 1 clear one in there (but I'm not positive because the shell's so dark,) and 3 that were developing upside down -- so I don't have high hopes for those 4. The others looked pretty good!

Lockdown pictures are up on my blog, and I've also started up the hatch cam to do a live stream. Nothing much happening yet, but maybe they'll start rolling around soon: www.homegrowngourmet.org/hatch-cam

I also went into lockdown last night. Lockdown for me was at 7pm. Not seeing any movement or anything as of yet. I usually lay the eggs on their sides, but decided to use a egg carton this time so they don't knock the eggs around. Must not open the bator. Must not open the bator.

 

[SmittenChicken]

Put mine in lock down last night. I have had a steady temp of 99.5 with 35% humidity. When I put them in lock down, I have 70% humidity but the temperature is at 97.7 - should I mess with the temp to get it back up to 99.5?

I am wondering the exact same thing. Are you using a digital thermometer by chance? Mine has been reading about 97.5 since I increased the humidity, but the probe thermometer and built-in are reading exactly what they did when my digital was at 99.5 before lockdown.

I'm assuming that the increased humidity is making the digital read low, so I'm not messing with it, but I don't have information to back that up. Anyone know for sure?

 

[SmittenChicken]

You're funny!

I am in a quandary though. I have one heat lamp only and that is needed for the brooder. I normally fit it with a 250 watt red bulb for heat for the chicks. But it also double-duties in the hen house fitted with a ceramic (reptile) heat bulb on a on at 20 degrees off at 30 degrees switch in the winter. It looks like it will be really cold for the next couple of nights so I need to have it still in there. It had better start warming up or my chickens will be cranky cuz the first chick that hatches get the lamp. It doesn't keep the hen house toasty, but it does take the edge off and I haven't had as many problems with frostbite since I started using it.

So yes, its definitely the incubation that's responsible for these snow storms. You do realize that we will need to hatch out chicks every year about this time to be assured of a good and moist spring! At least that's what I'm telling my hubby

Ooh, you have some lucky hens! Maybe not this week, though

I'm borrowing a second heat lamp from a friend since I'm planning to move chicks right out to a little room in the coop, but realized I should probably set up a temporary brooder by the incubator. Might be worth asking around on the CO board or among your neighbors to see if anyone has one they're not using.

And I am totally with you on hatching chicks every year. Even more fun than a rain dance!

 

[SmittenChicken]

Put mine in lock down last night. I have had a steady temp of 99.5 with 35% humidity. When I put them in lock down, I have 70% humidity but the temperature is at 97.7 - should I mess with the temp to get it back up to 99.5?

Ok, I did find something on this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/443582/low-temps-in-lock-down-with-hovabator-1588

So I'm guessing that my digital thermometer (Incubator Warehouse, whole unit is inside the incubator) is more sensitive to evaporative cooling, probably because it's sitting right on the wire while my other 2 are up by the top of the eggs. Mine currently reads 97.5 and I'm leaving it alone.

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, since I was confused about this last night too. Hope you didn't make adjustments already!

 

[schmockl]

Unfortunately I did mess with the temp. I was over thinking today. I thought the reason why the temp didn't come back up to where it was originally may have been because the auto egg turner was taken out. Now I'm impatiently waiting the for temps to readjust.

 

[Pancholoco]

One hatched, 3 or 4 more pipped

 

[wabbit1964]

One of mine hatched last night....

 

[DiamondDust]

I hear peeping!

Not sure who it is but I'm guessing a Silkie since they seemed to develop faster than the Barnies did in the shell. No pips yet but I hear some talking going on! Maybe they are working out a coordinated hatch, huh?

The Silkies are due to hatch Thursday and the Barnies on Friday...so I guess some are going to go early?

Oh, and I just put them in lockdown yesterday...that was day 18 for the Silkies...go figure...

 

[TXTiffany]

On day 20 here. No pips yet, but I do hear some peeping going on. Hopefully I will get a pip soon.