Incubators Anonymous

[happyhens120]

Quote:
So how do you go about hooking that up? I'm not very technically advanced...

 

[DMRippy]

Just realized my incubator is getting very full

SOOOOOOOO Time to build that new incubator! I have 4 doz in there now and just ordered a ton more eggs.... Son is off this weekend so I am going to see if I can recruit him to help me build it. Need to get the flexwatt ordered or picked up if I can find it locally.

Update on chickies.... I had one die and then the other with the bad leg is still having trouble. So 29 healthy Marans. Anybody else have trouble with Marans having a hard time getting out without shrink wrapping? Do I need to up my humidity somehow? more sponges I guess. Suggestions are welcome. I don't see that with other chicks I hatch. The membrane and shell is very hard on Marans that may be the problem.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
So how do you go about hooking that up? I'm not very technically advanced...

basically just gather the components, make holes for wires/fixtures where needed, and wire it all together. LOL easier said than done, but that's it in a nutshell.

and don't touch bare wires if you're not sure if it's plugged in...

 

[happyhens120]

Quote:
So how do you go about hooking that up? I'm not very technically advanced...

basically just gather the components, make holes for wires/fixtures where needed, and wire it all together. LOL easier said than done, but that's it in a nutshell.

and don't touch bare wires if you're not sure if it's plugged in...

Ok... sounds like a job for the hubby! hehe. Thanks!

 

[CapricornFarm]

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I need to get busy on rebuilding the cabinet Bator I bought. Wish I felt better. I have actually slowed down on hatching because I am backed up with chicks I am growing out. No room at the inn. Well, I do have three empty brooders, but will be picking up Marans chicks soon Maybe you need to spray those eggs with water to boost humidity?

 

[littlecreekfarm]

OH MY GAWSH tomorrow is HatchDay!!!!! AHHHH I CANT WAIT!!!!! I swear i saw an egg rock last night!!! When does pipping normally begin??? I rememeber i hatched turkeys and 11 chicks hatched in 3 days....is this possible for chicken eggs too??? I have 10 eggs in my bator....all mutts!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I need to get busy on rebuilding the cabinet Bator I bought. Wish I felt better. I have actually slowed down on hatching because I am backed up with chicks I am growing out. No room at the inn. Well, I do have three empty brooders, but will be picking up Marans chicks soon Maybe you need to spray those eggs with water to boost humidity?

OHHHHH that is a good idea..... I think I also read you can add paper towels too.... maybe that is what I should do when they pip toss a wet paper towel over them.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Lockdown on day 18 and Pipping can vary but with me they can start on day 19 but more on day 20 and 21. I get them in waves. Several will hatch at one time, then a lag and then more will pop out and so on till they are done. This last batch was due on Monday. Had several out on sunday but most were out on Monday. I still have 7 egg in there just in case but by friday I will toss them.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I'm depressed! All of my incubators are empty! Yes, even the Brinsea!! Ugh!! The Brinsea is broken and I'll be sending it in to the Brinsea place so they can tell me what the matter with it is. I'd like to have the bigger Brinsea that holds 24++ eggs...but those are sure pricey!!

I want to set some eggs soooooo badly!! My OE pullets are just starting to lay and I want to hatch some pretty babies from their eggs!! Oh it's tempting!!

~Aspen

 

[ki4got]

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not sure i'd put the towel over them, first because evaporating water lowers temperature immediately near it, and also, i want max air circulation aorund the eggs, and wet paper towel (even dry) will decrease the air flow.

what I do is layer the paper towel on the wire, under the eggs, and put the eggs on a paper towel lined cookie tray (the kind oreos come in). then if i need to dampen the paper towel on the bottom the eggs stay dry. the paper towel on the cookie tray is just to give traction. the bare plastic is slick. an added benefit, the rows on the cookie tray keep eggs from shifting much when hatched chicks decide to go wandering.

and with the paper towel on the bottom (make sure you don't cover the air holes at the edges), i fill all the water compartments in the tray underneath, and enough moisture makes it up thru to keep the humidity about 55-60 and when i have external pip I pour a small bit of HOT water onto the paper towel to crank it up a bit more short term.

I'm also bad about continually openning the hatcher to check progresses, so when i do i add a bit more hot water to the paper and it's back up over 70% within a minute. once the paper on the bottom dries out it goes back to where it was before.

this is a pic i posted before but it shows the cookie tray idea...