Hatching journey - my silkie babies

[LadiesAndJane]

Hello!
Just got a great idea from @Florida Bullfrog. Placed a piece of cardboard with a cut up insulated (metallic) grocery bag on top of that, metallic side up, under all my incubators. Did not even think of that, all my incubators are on a marble table. Temperatures stabilized and are holding, though still have them all set at 100 degrees F.

 

[Kuekenkrazy]

Hello!
Just got a great idea from @Florida Bullfrog. Placed a piece of cardboard with a cut up insulated (metallic) grocery bag on top of that, metallic side up, under all my incubators. Did not even think of that, all my incubators are on a marble table. Temperatures stabilized and are holding, though still have them all set at 100 degrees F.View attachment 2128212

I also have an analog thermometer inside my incubator because of the fluctuations. Mine incubator is set for 42.1 but holding steady at 37.5 according to my analog. Only one if my silkies has developed so far. We are at day 11 so I think it is eggtopsy time for the other ones. I suspect are not fertil

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I am sorry to hear about your eggs. I am using regular thermometers in the incubators as well. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Mother of Chicks]

Hello!
Just got a great idea from @Florida Bullfrog. Placed a piece of cardboard with a cut up insulated (metallic) grocery bag on top of that, metallic side up, under all my incubators. Did not even think of that, all my incubators are on a marble table. Temperatures stabilized and are holding, though still have them all set at 100 degrees F.View attachment 2128212

Nice set up! I haven't heard of the metallic layer underneath. It's a great idea and I am going to try that today! I did notice a huge difference when I put my incs on a thick towel rather than a metal table - so it makes complete sense.

I would love to know the difference in how your incubators perform. I have the one on the bottom right (which wasn't very stable for me so I put it away - but maybe I just needed to calibrate) and the Brinsea Mini adv (love that machine so much) and the Mini Eco (seems good so far).

When are the babies due?

x

 

[Mother of Chicks]

I also have an analog thermometer inside my incubator because of the fluctuations. Mine incubator is set for 42.1 but holding steady at 37.5 according to my analog. Only one if my silkies has developed so far. We are at day 11 so I think it is eggtopsy time for the other ones. I suspect are not fertil

Can you share eggtopsy pics? I am still too nervous to do one but I am very interested in looking at pics. How do you build yourself up for that? I'd love to learn more and know what to look for #newbie

Sorry to hear about fertility issues.

I put 12 in and still have 11 going strong. If only I had room for 11. I still may not get a very good hatch rate, but I have my fingers crossed for them all - I may need a coop extension if they all make it . Nobody is coming to collect them during lockdown for sure :/

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Nice set up! I haven't heard of the metallic layer underneath. It's a great idea and I am going to try that today! I did notice a huge difference when I put my incs on a thick towel rather than a metal table - so it makes complete sense.

I would love to know the difference in how your incubators perform. I have the one on the bottom right (which wasn't very stable for me so I put it away - but maybe I just needed to calibrate) and the Brinsea Mini adv (love that machine so much) and the Mini Eco (seems good so far).

When are the babies due?

x

Well I just got the Brinseas, first time trying them. So far they’re holding their heat very nicely. The Janoel 10 which is the one on the bottom right, I’ve had for three years and have not used it since. Back then, hatched two out of six eggs. I wasn’t planning to use it, but then I got more eggs so I was forced too! I’m very bad at chicken math!
Planning to put my marans eggs in there when my other eggs show up. According to the breeder they need to be dry hatched. I don’t trust the janoel 10 with humidity, so the eggs are going in there, and then I will move them for lockdown. I got very great advice including the reflective grocery bag idea from Florida Bullfrog who uses this incubator successfully. I could not figure out how to calibrate the temp on it, but found some advice on YouTube and now it is holding. Eggs will go in tomorrow if it continues to hold.
Very long story short, just started all the eggs this week so expect babies at the end of the month! Like you plan to keep every silkie that hatches! I already told my husband he had to build an extra coop!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Are you able to put a normal thermometer in there to check, I use digital and normal and they are usually different so I go by the normal one?

My first hatch was in a Brinsea octagon 20 eco and the temp above the eggs was 37.5c but the only chick that hatched had failed to absorb the yolk properly. I was advised that this could have been due to too low temp so now in my second hatch I’m running it more like 38c I’m a bit too scared to run it higher than that but I’ll let you know in a week, when they’re due to hatch. On day 14 everyone who was not an early quitter was still alive so let’s hope

How is going with your littles?
You must be in lockdown now, any updates?
Just wondering! I candled my 16 at day 7 yesterday and 13 look good!

 

[Gardencottager]

How is going with your littles?
You must be in lockdown now, any updates?
Just wondering! I candled my 16 at day 7 yesterday and 13 look good!

So today is day 21 for my 3 remaining silkie eggs. Two hatched out in the early hours, one is doing fine and bashing about in the incubator but sadly the other has some sort of hernia and twisted feet. It’s alive and under a heat lamp with splints and a plaster but I’m not hopeful

I might post a separate thread regarding the poorly one for advice on what might have gone wrong at some point.

The third egg was seen rocking on day 18 but no movement seen since so a bit worried about that one as well.

I’ve got some bantam Brahma that are on their day 18 today so hopefully my little silkie won’t be on it’s own.

I think the dry ish hatch has been better for me since the two that did hatch didn’t have humidity problems so that’s one thing figured out, I’m just sad about the poorly chick and would like to know what went wrong this time.

Will post picks of the healthy chick soon, can’t get any good shots in the incubator at the moment

 

[Mother of Chicks]

Set one (7 eggs) went into lockdown yesterday and today moves us to day 19

I did a quick candle this morning as they were quite still and they had been rocking/jiggling, but they all look OK. No internal pips yet, but the air cells are much better and bigger than the last time. I am a nervous wreck though...

My other inc with 4 eggs in (set 2) is on day 15 and they are starting to rock.

I have a YouTube live stream set up for when they start to hatch. I'll share if all progresses as it should. Wish me luck!

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Set one (7 eggs) went into lockdown yesterday and today moves us to day 19

I did a quick candle this morning as they were quite still and they had been rocking/jiggling, but they all look OK. No internal pips yet, but the air cells are much better and bigger than the last time. I am a nervous wreck though...

My other inc with 4 eggs in (set 2) is on day 15 and they are starting to rock.

I have a YouTube live stream set up for when they start to hatch. I'll share if all progresses as it should. Wish me luck!

Good luck!