Incubators Anonymous

[TeaChick]

Tractor Supply has two kinds of pine shavings: fine, which is almost like saw dust, and big flakes. I have found that when I put a layer of the fine on the bottom of the brooder, and a layer of big flakes on top of that, the brooder stays cleaner. The fine stuff draws the moisture down below the layer of big flakes.

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try this.

But they could eat that as well right? So, basically the same. I know many people use sand, which they could eat. I don't want to do it if its not safe, but I really like this stuff. So, if it is safe, DEF wanna use it. Lol

It's not a big deal for them to eat the sand. Some ppl put sand in the bottom of their brooders to help eliminate pasty butt.

 

[TeaChick]

Oh no I didn't...it wasn't me! They just followed me home, can I keep them?

I gotta find a place that hatching eggs follow me home from!!!
Gotta get DH to get on the stick and order my 'bator first! <hands on hips>

for all the pips and chirps and bitties!!!

for any losses and difficulties.

for those having a hard time; hope they pull through!

 

[sonderah]

Thanks for sharing.  I'll have to try this.





It's not a big deal for them to eat the sand.  Some ppl put sand in the bottom of their brooders to help eliminate pasty butt.

That makes sense. Looks like I'll probably just go to sand in the spring then. I HATE PASTY BUTT!! Lol

 

[silkiefive]

Hi, dont know if this is the right post, but here I go, just bought an incubator and its been a total mess, first time just 3 chicks out of 48 eggs, most of the them were too old eggs but didnt have more fresh eggs so I decided to try the old ones, anyway there was a lot of room and nothing to lose, by day 18 only 12 had developed and showed movement so I locked with just 12, but as I said only 3 hatched, the other 9 seemed to have died after day 18.

I decided to give it a second chance and put 25 eggs, no more than 12 days old and by day 18 this is what i got:

5 unfertile (or embryo didnt even start developing)
4 with blood rings and very poor development
16 with good development and movement

I was very excited because this time it was a pretty decent number 75% of the fertile eggs, 60% of the total compared to first time 25%, so I locked down with 16 growing babies but again by day 21 just 4 chickens hatched, waited 3 more days but no movement, no peeps, no nothing, so I took the rest out, turn off the incubator and opened the eggs, and this time I guess they also died between day 19 and 21.

I feel pretty bad as I guess is my fault they are dying (im killing them which is the same), Im stopping the turner by day 18 and raising humidity up to 60-70%, the only thing I have noticed is that when I take out the turner temperature falls down by 1°C in my external thermometer so I rise it for 0.5°C to compensate, i guess this happens as the eggs when taking off the turner are put lower and farther from the heat element.

Please need advice, I think the incubator is doing its job, its me the one failing. Here are my notes of this latter attempt.

Day °C MAX % MAX °C MIN % MIN
1 37,8 59 36,5 35
2 37,8 56 36,9 40
3 38,1 49 37,2 46
4 38,1 59 37 30
5 37,8 59 36,6 50
6 37,9 76 33,7 45
7 38 49 37,5 45
8 38 50 37,6 47
9 38 49 38,7 40
10 37,9 62 37,5 49
11 38 61 37,5 57
12 38,7 59 37,4 38
13 37,9 59 37,6 50
14 38 62 37,1 37
15 37,8 60 37,2 45
16 37,8 60 37,3 52
17 37,7 59 37,2 54
18 37,5 69 36,2 56
19 37,7 70 37 55
20 37,5 70 36,3 63

 

[ki4got]

Hi, dont know if this is the right post, but here I go, just bought an incubator and its been a total mess, first time just 3 chicks out of 48 eggs, most of the them were too old eggs but didnt have more fresh eggs so I decided to try the old ones, anyway there was a lot of room and nothing to lose, by day 18 only 12 had developed and showed movement so I locked with just 12, but as I said only 3 hatched, the other 9 seemed to have died after day 18.

I decided to give it a second chance and put 25 eggs, no more than 12 days old and by day 18 this is what i got:

5 unfertile (or embryo didnt even start developing)
4 with blood rings and very poor development
16 with good development and movement

I was very excited because this time it was a pretty decent number 75% of the fertile eggs, 60% of the total compared to first time 25%, so I locked down with 16 growing babies but again by day 21 just 4 chickens hatched, waited 3 more days but no movement, no peeps, no nothing, so I took the rest out, turn off the incubator and opened the eggs, and this time I guess they also died between day 19 and 21.

I feel pretty bad as I guess is my fault they are dying (im killing them which is the same), Im stopping the turner by day 18 and raising humidity up to 60-70%, the only thing I have noticed is that when I take out the turner temperature falls down by 1°C in my external thermometer so I rise it for 0.5°C to compensate, i guess this happens as the eggs when taking off the turner are put lower and farther from the heat element.

