- Nov 13, 2012
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I am trying to make a "cheat-sheet list" of do's and don't for hatching. Please add to this! So far:
1.make sure the incubator stays at 99.5 (no less than 99, and no more than 102 without dire consequences)
2.keep the humidity above 35% always, and normally 40-50%. and the last four days keep it at least 65%. Marans eggs need about 80-85% at the end to hatch.
3. Don't candle before day 7 (although i am not sure why this hurts). I candle day 8, 9 or 10, to make sure I can tell through dark shells. Use a little LED flashlight! I find it works best. They are really bright, and don't heat up the eggs at all. And because I use a small one, if fits tight against the egg without having to add any cardboard or anything. A nice LED candling light would be great, with a soft rubber egg holder, but costs more I'm sure.
4. Candle again at least once in the middle of the hatch, to look for bad eggs and get them out.
5. Don't forget to take out your turner at day 18, increase the humidity, and don't candle them again (although, I don't know why, I've just been told not to).
6. RESIST THE URGE to open the incubator once they have started to hatch, unless you have to add water. Only add HOT water, so you don't chill them too.
7. If you have to open it: first get your bathroom hot and very steamy. Keep hot water running to keep up the humidity in the room. Take the incubator in that room, take out the hatched chicks, take out most of the broke shells, help open any that have spent more than 6 hours with only a peck hole to get a bit more going, and add water to the incubator. Close it back up, and don't open it again till everything is finished.
Chicks can last 48 hours in the incubator just fine after hatching, but sometimes it does get really crowded and taking out the first half of them is useful, especially when you have 38 out of 40 hatch. Their interest in pecking everything that moves is not helpful for poor little chicks that hatch late, and have 6 brothers trying to peck his face, as he's just trying to get out of his shell.
Okay: so is there anything I have forgotten? PLEASE add to this if you think of something.
1.make sure the incubator stays at 99.5 (no less than 99, and no more than 102 without dire consequences)
2.keep the humidity above 35% always, and normally 40-50%. and the last four days keep it at least 65%. Marans eggs need about 80-85% at the end to hatch.
3. Don't candle before day 7 (although i am not sure why this hurts). I candle day 8, 9 or 10, to make sure I can tell through dark shells. Use a little LED flashlight! I find it works best. They are really bright, and don't heat up the eggs at all. And because I use a small one, if fits tight against the egg without having to add any cardboard or anything. A nice LED candling light would be great, with a soft rubber egg holder, but costs more I'm sure.
4. Candle again at least once in the middle of the hatch, to look for bad eggs and get them out.
5. Don't forget to take out your turner at day 18, increase the humidity, and don't candle them again (although, I don't know why, I've just been told not to).
6. RESIST THE URGE to open the incubator once they have started to hatch, unless you have to add water. Only add HOT water, so you don't chill them too.
7. If you have to open it: first get your bathroom hot and very steamy. Keep hot water running to keep up the humidity in the room. Take the incubator in that room, take out the hatched chicks, take out most of the broke shells, help open any that have spent more than 6 hours with only a peck hole to get a bit more going, and add water to the incubator. Close it back up, and don't open it again till everything is finished.
Chicks can last 48 hours in the incubator just fine after hatching, but sometimes it does get really crowded and taking out the first half of them is useful, especially when you have 38 out of 40 hatch. Their interest in pecking everything that moves is not helpful for poor little chicks that hatch late, and have 6 brothers trying to peck his face, as he's just trying to get out of his shell.
Okay: so is there anything I have forgotten? PLEASE add to this if you think of something.
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