Incubators Anonymous

[DMRippy]

Thursday we will set our 6th batch in my home made bator, It can only hold a dozen LF eggs, which is plenty for us,( small tators 4-H 'ers), What I have found to be most rewarding is to hatch at my place of work. I work at an Assissted living facility, and the residents really love the whole incubating and hatching process, I keep the chicks in a home made brooder box for 2 weeks before bringing them home, Most of our residents are children of the great depression, and had chicks and chickens at home when they were small, it takes them back to a time dear to their hearts, this will be the second time I have hatched a batch at work, and I enjoy it as much as our seniors. By the grace of a very generous breeder we will be setting some very sought after Salmon Faverolles this week. Oh yeah, I am a hatching addict! Best Wishes Phil.

That is a GREAT story! I bet they really do get a big kick out of it.

 

[carriebain]

Can anyone tell me if having chicks with a infected umbilical is genetic or environmental?

 

[Hangtown Farms]

dry incubation is the most common style practiced here. I dont add water to my 1588 til lockdown

read the hatching 101 in my signature for gret details

With no water in there what percentage of humidity is there? I generally set my r- com at 45% till day 18 then up to 65% I get good hatches but should I try lowering the percentages some?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I don't really even watch it. If my humidity is reading LO for a week I add water. So about once every hatch they get some water. I don't add ANY in the summer since I can't keep it under 45% in the summer.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I don't really even watch it.  If my humidity is reading LO for a week I add water.  So about once every hatch they get some water.  I don't add ANY in the summer since I can't keep it under 45% in the summer.

Yeah I'm in California though and we generally have very low humidity

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
mine usually reads 10-20% on the incubators, then 55-65% on the hatcher (when i'm hatching, then it drops back down when it's empty).

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Maybe I'll try 20 to 25

 

[Runawaylobster]

Hatch Day again

!!! about half were out when i left for work and i saw some nice little blue ones.... hope the other half are out when i get home. I dunno but i am not 100% sure about this hatch, it's looking a bit of a lower hatch rate than usual. Too weird, i store the eggs each week exactly the same, i run the incubator exactly the same.. the only variable is the outside weather, but my incubator is indoors in the AC.. Hmmm....

don't know what i was worried about... hatch went great out of 16 eggs, one didn't pip and i have one latecomer still in the hatcher.. 9 black and blue copper, 1 black tailed buff and four wheatens.. all marans..

 

[montain_dweller]

My name is Sam, I'm an incubating addict as well.
I am new to incubating, but once hooked, I can not I back.
To be honest it all falls in line with having a constant harvest of birds for meat. Self sustainability is my goal.

 

[Runawaylobster]

Yay!! the little latecomer just hatched all on his or her own .... now i can go to bed!!!