INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[kabhyper1]

Yeah when I first hatched eggs for the first time, on day 25 I didn't want to discard any eggs because I was convinced I saw one rock. At day 30 I finally decided none were going to hatch and I cracked them open outside and they weren't any chicks, but nasty smelling eggs. My life lesson learned: if they don't hatch after day 25, discard them. Also I don't know if you have read the article on hatching eggs on here. I found it really helpful. There was something on there that said something along the lines, If you keep the vent plugs in for the first 10 days, the chicks hatch stronger. I did try that and I think it worked because most of the chicks hatched within an hour and one hatched I believe in 30 minutes.

If you put eggs in there, please keep us updated

Do you just throw them in the trash? Brave of you to crack one open LOL! The instructions said to leave the vent plugs in until they start hatching. Is that wrong? Also how in the heck do you calibrate a glass probe thermometer? It said how in the paperwork, but it doesn't make sense. I was afraid to break it trying to "slide" it in the metal holders. Man I feel like such a rookie right now. Thanks for holding my hand through this. HA! I plugged it in, and put the thermometer in on top of the egg turner. I am testing the temp. I plan on putting the 9 silkie eggs that are currently in the coop, in the incubator tomorrow.

 

[kabhyper1]

Oh yeah also, what do you wash the eggs with before they go in? Dawn? I don't have egg wash.

 

[DarthLayer]

Do you just throw them in the trash? Brave of you to crack one open LOL! The instructions said to leave the vent plugs in until they start hatching. Is that wrong? Also how in the heck do you calibrate a glass probe thermometer? It said how in the paperwork, but it doesn't make sense. I was afraid to break it trying to "slide" it in the metal holders. Man I feel like such a rookie right now. Thanks for holding my hand through this. HA! I plugged it in, and put the thermometer in on top of the egg turner. I am testing the temp. I plan on putting the 9 silkie eggs that are currently in the coop, in the incubator tomorrow. 

It took me a few minutes to be brave enough to crack one. I was afraid I was going to see a developed chick! Now to calibrate the thermometer, you get a thermometer than you know is correct and try to match the thermometer it came with by sliding it and it shouldn't break( I'm not great at explaining things but i try my best. lol) Now what it said by leaving the vent plugs in till the hatch, I didn't follow that one. I just took them out every now and then to keep a stable temp and humidity.

 

[DarthLayer]

Oh yeah also, what do you wash the eggs with before they go in? Dawn? I don't have egg wash.

I read that too, but I was clueless about it so I never washed the eggs I put in there.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Okay guys, I bought this today. I haven't opened it yet, because I want to hear from you all if you think it is a good one to use. Otherwise it's going back to TSC. Funny little factoid about this incubator, the box says it is made in Plymouth ,IN.

It looks like it has a lot of great features. The others from TSC with the fan and turner add up fast in price too so it looks like a great deal. The only one even close in price range with digital display and setting is the genesis. I got mine from rural king online and it shipped really fast. But they had it on sale that day and a free shipping code too. Right now I think you would want to price it on a few other sites too. But it is nice having a digital display.
But if you are looking for a cheap no thrills incubator just to try incubating, you may want to try a still air one and give it a try turning the eggs by hand. Then you are looking at under $50 and should you decide you like incubating then you can get the fancy one. If you end up with 2 it is ok since the still air cheapy can be used as either a lockdown one or a week 1 giving you a way to have chicks every 2 weeks instead of 3.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: The eggs should not be washed or sanded or dirty.
here is a link to a lot of good info, maybe too much to be honest. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

The eggs like most living things out of the water need fresh air to breath so many people leave the vent out if they are using a turner. Some even take it a step farther and add evenly spaced venting holes using a small nail around the top. I think 4 above the window and 4 below.

 

[kabhyper1]

It looks like it has a lot of great features. The others from TSC with the fan and turner add up fast in price too so it looks like a great deal. The only one even close in price range with digital display and setting is the genesis. I got mine from rural king online and it shipped really fast. But they had it on sale that day and a free shipping code too. Right now I think you would want to price it on a few other sites too. But it is nice not having a digital display.
But if you are looking for a cheap no thrills incubator just to try incubating, you may want to try a still air one and give it a try turning the eggs by hand. Then you are looking at under $50 and should you decide you like incubating then you can get the fancy one. If you end up with 2 it is ok since the still air cheapy can be used as either a lockdown one or a week 1 giving you a way to have chicks every 2 weeks instead of 3.

Thanks! Although I do not have the space for chicks every two weeks! I hope I don't get the hatching fever. lol How do you add water to an incubator like the one I bought? Also should I put the eggs in a carton fat end up for the night before I put them in the incubator? They are laying in the nest box. She is still laying everyday, so either her clutch isn't done or she is an overachieving silkie.

 

[kabhyper1]

I feel like the more questions I ask the more overwhelming it all is. I hope I don't screw it up.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: I must have missed how many eggs a day you are getting, I'm thinking it was close to half a doz.
For the eggs, you don't want to put them in an incubator on different days unless you have a hatching incubator. Even with a hatching incubator you want to add eggs to the incubator at least 1 week apart. To explain why: on day 18 or when you see an internal pipping using a flashlight, you enter the lockdown stage. During the lockdown stage the humidity is increased and for some birds the temp nudged down. Either of these would not be good for eggs that were not ready for lockdown. Once in lockdown you are not to open the lid unless there is an emergency. I have opened the lid once chicks are dried off while there are other eggs still trying. It is not the best and I won't do it on shipped eggs or hard to hatch eggs. So if you ae putting the eggs in on day 1 and want to add eggs on day two, the recommended method is the store fat end up in a brreathable carton using the seasaw method until you have either collected eggs for 5 days or reached the number of eggs you want to set for that week. I set my eggs in the afternoon to evening with no issues. Once I have the eggs I would not leave them in a carton overnight just to set in the morning Unless I was going to be gone around day 21.
As for adding water I use the sponge method. I got cheap sponges from target and I cut them to varying sizes. I then add or remove sponges as needed. I walk by my incubator at least 5-7 times a day but I try to only adjust the humidity every other day or so.
For adding water during lockdown, I keep straws that fit down the vent hole. Then I make sure a sponge is under the vent hole and only if needed do I had a few strawfuls of water. But for lockdown I typically have more than one sponge in the incubator and I also have a babyfood jar of water that is more marbles than water so the chicks can't drown. The jar is more to relieve my mind of the idea of a chick not having water for 2 days.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sally - I forget...are you using a 1588?