Incubators Anonymous

[PD-Riverman]

Do you hatch year round?

Stryker, if you are asking me----yes normanally. The bird flu "scare" has causes most of the chicken auctions to close down in my area-----so in the last 4 months----I have only hatched some for myself and a few for others. I have a few left in the incubator(staggered set) that I will move to the hatcher in a couple days then the incubator will be cut off---at least one cabinet---but up to 5 have been running and some styrofoam incubators in the last 2 years. I will sit back and see what happens with this BF deal or till some auctions re-open----probably early next year.

 

[PD-Riverman]

ok so I'm on day 18 with my silkie eggs and I hear cracking noises coming from the incubator.

Well sounds like you might have some about to start hatching. If you get alot of them hatching on day 19--early day 20 ""I"" would lower the temp 1/2 a degree----using that same thermometer---- for the next hatch. I like mine to hatch late day 20, early day 21. Good Luck

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Some do things one way, some do them another way. I have hatched over 5500 eggs in a little over a year now and have Never checked the air cell much less mark it. I have 95 to 100% hatch rate so I see no need in getting into doing that. I feel there is alot more important things to do.

The BCM are hard to candle, but I can tell if the eggs are fertile and growing. Here is wishing you a great hatch!!

I marked the air cells yesterday thinking if I had to intervene, I'd have an idea where it was. I candled a few now and then throughout incubation, but otherwise I didn't pay much attention to them. I just did the sniff test I brought the humidity up to 60-65% for the maran eggs. This is my first time hatching such a dark egg and I'm new to the styro incubator set-up....would you recommend a lower hatching humidity for marans?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I just did the sniff test I brought the humidity up to 60-65% for the maran eggs. This is my first time hatching such a dark egg and I'm new to the styro incubator set-up....would you recommend a lower hatching humidity for marans?

Question, when you said you went into Lock-down----did you open it to do the "sniff test"?

I would go a little higher for all eggs---including Marans----but that works better in my location-------What were you running the humidity at the first 18 days?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

No, I just sniffed around the vents. When we incubated duck eggs we always knew....you don't forget that smell. lol!

Around 30%-45%. I didn't let it get below 30% and I tried not to let it peak over 45%.

 

[kwhites634]

Help I can't find a hygrometer any tips on where to buy them

Try Amazon.com

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Got a few external pips last night on day 19. Lots of chirping and rocking. I'm hoping to come home from work to a few chicks roaming the bator.

 

[stryker]

What kind of chicks are you hatching?

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Black Copper Marans. There's a few lighter eggs that are BCMxSLW. First chick hatched a day early around noon today. Lots of external pips and chirping now. Ive had to keep a close eye on the humidity. Having 24 eggs in the bator and most hatching at the same time kicked it pretty high.

 

[stryker]

Black Copper Marans. There's a few lighter eggs that are BCMxSLW. First chick hatched a day early around noon today. Lots of external pips and chirping now. Ive had to keep a close eye on the humidity. Having 24 eggs in the bator and most hatching at the same time kicked it pretty high.

Thanks as I love dark eggs.