Incubators Anonymous

[ki4got]

I have to figure out how to make something for my hatcher! I will have 2 breeds hatchig this next time, then 3 the following week. I have some hardware cloth I just pulled off if an old cage I "remodeled" to make it safe to become a brooder cage, since I now have 2 silkies. Lol Think that would work?

what breeds?

I hatch multiple breeds all the time, but each one is easily identifiable... usually by comb, color, pattern or number of toes (dorkings and dorking x)

my sfh and mille fleur cochins are the same color, but mfc have fuzz feet, blrw and some of the ee mixes are very similar but ee has pea comb (usually), blrw is rose, that sort of thing.

unless you're planning on selling the chicks before they feather, and they all look alike, I wouldn't worry about it, personally. then again I rotate hatches all the time, so I can set different breeds 4-5 days apart if they're nearly identical (say cuckoo marans and barred rocks - I won't ever do THAT mistake again LOL)

 

[sonderah]

what breeds?

I hatch multiple breeds all the time, but each one is easily identifiable...  usually by comb, color, pattern or number of toes (dorkings and dorking x)

my sfh and mille fleur cochins are the same color, but mfc have fuzz feet, blrw and some of the ee mixes are very similar but ee has pea comb (usually), blrw is rose, that sort of thing.

unless you're planning on selling the chicks before they feather, and they all look alike, I wouldn't worry about it, personally.  then again I rotate hatches all the time, so I can set different breeds 4-5 days apart if they're nearly identical (say cuckoo marans and barred rocks - I won't ever do THAT mistake again LOL)

They have been sold lately b4 they ever hatch, which was a bad thing since last hatch was HORRID! Lol But I have BO and some mixes (from my BO roo & sex link hen). Now hatching turkeys and EE chicks too, but the EE's will only be this time. ( just got her for the cute factor & grabbed her first few eggs while she was still in quarantine.) As soon as my Silkie starts laying again, will be hatching Sizzles as well. So soon my normal hatches will be Sizzles, BO's, & turkeys. Which idk what my turkeys will look like yet, as my first set of them is on day 10.

 

[sonderah]

Just did day 10 candle on my 1st turkey eggs I've ever had. Set 9, but I knew at least 4 had frozen, just didn't know which ones, and saw 4 little babies swimming around!! 18 days to go!!!

 

[sonderah]

I'm cleaning my LG styrofoam bator, that I'm using as a hatcher. And I have a question! What's the best way to clean te lid, without messing up any of the working parts???

 

[ki4got]

I'm cleaning my LG styrofoam bator, that I'm using as a hatcher. And I have a question! What's the best way to clean te lid, without messing up any of the working parts???

I clean mine usually with a damp soft cloth with just water (I have the picture window style) and use soap and water on the base, let it air dry then spritz with a diluted Clorox/water mix (maybe 10% Clorox) and let it air dry. then when I start it back up, I just make sure I can't smell any Clorox before I start using it again. sometimes it'll smell a bit for a few hours as it heats but then goes away.

 

[mbleily]

No you don't need them LOL.

No I guess not any more. But still they might come in handy sometime. ;]

 

[mbleily]

Can you pls keep us posted on how it works out for you?

I don't have any right now. I was just wishing I had them. It is too late for me to get them. I am in lock down right now. I had some sex links that were going to look like some others that were going to hatch. But all the sex links were clear so I don't really need the bags now. I think they would be useful if needed. I like the idea of little boxes of plastic better I think though. Seems they could move around better after hatching in boxes.

 

[Runawaylobster]

Quote:
I had 7 different types of chicks hatching and some of them cannot be told apart until later like SBELS and Blue Wheaten AMS, and then Olive eggers and black and blue coppers, and also some other project marans.. some of whom come out splash looking and they were mixed in with the lavender orpingtons... Hmmmm..... i still have not separated them but i kept the shells so i can make a log and perhaps sort most of them out that way... so i don't end up with more orpingtons than i have empty shells LOL!!!! I have baskets made from hardware cloth but they take up a fixed amount of space so if you have one group with less eggs than the other group then some have too much space and the others are too crowded. I don't have a separate hatcher i do weeklys in the sportsman and if you fill one of the shelves per week your hatching tray gets FULL... i'm on my last two hatches now anyway... so in two more weeks i will be done... and then i can start hatching ones for myself for my projects can't wait!!

 

[ChickenFox]

Well just did a 12 day candle (I know odd day. I was running a little late this week. ) Of 39 shipped eggs I had 8 blood ring (1 more possible) and 2 clears so I'm down to 29/28. Still not too shabby I think. The odd thing was 6 of the blood rings were from the same group. :/ So I only have 6 of those left. Could it have been caused by rough handling at the PO or a vitamin issue with the hens that laid them? The other group came FedEx and they are doing beautifully! 1 was even badly cracked all the way down the side but it's doing great. I sealed the crack with nail polish not really thinking it would develop. Can honestly say I'm surprised with that one. Can't wait for next week! Need to find a way to separate 2 eggs for hatch. They are the bluest of the bunch so I really want to keep the chicks that hatch from them. (IF they hatch)

 

[ChickenFox]

Quote: