INCUBATING w/FRIENDS! w/Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs No problem!

[ambe0487]

I'm not currently hatching anything, but this looks like an amazing thread to hang around on and learn something new   


I have only incubated twice, the first time was during the Christmas hatch-a-long last year 42 eggs went in, all of them went into lockdown, 39 chicks came out, and 36 lived... Until the dog got a hold of them  Then this last hatch was at the end of May this year it was 16 eggs, 8 clears, 8 seemed to be developing, then only four hatched; sadly one came out blind and sadly died after being added to the rest of the flock.


Just my advice for anyone using a farms innovator still air incubator for dry hatching, when you don't have it completely full to it's maximum capacity; please have something (jar of water, rocks, etc) to keep the temperature stable. My first hatch was literally perfect for me, the temperature was stable due to the mass amount of eggs/liquid keeping it where it should be. The second hatch was a nightmare the temperature kept going out of control because nothing was keeping it stable, I am so surprised that I managed to hatch anything at all to be honest.

Welcome!!!!!! I am new to hatching and am also using the farms Innovator as well. My first hatch ended badly with no chicks making it out of the shell out of the 11 that were set. i have 30 on their way to set before Thanksgiving. I have the incubator up and running again and have been checking and loging temp/humidity and moving locations 3 times a day to try to know my incubator better. I'd love any advice on keeping it right on point!

What are you planning on hatching next?

 

[Lamancha]

I'm going t o have to quit my job so I can keep up with this thread.

 

[Hawk12]

I'm going t o have to quit my job so I can keep up with this thread.

I hear ya, I'm having a hard time keeping up also

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Anyone ever crack acorns to feed to their chickens? Acorns as Chicken Feed, Revisited http://livingthefrugallife.blogspot.com/2010/10/acorns-as-chicken-feed-revisited.html

 

[Kraftcrazychick]

when you first put in the eggs it will vary until everything is the same temp inside. it takes several hours until the eggs get the same temps

True. But it's on day three and the variance is 3-4 degrees. I've fiddled with it to get it just so and it's not.

Do I need to close holes at the bottom? I have 8 under the mesh floor that you can stick a pinky finger in. Would that regulate the temp more?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

My new Incuveiw All-in-One is supposed to be arrive today... yay!!! If it survives shipping, I'll set it up and let it run a few days to make sure I can get it stabilized. I recently met a fellow that lives about 9 miles away with a lovely flock of PBR. He sells his eggs for $20 per dozen... and they're fertilized. My goal is to practice on a couple of batches before ordering shipped eggs in the spring. Hopefully, I won't have too much trouble figuring out how to maintain ideal conditions for hatching. I'm looking forward to setting my first eggs for the very first time, and I'm also a little nervous at the same time. I suppose everyone goes through that in the beginning... lol!

Edit: Uhm... I meant $2 per dozen, not $20! DOH!!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

True. But it's on day three and the variance is 3-4 degrees. I've fiddled with it to get it just so and it's not.

Do I need to close holes at the bottom? I have 8 under the mesh floor that you can stick a pinky finger in. Would that regulate the temp more?

how many holes total in the bator as such and I forget was there a fan ?

 

[chicken hawk 33]

IS IT SAFE TO put a shirt over incubator.

 

[Kraftcrazychick]

Sally, I have 10 total below the mesh floor. Two on the short sides, 3 on the long sides. I covered the middle on both long sides which leaves 8. In the upper area I have two that are currently plugged for when I need to increase humidity (which is probably soon). And I can always make more as it's Styrofoam.

Yes, There is a medium sized fan places in between the two bulb sockets blowing heat towards the thermostat.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Sally, I have 10 total below the mesh floor. Two on the short sides, 3 on the long sides. I covered the middle on both long sides which leaves 8. In the upper area I have two that are currently plugged for when I need to increase humidity (which is probably soon). And I can always make more as it's Styrofoam.

Yes, There is a medium sized fan places in between the two bulb sockets blowing heat towards the thermostat.

do you know what the CFM is on your fan? or at least what size mm it is or estimate size it is?

you want to keep the holes near the fan open, if you can stick your finger in them they are large

mine is small 60mm 19.2cfm my cooler has the plug open at the bottom thumb size and then very small holes three front top and three rear top (see image below) and then near the fan I have a 1/4" hole and same on the other side, so if your fan is much larger and pushing much more air you may close more holes, (just not close to the fan) and it sounds like your holes are very large
just dont mess with them too much after you get them set, never touch them later on during lockdown