Icelandic Chickens

[drumstick diva]

Stella doesn't need anyone to open the gate for her, she will just pole vault over it.

 

[joyous]

Quote
I have opened five stuck chicks, three it was too late, I saved two. Wish i could figure out why some were sticky and some were ok. 4 of my dorkings hatched. All of those that hatched, or were helped to hatch are vigorous and healthy except one and hes still drying out so I think he will be ok. rest of eggs are not pipped or moving....but I have 19 icelandics and 4 dorkings.!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I find that the chicks get sticky when your humidity raises quickly (meaning lots hatching at once) then drops quickly. Congrats on the chicks you did get to hatch!

 

[NotAFarm]

Kelly, What do you think can be done about this? Is this a result of not enough evaporation during incubation so that the jump in humidity at lockdown is too much? Instead of "jumping" the humidity up at lockdown, could we gradually let it get higher? I know that once chicks start to hatch, the humidity rises quickly, can you remove water/humidity once chicks start hatching? In my old Farm Master, taking the water out of the top is easy but a small loss of heat may occur. I have alot of eggs in the incubator and want to hatch as many as possible.

Thanks for any insight by anyone that can share some!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I manage my humidity on every hatch and no longer have stuck chicks. When my humidity rises due to lots hatching, I pull the plugs on both of my vents. When it starts dropping, I'll plug one back up. If it continues dropping, I'll plug the other one back up. When it stabilizes, I remove one plug again.


I'm frequently not here during the entire time for my hatches, so it's not perfect, but my incubator is a hovabator still air and it works for me. I'd just play with the hatches until you see what helps. I think it's just a learning curve of figuring out how to best use your bator.

Accurate temps are important as well. I absolutely recommend the Brinsea Spot Check Thermometer.

 

[NotAFarm]

Thanks Kelly! I've never thought that about lowering the humidity once hatching starts. I haven't had enough experience to know that....this is my third time with eggs in the incubator that I'm planning on letting hatch there....I usually try and move them to a broody before that point. I have three Farm Tek Hygrometer/Thermometers so I think the I'm pretty good there but maybe I'll be ordering a Spot Check before the next time. Thanks again!!

 

[joyous]

I find that the chicks get sticky when your humidity raises quickly (meaning lots hatching at once) then drops quickly. Congrats on the chicks you did get to hatch!

I went ahead and opened my remaining eggs, they all were very late death with an unabsorbed yolk. none were sticky or shrink wrapped. It does make sense though when half of them hatched so quickly my humidity went up, and then after removing them a day later, I had to really work at keeping the humidity up!

 

[Jake Levi]

Mary I am sorry that you have rehomed your flock, you had some beauties, but I am also glad that somone experienced is carying on with them, good luck on your others. You were so much help here

thanks for being here.

 

[NotAFarm]

Mary I am sorry that you have rehomed your flock, you had some beauties, but I am also glad that somone experienced is carying on with them, good luck on your others. You were so much help here

thanks for being here.

Jake, I just rehomed 6 birds with Jim.........still have 22 Icelandics and 36 Icelandic eggs in the incubator...........you aren't rid of me yet!!

 

[The Sheriff]

Good morning all! It is sunny today! Here are my girls drinking from a mud puddle this morning. They had to walk past two clean auto-waterers to get to this puddle.