january hatch-a-long

[WVduckchick]

I’d have to agree with Kiki and casportpony. Just seems like a risky idea to me.
Cotton balls are fairly cheap here. And if the cat likes it in her bowl, leave it there and maybe she’ll stop finding your stash.

 

[paintedChix]

Well, I didn't get the 'bator set up last Tuesday nite. The hay delivery in my pony pastures ran chores late on Wednesday and then Thursday, after eating dinner, I wasn't feeling well... Stomach flu bug had been shared by our office manager. 2 miserable days later, I set the 'bator up last nite and found out a couple of things.

I ordered the "wrong" one - I wanted to get one with a fan and did not. I also thought, for some reason, that it came with a hygrometer. NOT.

So it's set up, I think I've got everything set up right (I did get the egg turner). But I can't tell if the egg turner is working. I seem to have the temp stabilized at 100* - the room appears to be around 65* (guessing based on our heat running in the rest of the house, spare room is kept closed and it's NICELY warm in there). It is currently 32* outside and went down to 17* before getting this warm.

Soooo recommendations for a hygrometer for the Hovabator 1602N w/ egg turner? I can't use the one that GQF sells as it's only supposed to be used in the one with a fan/forced air unit... And anyone that has a Hovabator styrofoam 'bator - HOW do you see the water channel and add water if necessary?? Could I use food color to color the water? Or is that totally why the Hygrometer is necessary?

I have 37 eggs ready to set - the last 9 collected last night before the temp went below 36*. The first ones were collected on the 15th. How long can these eggs still sit? I'm getting excited - I know from opening other eggs that all of these should be fertile but I haven't candled any yet...



Have - 11 - Australorps (will be BBS), 6 - Bielefelders, 11 - 55 Flowery Hens, 5 - EE & 4 - mixed. 1 of the mixed is a Bielefelder X Rhodebar (the roo went to a coop yesterday and now has 3 girls of his own & the younger Bielefelder roo & 2 younger girls are now combined with the 1 older girl. Don't expect eggs from either batch that are fertile 'till March? or April?). The rest are Maline/55Flowery w/ a CLB roo over; some of the EE eggs are "purebred" Ameraucana but because I have both Lav & BBS currently in the same pen (working on the separate coop - weather has stopped that & the lavenders just started laying) they aren't currently "purebred". Don't have a clue what the birds will look like - other than muffed & bearded LOL.

By my next run, I'm expecting to have purebred Ameraucana of BBS & Lavender varieties, CLB - Jill Rees line AND maybe some production line CLBs, too (4 pullets are currently free ranging 2 cockerels BUT there is also an RB cockerel hanging out with them at the moment). I haven't gotten their run re-roofed yet and not sure how I'm going to catch the 2 girls that are insisting in roosting in the tree above the run and coop...

 

[WVduckchick]

Well, I didn't get the 'bator set up last Tuesday nite. The hay delivery in my pony pastures ran chores late on Wednesday and then Thursday, after eating dinner, I wasn't feeling well... Stomach flu bug had been shared by our office manager. 2 miserable days later, I set the 'bator up last nite and found out a couple of things.

I ordered the "wrong" one - I wanted to get one with a fan and did not. I also thought, for some reason, that it came with a hygrometer. NOT.

So it's set up, I think I've got everything set up right (I did get the egg turner). But I can't tell if the egg turner is working. I seem to have the temp stabilized at 100* - the room appears to be around 65* (guessing based on our heat running in the rest of the house, spare room is kept closed and it's NICELY warm in there). It is currently 32* outside and went down to 17* before getting this warm.

Soooo recommendations for a hygrometer for the Hovabator 1602N w/ egg turner? I can't use the one that GQF sells as it's only supposed to be used in the one with a fan/forced air unit... And anyone that has a Hovabator styrofoam 'bator - HOW do you see the water channel and add water if necessary?? Could I use food color to color the water? Or is that totally why the Hygrometer is necessary?

I have 37 eggs ready to set - the last 9 collected last night before the temp went below 36*. The first ones were collected on the 15th. How long can these eggs still sit? I'm getting excited - I know from opening other eggs that all of these should be fertile but I haven't candled any yet...

View attachment 1648700

Have - 11 - Australorps (will be BBS), 6 - Bielefelders, 11 - 55 Flowery Hens, 5 - EE & 4 - mixed. 1 of the mixed is a Bielefelder X Rhodebar (the roo went to a coop yesterday and now has 3 girls of his own & the younger Bielefelder roo & 2 younger girls are now combined with the 1 older girl. Don't expect eggs from either batch that are fertile 'till March? or April?). The rest are Maline/55Flowery w/ a CLB roo over; some of the EE eggs are "purebred" Ameraucana but because I have both Lav & BBS currently in the same pen (working on the separate coop - weather has stopped that & the lavenders just started laying) they aren't currently "purebred". Don't have a clue what the birds will look like - other than muffed & bearded LOL.

By my next run, I'm expecting to have purebred Ameraucana of BBS & Lavender varieties, CLB - Jill Rees line AND maybe some production line CLBs, too (4 pullets are currently free ranging 2 cockerels BUT there is also an RB cockerel hanging out with them at the moment). I haven't gotten their run re-roofed yet and not sure how I'm going to catch the 2 girls that are insisting in roosting in the tree above the run and coop...

Still air should be 101-102 degrees, but do not trust the thermometer on the incubator. Get another one and verify it for accuracy. (Google for methods, depending on the type you choose)

In NC, I would start with zero water, and monitor air cells after 7-10 days.
Yes, you can use food coloring. It will stain the styrofoam, but that’s ok too.
Check out the Red link in my signature box below (turn phone sideways if you don’t see signatures on mobile)

Sounds like you could produce some nice birds!

