Incubators Anonymous

[Flowerbh]

So I went to the Poultry show in Ga. I was to met a lady there to get some Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs. While there, I also picked up some Wheaten Marans eggs. Really nice dark color. So then, while we were looking at the Salmon Favorelle chickens that were being judged, a lady was tending to her hen.(water and feed) While I was asking her questions about the Favorelle, the hen laid an egg. I was excited to see the cute pinkish color of it, so the lady said I could have it! She said it was probably fertile! Yea! I always wanted a Favorelle! So, then we were walking around looking at the chickens for sale, we came across a man who had some French Black Copper Marans eggs for sale. They were high....12 for $75! Anyway, my DH happened to be eating some Girl Scout cookies we had just bought and the man with the FBCM eggs was hungry so he bartered one egg for 3 cookies! Yea! So, now I will be setting all the eggs soon! Fun day!

 

[TarheelBirdy]

So I went to the Poultry show in Ga. I was to met a lady there to get some Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs. While there, I also picked up some Wheaten Marans eggs. Really nice dark color. So then, while we were looking at the Salmon Favorelle chickens that were being judged, a lady was tending to her hen.(water and feed) While I was asking her questions about the Favorelle, the hen laid an egg. I was excited to see the cute pinkish color of it, so the lady said I could have it! She said it was probably fertile! Yea! I always wanted a Favorelle! So, then we were walking around looking at the chickens for sale, we came across a man who had some French Black Copper Marans eggs for sale. They were high....12 for $75! Anyway, my DH happened to be eating some Girl Scout cookies we had just bought and the man with the FBCM eggs was hungry so he bartered one egg for 3 cookies! Yea! So, now I will be setting all the eggs soon! Fun day!

I love this!!!! Love bartering. Everyone wins! Especially the man who got 3 girl scout cookies!

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

Now thats a good day

So I went to the Poultry show in Ga.  I was to met a lady there to get some Blue Laced Red Wyandotte eggs.  While there, I also picked up some Wheaten Marans eggs.  Really nice dark color.  So then, while we were looking at the Salmon Favorelle chickens that were being judged, a lady was tending to her hen.(water and feed)  While I was asking her questions about the Favorelle, the hen laid an egg.  I was excited to see the cute pinkish color of it, so the lady said I could have it!  She said it was probably fertile!  Yea!  I always wanted a Favorelle!  So, then we were walking around looking at the chickens for sale, we came across a man who had some French Black Copper Marans eggs for sale.  They were high....12 for $75!  Anyway, my DH happened to be eating some Girl Scout cookies we had just bought and the man with the FBCM eggs was hungry so he bartered one egg for 3 cookies!  Yea!  So, now I will be setting all the eggs soon!   Fun day!

 

[GreenGirlGrammy]

I think "Flock Master" was sanding maran eggs because the shell is too dense and does not allow the air sack to develope. Are you making it more porous, Flock Master? Or making the shell lighter for viewing inside?

I am on the 7th day of incubating a mix of doms, ameraucana, and silkies. Was told to keep humidity between 50 - 55 %, I hope that is not too high. It's a Hovabator with digital thermometer and humidity read out, and fan. I have the temp set at 100. It stays there. Am I okay there you thnk?

 

[ki4got]

I think "Flock Master" was sanding maran eggs because the shell is too dense and does not allow the air sack to develope. Are you making it more porous, Flock Master? Or making the shell lighter for viewing inside?

I am on the 7th day of incubating a mix of doms, ameraucana, and silkies. Was told to keep humidity between 50 - 55 %, I hope that is not too high. It's a Hovabator with digital thermometer and humidity read out, and fan. I have the temp set at 100. It stays there. Am I okay there you thnk?

i prefer dry incubating... adding NO water until it's time for lockdown.

experience has taught me, at least for my location & circumstances, that adding any water at all causes wet hatches and higher mortality rate of hatching chicks, because they're so bloated with water they can't turn and it puts too much stress on their heart, so they die mid-hatch.

humidity during incubation typically ranges from 10-15%... then i increase it to 50-60% during the last 3 days.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Well, I just candled last night and removed almost a third of the eggs.

12 of the 15 RIR eggs were good but the mixed eggs were about 50/50, 8 of 15 were good and one shell was to dark to see inside so I am leaving it for now. The mix eggs were given to me for free as the lady couldn't fill my whole order, so oh, well. Still was sad to take that many out, and most of them because they were infertile, no veining whatsoever. And I still have the one buff brahma egg. Keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of the hatch...

Flowerbh-

Ki4got- I am trying a drier incubation this time, humidity between 40-45%. I am trying to keep it on the lower side of that but it is a work in progress. I am trying decreasing my humidity based on hatching results and hopefully with find the magic range soon (maybe this time? I hope..)

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

new hatch my second Coro, also Rhodebar piped on next hatch

 

[Flowerbh]

I think "Flock Master" was sanding maran eggs because the shell is too dense and does not allow the air sack to develope. Are you making it more porous, Flock Master? Or making the shell lighter for viewing inside?

I am on the 7th day of incubating a mix of doms, ameraucana, and silkies. Was told to keep humidity between 50 - 55 %, I hope that is not too high. It's a Hovabator with digital thermometer and humidity read out, and fan. I have the temp set at 100. It stays there. Am I okay there you thnk?

I have the hovabator and the instructions say the 1st 18 days, humidity should be 40 -45%, then 50-60%. That is exactly what a very popular and well respected man on the forum told me he does when he incubates his chicks. He raises very rare and expensive chicks. So, that is what I am doing. Tood luck

 

[SewChaos]

There are sooo many different ways to incubate. I think the only way to figure out the "best" way is just to do it. If you don't like your results, change your methods.

Personally, I keep it at about 25% until lockdown. I also mark the air cells and weigh the eggs before I set, day 7, 14 & at lockdown to make sure they're progressing as they should. I put the humidity to 50% at lockdown until first pip, then I push it up to 70%. That's what seems to work best for me. I hatch upright, not on their sides.

 

[DMRippy]

There are sooo many different ways to incubate. I think the only way to figure out the "best" way is just to do it. If you don't like your results, change your methods.

Personally, I keep it at about 25% until lockdown. I also mark the air cells and weigh the eggs before I set, day 7, 14 & at lockdown to make sure they're progressing as they should. I put the humidity to 50% at lockdown until first pip, then I push it up to 70%. That's what seems to work best for me. I hatch upright, not on their sides.

x2. 35% and above is time to get some humidity OUT. 35% is about where mine stays naturally.... and it works well. I incubate RARE breeds too and have almost 100% hatches when they make it to lockdown. If they develop they hatch. I have hatched Wyandottes, NH, EE, Ameraucanas, WL, Cream Legbars, Rhodebars, silkies, semeras, RIR, d'Uccles, Olive Eggers, Marans, Rocks, Orpingtons, I am sure I am missing something for ALL those breeds dry incubation worked best.... last year I hatched almost 2000 chicks (shipped eggs and mine) This year it will be MANY MORE.

As for the Marans eggs... their shells are not TOO thick for a chick to hatch. The SANDING is supposed to help the moisture evaporate. It is the COLOR of the egg that people assume causes the eggs not to hatch. In reality from hatching HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of marans.....it is the chicks DROWN from using too high a humidity. Dry incubation seems to be the universal hatch method with most people that raise marans. I have never sanded and have great hatches with my marans.