Hatching WebCam... Done

[rebelcowboysnb]

2:30? You been watching all night? I got up to check on the puppies that were making a racket. Expected to see pips, not 2 hatched.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I don't always sleep as well as I would like to. Your cam was the only interesting thing on at 2:30 when I woke up so, I tuned in.
The others are sure taking their time!
Go Chicks Go!
On a side note: Remember I ask you to come have the talk with my girls. Well not sure what you did but somebody laid an egg yesterday!

7 mths they made me wait. I hope she goes broody in time to slip the shipped eggs I am getting with the showgirl under her.

 

[Kelly G]

It looks like the egg in the lower right corner has pipped....I think??

 

[joebryant]

Fun to watch.
BTW I like your idea of slanting the egg carton. I've never seen/read about that's being done. It seems like it would make it easier for the newly-hatched chick to get out of the carton and to the floor quickly. PLUS they (maybe?) wouldn't be crawling over other eggs trying to hatch. Is that right?
I use the same type of egg carton that are free from restaurants, but I cut them into sections and place them against the incubator's walls.
What do you think are the pros and cons of the slanting carton?
BTW After answering, you might consider making a separate post on this subject.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Yea SimplySplendidSilkies, Chicks hatching has to rank quite A bit above infomercials.


Joebryant, I've never liked the carton method. I think by standing them on there end you trap the moisture in the egg where it is. When the chick pips the air sack the water does not run in to the sack an away from the chicks mouth like it does naturally when its on it side. I think that makes drowning more common because the chick has to hold hes head up from its first breath till it hatches to keep from breathing in that moisture. I also assume that there is moisture in the lungs that they have to get out first anyway an sitting up may make that harder.

Wish I could say that I had this great genus moment an came up with hatching at a 45* angle but really its that way because it keeps the eggs in the best view for the cameras. Looking at it now though there may be something to hatching this way.. Still hatching the natural angle, no egg soccer, no one sitting on the top of other eggs and the chicks can get out very easy. Would have to cut the cartons in to strips to do it in a foam incubator though.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

Those chicks have not done anything since about 4:30!
I thought you did the 45 angle on purpose! I was planning on doing it myself on my next go at incubation. Thanks for the idea of cutting the cartoon I will try that today. Why do you use the cardboard cartoons and not the styrofoam? I would think that would take away humidity? But what do I know I hatched 8 of 16? I have 2 eggs now! And I know which Hen is laying them I think I have 2 on and off of the one nest. The eggs are in a cartoon waiting for someone to go broody! I plan to put my lav eggs in there if I get them in time.
Good luck with this hatch, this is about the time I get very antsy. And that is the reason I will let my silkies attempt to hatch out these eggs.
Edited to add:
*umm make that 3 eggs. I just about stepped on this one!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

My other incubator had more open room so the camera was looking down a a 45* angle to get the best view. When I moved to this one which is a sportsman clone I didnt have the room to do that so I tilted the eggs to get the same view. No more though than that went in to it till Joe's comment.

I just use what ever carton is sitting here at the time. Paper works fine as long as its not where it will get wet. If it gets wet your humidity will go threw the roof. In a foam incubator it will probably get wet but not really a problem in this one.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Thats defiantly a pip in the bottom of the far right egg.....


I'm sure y'all have noticed that I added a timer to the pages this week that checks to make sure you are still actively watching every 10 minutes. How is that working? Dont want to to deter people from watching as long as they want. It just freezes the video long enough for ya to click ok. I'm just trying to keep people from forgetting its running for hours at a time. Like looking at it then running off to work with it still running an no one there. With 3 or 4 hundred views some days, it happens a lot.

Is 10 minutes ok without being annoying or does it need to be longer between checks?

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

The far right eggs is zipping now. It is about time. Go chicks go!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

There definitely making us wait. Hes making progress now though.