Incubating in my bra

[Chickeria]

I made a tragic mistake and hopefully, you guys can learn from it. I was letting baby dry off in the brooder because I figured it'd be better than my bra (I don't have my incubator running rn), but directly under the light was too warm and she couldn't walk well yet to get away... I'm a terrible person and I feel awful.

Let the babies dry off in your bra. Much safer. I was so devastated I cried for hours.

I'm so very sorry this happened

 

[Chickeria]

...I'm wondering about some things. Humidity at hatching time for example. Into an incubator it gets elevated on day 19, 20 and 21 up to +/- 70 % (chicks). How does (such) a increase of humidity occur under a broody hen when it is hatching time? I'm just curious.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

...I'm wondering about some things. Humidity at hatching time for example. Into an incubator it gets elevated on day 19, 20 and 21 up to +/- 70 % (chicks). How does (such) a increase of humidity occur under a broody hen when it is hatching time? I'm just curious.

I'm not sure. I know that broodies increase both the heat that the eggs get and the humidity by removing feathers to expose their skin. It may be a behavior thing they do. Perhaps once they hear peeping or feel movement they clamp down real close which prevents moisture from escaping?

 

[Chickeria]

I'm not sure. I know that broodies increase both the heat that the eggs get and the humidity by removing feathers to expose their skin. It may be a behavior thing they do. Perhaps once they hear peeping or feel movement they clamp down real close which prevents moisture from escaping?

Thank you for your answer TheAlrightyGina. Very intersting!
I'm really curious about it, I wondered about it because of this thread and then I recently did have my first hatch with an incubator (...bracubation will never be an option in my case, I'm not equipped appropriately ) and I was amazed how I had to increase humidity after lockdown by putting in bigger water containers/containers with bigger surface, and when realizing how much I had to increase the surface to reach the needed humidity I asked myself how does this work under a broody.

 

[Lucky20]

Currently on day 12 of this experiment and day 2 with my other quail eggs

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I've got all my materials in, though I may buy a couple of bras just for my next attempt. Planting season is almost over for me...I'm thinking I'm gonna give it another go come June.

 

[Chicalina]

I've just read this whole thread over 2 days!

Well done to all those who attempted this.

@sjhart18 How is the opened egg braby doing?

 

[sjhart18]

I've just read this whole thread over 2 days!

Well done to all those who attempted this.

@sjhart18 How is the opened egg braby doing?

Letti was moving and peeping for over a day and I should’ve just helped her the rest of the way but I wanted to give her a chance to hatch on her own. Alas, humidity was again my enemy and she ended up passing away on day 22 (four days late for a quail chick). I’m taking a break for a while to get over my heart breaks.

 

[Chicalina]

Oh no, how terrible. What an awful shame.

Maybe if you try again in the height of summer it might be more successful? Just thinking out loud. Perhaps your natural body sweat and higher air humidity and a wet face cloth tucked in there would fix the hatching issues? You could wear a bikini top for hatch lockdown under a Tshirt so the wet cloth wouldn't matter.

This all sounds crazy, so do ignore!

If I were doing this (and I won't because I would get too attached), I'd tuck several eggs in the under-boob area. Plenty hot and sweaty there (gross, sorry!). And I'd use bigger eggs (not quail) which should retain the heat better.

Theorising, as one does!

 

[Legbart]

Silver transmits heat very well. Some of the most expensive cookware in the world is made of pure silver.

I'd get a hinged silver egg (not as hard as you think) and put a small chicken or quail egg inside it. The temp would remain constant and it would never get crushed.

Put cursive initials or something impossible to replicate over time and candle every day.

It's doable