Please need advice, I think the incubator is doing its job, its me the one failing. Here are my notes of this latter attempt.

Day °C MAX % MAX °C MIN % MIN
1 37,8 59 36,5 35
2 37,8 56 36,9 40
3 38,1 49 37,2 46
4 38,1 59 37 30
5 37,8 59 36,6 50
6 37,9 76 33,7 45
7 38 49 37,5 45
8 38 50 37,6 47
9 38 49 38,7 40
10 37,9 62 37,5 49
11 38 61 37,5 57
12 38,7 59 37,4 38
13 37,9 59 37,6 50
14 38 62 37,1 37
15 37,8 60 37,2 45
16 37,8 60 37,3 52
17 37,7 59 37,2 54
18 37,5 69 36,2 56
19 37,7 70 37 55
20 37,5 70 36,3 63

hate to say, but it looks like your humidity #s are way too high. eggs need to lose moisture steadily so the chick has room to grow. the higher humidity is most critical only when hatching.

I incubate all my eggs between 5 and 15% normally, though with the rainy weather it's closer to 20% right now. then at hatching with the lower humidity i'll up it only on day 19 or 20 to 45-65% depending what the incubation humidity was usually. right now tho, whith the higher humidities, I'm actually dry HATCHING too for some varieties (dorking seems to like drier, cochin and sfh like a little higher, at least for me)

 

[TherryChicken]

Well there goes 21 chicken eggs.. my incubators fan quit working so its gone as high as it possibly could 2 times..

 

[KendyF]

hate to say, but it looks like your humidity #s are way too high. eggs need to lose moisture steadily so the chick has room to grow. the higher humidity is most critical only when hatching.

I incubate all my eggs between 5 and 15% normally, though with the rainy weather it's closer to 20% right now. then at hatching with the lower humidity i'll up it only on day 19 or 20 to 45-65% depending what the incubation humidity was usually. right now tho, whith the higher humidities, I'm actually dry HATCHING too for some varieties (dorking seems to like drier, cochin and sfh like a little higher, at least for me)

x2

 

[CharterChick]

Well there goes 21 chicken eggs.. my incubators fan quit working so its gone as high as it possibly could 2 times..

I thought all my eggs were cooked last hatch went up to 110 a couple times and I still got 15/30. Check them before you get too discouraged

 

[LindaB220]

hate to say, but it looks like your humidity #s are way too high. eggs need to lose moisture steadily so the chick has room to grow. the higher humidity is most critical only when hatching.

I incubate all my eggs between 5 and 15% normally, though with the rainy weather it's closer to 20% right now. then at hatching with the lower humidity i'll up it only on day 19 or 20 to 45-65% depending what the incubation humidity was usually. right now tho, whith the higher humidities, I'm actually dry HATCHING too for some varieties (dorking seems to like drier, cochin and sfh like a little higher, at least for me)

Okay, I've got SFH on day 3 and humidity is on 20 or so. The gauge on the incubator says 32%. I usually go by the lower. What should be the best hatch on these. Also, I'm getting SG Dorkings on the 25th and what should I aim for on these as far as humidity. Also, Ron Ott, does cool downs on Day 8 through Day 18. He takes the top off and spritzes eggs if you are in a dry area. I don't. Two hours. It builds up stamina and helps the hatching percentage. I found a similar method that I'm trying with my SFH's. Soak eggs 2 min in 1 tsp (or 3 tab) of Ascorbie acid Vit C. Air dry and place in the incubator. On day 16 take off top and let cool down for 6 hrs. One time only. I'll report back on results.

 

[KendyF]

Okay, I've got SFH on day 3 and humidity is on 20 or so. The gauge on the incubator says 32%. I usually go by the lower. What should be the best hatch on these. Also, I'm getting SG Dorkings on the 25th and what should I aim for on these as far as humidity. Also, Ron Ott, does cool downs on Day 8 through Day 18. He takes the top off and spritzes eggs if you are in a dry area. I don't. Two hours. It builds up stamina and helps the hatching percentage. I found a similar method that I'm trying with my SFH's. Soak eggs 2 min in 1 tsp (or 3 tab) of Ascorbie acid Vit C. Air dry and place in the incubator. On day 16 take off top and let cool down for 6 hrs. One time only. I'll report back on results.

I recently changed to the dry hatch method. Letting humidity get quite low during incubation, and making sure it is very high during hatching. It has greatly improved my hatch rates. There is a thread on this method here. I do spritz my eggs as I move them from the incubator to the hatcher. I keep the hatcher as moist as possible. I am not having problems with dead in the egg chicks any longer. Good luck to you, and I have received much good advice here.