Hatching experience from new member

[nenenick]

Hello Everyone, I have just signed up for this forum after reading from it for some time now. I have been hatching eggs for 35 years now

and have never got bored of it. I just had 4 Lt Brahma's hatch this morning from my new R-COM 20 incubator! I just wanted to say hello to you all!

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
Hatch Day is just as exciting whether it's the 1st time or the 101st time!
Congrats on the LBs.
Last weeks hatch here was Ameraucanas, Campines, Japanese, and Cochins.
Next week it will be more of the same, except I'll also be expecting the first chicks from my new Modern Game bantams.

Lisa

 

[wolfpack62001]

Wew Hoo! I get to pick your brain.
Im hatching Silkies this week.
Would love to have any advice that you have.
Welcome to the board!

 

[jimnjay]

Welcome to BYC, this forum can use your expertise so stay tuned.

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

Welcome nenenick!

Do you always use a bator or do you also hatch under the hen?

Sometimes it seems as if we are all new to chickens, and its as if the blind are leading the blind lol!

So exciting to add an experienced hatcher to our humble chicken board!

 

[speedi3]

nenenick Welcome.
New to the group too, question for you or anyone else.
I've got 28 eggs in incubator right now with two pipping and a bunch more a 'rockin'.
My question is: knowing that eggs are not to be turned in the last 3 days, is there any way to avoid the hatching chicks from moving the other eggs before they hatch? Or is this just sort of normal? I have tried to put a divider in the incubator before but they always seem to get over it to the unhatched eggs.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Jan

 

[nenenick]

Hello, It won't hurt the other eggs, but is it because they (hatched chicks) are following a light source? Most chicks will move toward light when hatched. Some old incubator manufactures utilized this by placing a trap door on the egg tray towards the incubator door windows. The chicks would move toward the front and fall below into a nursing tray!

 

[speedi3]

No there is no direct light source, it's just the flopping around they do trying to get stablized. I have a little giant dry air incubator so hatching chicks and eggs are all in one unit. I've moved the other three into a separate brooder after the sac is disconnected and they seem to be doing ok.
Going to attempt to put some pic's up(need to figure out how to first)...wish me luck...

 

[speedi3]

Ok here goes nothing.... just hatched last night and this morn with more to come.

and since these 3 there are now 2 more....

 

[SkeeredChicken]

It's been suggested before, but some people talk about using the rubber shelf lining you can find at some stores. Never personally used it, but I have learned a few things since I hatched my 1st flock. Some things I intend to use next time I incubate

Quote:
Speedi, FYI. That aquarium wont last long, lol. Personal experience. I noticed that a few weeks after mine hatched. Man, do they grow ever so fast