Incubating French Black Copper Marans

[jbher]

I agree 100%. Humidity level determines dry or wet. We just received a lot of rain last three weeks in CA or the humidity would have been a lot less too. If we used our wood stove it would be under 20%. I told my husband no stove at all. Out of 15 Marans eggs1 didn't make it to lockdown and 3 didn't hatch. I ended up with 11 chicks and I'm thrilled with that!!!

11 out of 15 seems AWESOME!!

 

[MrsEllis11]

The humidity level in our house hovers around 19%. It is VERY dry in here... we are always "shocking" each other... which can be a fun surprise "Bzzzt!". Our youngest child's room though has a humidifier that I run in it 24/7. It's also dark and I run a heater in that room too so it always is 66-73 degree's. This is the room I was going to put my incubator in... I thought it would be better than other areas because it has a constant temperature (the rest of our house drops to 62 at night). However, do you think I should turn off his humidifier? 

I ran our incubator for a week before testing 4 diff thermometers and two that had humidity gauges on it. If you have time see what the humidity level reads before you set - do it. My two best thermometer readings were the standard mercury ones. I'm thinking the humidifier may help if you have a dry home. Just trust me...the noise after one starts hatching is LOUD! Our chicks are in our bedroom and it sounds like a party going on in there.

Our humidifier puts moisture into the air.

Kristie

 

[jbher]

I ran our incubator for a week before testing 4 diff thermometers and two that had humidity gauges on it. If you have time see what the humidity level reads before you set - do it. My two best thermometer readings were the standard mercury ones. I'm thinking the humidifier may help if you have a dry home. Just trust me...the noise after one starts hatching is LOUD! Our chicks are in our bedroom and it sounds like a party going on in there.

Well shoot. I honestly didn't even think about that part!! HA! Granted our son is up at 5am sharp every morning ~ I don't necessarily want him up all night. Hmmm now I'm gonna have to think about this.

My dad is a weather gadget guy and has lots of digital thermometers around his house. I called him to see if I could borrow one that reads temp and humidity and the only one he has is an antique one that reads temperature and humidity. I'm going to have him take a picture of it for me and send it to me. I'm thinking it's probably way too big to be putting in the incubator I will do what you said though and run the incubator for a few days beforehand to see what happens.

 

[MrsEllis11]

11 out of 15 seems AWESOME!! 

That's what I think too!!

One more thing, our bedroom fluctuates in temperature too, your heater may be affecting the humidity level in that room. Ours definitely does...when are you setting your eggs?

Kristie

 

[aart]

You can test your thermometers and hygrometers to have a better idea how accurate they are:

Tips on checking accuracy of thermometers and hygrometers:

The thing you want to do is check that any of thermometers and hygrometers are correct by testing them against a known criteria.
Comparing devices is useless unless you know how accurate any of them are.

I used a candy thermometer tested in boiling water and noted how far off 212 degrees it was...or whatever temp water boils at your altitude.
You can check your boiling temp at altitude here.
Then put the candy thermometer and 3 others in the incubator during the test run and compared them all, noting any differences.
I made a chart noting all temps and made notes about if this one reads this temp it is actually that temp.

Hygrometers can be tested by putting 1/2 cup salt and 1/4 cup water in a dish or jar and mixing it to a slurry.
Put the salt slurry jar and the hygrometer next to each other in a sealed plastic bag.
After 8-12 hours the hygrometer should read 75%...again note and differences and you're set.

 

[PlatteRiverPs]

I would have been upset with the delivery...I drove my Marans eggs 4 hours to get home and the others came from my friend in Los Angeles and they had a six hour car ride home. I was worried even with normal driving!

Kristie

Yeah, kind of a bummer but at least it wasn't a bust. I wish someone around here had good birds, 4 hours in a car sure beats 4 days with the PO.

 

[MrsEllis11]

Yeah, kind of a bummer but at least it wasn't a bust. I wish someone around here had good birds, 4 hours in a car sure beats 4 days with the PO.

Where do you live?

Kristie

 

[PlatteRiverPs]

I'm in central Nebraska. There's a few local people with Davis/Jeanne birds, but I'm wasn't happy with them at all.

Im working with Cottage Hills and the LP line.

 

[MrsEllis11]

I'm in central Nebraska. There's a few local people with Davis/Jeanne birds, but I'm wasn't happy with them at all.

Im working with Cottage Hills and the LP line.

Why weren't you happy with them? Curious.

 

[PlatteRiverPs]

They reminded me of hatchery stock BCM. Everything was wrong with them, horrible hackles, white feathers, egg color. They were mutts IMO. So, I did some research and purchased eggs from a flock in good hands.