Hello! Introduction

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! Cute chick! I hope they all hatch for you!

 

[Tookie]

Welcome to BYC! Glad to have you here.

 

[N F C]

Hi, cute chick, thanks for sharing a picture!

 

[Chiknnuggie]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Hopefully you will get a broody hen that will want to take over chick hatching and raising duties for you in the future.
What are you going to do with the cockerels from the hatch?

I have yet to have anyone in my flock go broody! well I had a buff orphington who went broody twice but she got egg bound and passed. I dont know why no one ever wants to get broody for me, but that's why I got an incubator. I was tired of waiting.
I ended up with 3 chicks out of 9 eggs. I still have 2 in the incubator bc they did show signs of life 5 days ago. But I'm doubtful they will hatch. They are actually the new Hampshire reds eggs and those chickens are about 4 years old, so maybe it has something to do with the age? I think I might have 1 roo. I'm just guessing right now, but he is an amerucana leghorn mix and if hes a good boy, I might just keep him. I really hope I get at least 1 hen from this batch! I dont know if we would butcher or give them away if they're all boys. but this was a great learning experience!

 

[Chiknnuggie]

So cute! What incubator model did you use?

It was a cheapy from amazon. I think it was called smartlife incubator. I'm not really super happy with it. There was no humidity gauge so I was always guessing and stressed. It didnt seem very well ventilated either. The candle light was too dim, but that's not a huge issue. And it was too low for the chicks to walk around. My 1 st chick was born almost 30 hrs before anyone else so I had a really active chick almost scooting around and freaking out with pipped eggs in there. I was too scared to open the incubator. But thanks to this site I learned it was ok to open it a little. I will eventually like to get a better model but for right now it's ok. Husband wants to try quail this summer. We'll see how that goes.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

It was a cheapy from amazon. I think it was called smartlife incubator. I'm not really super happy with it. There was no humidity gauge so I was always guessing and stressed. It didnt seem very well ventilated either. The candle light was too dim, but that's not a huge issue. And it was too low for the chicks to walk around. My 1 st chick was born almost 30 hrs before anyone else so I had a really active chick almost scooting around and freaking out with pipped eggs in there. I was too scared to open the incubator. But thanks to this site I learned it was ok to open it a little. I will eventually like to get a better model but for right now it's ok. Husband wants to try quail this summer. We'll see how that goes.

I have some recommendations for incubator and humidity available on Amazon.com

 

[Debbie292d]

It was a cheapy from amazon. I think it was called smartlife incubator. I'm not really super happy with it. There was no humidity gauge so I was always guessing and stressed. It didnt seem very well ventilated either. The candle light was too dim, but that's not a huge issue. And it was too low for the chicks to walk around. My 1 st chick was born almost 30 hrs before anyone else so I had a really active chick almost scooting around and freaking out with pipped eggs in there. I was too scared to open the incubator. But thanks to this site I learned it was ok to open it a little. I will eventually like to get a better model but for right now it's ok. Husband wants to try quail this summer. We'll see how that goes.

Even if you upgrade incubators, you'll want to buy at least one thermometer/hygrometer as the temps and humidity settings are rarely correct. I have a used Brinsea 56EX and a brand new one of the same, rather expensive not to have the capability to have correct humidity/temps, but neither are, so I have to calibrate them both.

I bought 4 different Govees, (thermometer/hygrometer) the cheapest is around $14 that has an app on your phone so you can check the settings from anywhere.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!