 

[paintedChix]

and something else - can I use little baskets from the $store to hatch the eggs during lockdown & hatching? I think I found some that will fit as they definitely are shorter than the egg turners...

I'm thinking that that will keep the 'bator cleaner and also keep the breeds separate that I would prefer to be kept separate. I have a couple of different breeding groups of Bielefelders, Lavender Ameraucana, Blue Australorp & CLBs - or will when all our coops are "done" and each breeding group is fully separated.

 

[BReeder!]

Well, I didn't get the 'bator set up last Tuesday nite. The hay delivery in my pony pastures ran chores late on Wednesday and then Thursday, after eating dinner, I wasn't feeling well... Stomach flu bug had been shared by our office manager. 2 miserable days later, I set the 'bator up last nite and found out a couple of things.

I ordered the "wrong" one - I wanted to get one with a fan and did not. I also thought, for some reason, that it came with a hygrometer. NOT.

So it's set up, I think I've got everything set up right (I did get the egg turner). But I can't tell if the egg turner is working. I seem to have the temp stabilized at 100* - the room appears to be around 65* (guessing based on our heat running in the rest of the house, spare room is kept closed and it's NICELY warm in there). It is currently 32* outside and went down to 17* before getting this warm.

Soooo recommendations for a hygrometer for the Hovabator 1602N w/ egg turner? I can't use the one that GQF sells as it's only supposed to be used in the one with a fan/forced air unit... And anyone that has a Hovabator styrofoam 'bator - HOW do you see the water channel and add water if necessary?? Could I use food color to color the water? Or is that totally why the Hygrometer is necessary?

I have 37 eggs ready to set - the last 9 collected last night before the temp went below 36*. The first ones were collected on the 15th. How long can these eggs still sit? I'm getting excited - I know from opening other eggs that all of these should be fertile but I haven't candled any yet...

View attachment 1648700

Have - 11 - Australorps (will be BBS), 6 - Bielefelders, 11 - 55 Flowery Hens, 5 - EE & 4 - mixed. 1 of the mixed is a Bielefelder X Rhodebar (the roo went to a coop yesterday and now has 3 girls of his own & the younger Bielefelder roo & 2 younger girls are now combined with the 1 older girl. Don't expect eggs from either batch that are fertile 'till March? or April?). The rest are Maline/55Flowery w/ a CLB roo over; some of the EE eggs are "purebred" Ameraucana but because I have both Lav & BBS currently in the same pen (working on the separate coop - weather has stopped that & the lavenders just started laying) they aren't currently "purebred". Don't have a clue what the birds will look like - other than muffed & bearded LOL.

By my next run, I'm expecting to have purebred Ameraucana of BBS & Lavender varieties, CLB - Jill Rees line AND maybe some production line CLBs, too (4 pullets are currently free ranging 2 cockerels BUT there is also an RB cockerel hanging out with them at the moment). I haven't gotten their run re-roofed yet and not sure how I'm going to catch the 2 girls that are insisting in roosting in the tree above the run and coop...

Get a PC fan and put it in there. It only costs a few bucks. I did it to my incubator, which is similar to the hovabator 1602N. The air circulation is totally worth the little bit of extra work.
As for the water, I based adding water off of the hygrometer. Mine has a built in hygrometer and thermometer with a digital display. It reads accurately too. It's a Harris Farms unit I ordered on Amazon.

 

[WVduckchick]

and something else - can I use little baskets from the $store to hatch the eggs during lockdown & hatching? I think I found some that will fit as they definitely are shorter than the egg turners...

I'm thinking that that will keep the 'bator cleaner and also keep the breeds separate that I would prefer to be kept separate. I have a couple of different breeding groups of Bielefelders, Lavender Ameraucana, Blue Australorp & CLBs - or will when all our coops are "done" and each breeding group is fully separated.

They might work fine, but I would be a bit concerned about air flow, depending on the type of basket. Pay attention to the height of the basket and the heating element on the incubator. Don’t want it melting, or a chick trying to climb over and getting burned.

In the Article section here, someone made some neat dividers from the plastic crafting grid stuff. I can’t remember the name of it.
Others have used mesh laundry bags successfully.

 

[Ginmary]

That's what I thought at first too. But last year one of my kids did a 'germ test' for science and used one of her toys. Turns out the filter on her water works well, and she only grabs the cotton balls with her lips. I feel okay germ-wise for now, but I keep an eye on things.

Uh.... those ARE the same lips that are there when she is licking her butt after the litter box? Just sayin'......

 

[Tatuana]

Been off since we had a kitty to put down.

Trust me, I promise I'm not horrible germs to the incubator.


I did one last candling with the kids last night. Despite shipping issues, humidity issues, being unplugged and not turned properly, it looks like we will get 4 of the 17 to hatch. Very low hatch rate, but considering what they've been through.... Fingers crossed we don't get any more quitters, and everything goes okay with hatching. (Due Saturday night!)

 

[Kiki]

Been off since we had a kitty to put down.

Trust me, I promise I'm not horrible germs to the incubator.


I did one last candling with the kids last night. Despite shipping issues, humidity issues, being unplugged and not turned properly, it looks like we will get 4 of the 17 to hatch. Very low hatch rate, but considering what they've been through.... Fingers crossed we don't get any more quitters, and everything goes okay with hatching. (Due Saturday night!)

Sorry to hear about your kitty.

 

[mitziworm]

Been off since we had a kitty to put down.

Trust me, I promise I'm not horrible germs to the incubator.


I did one last candling with the kids last night. Despite shipping issues, humidity issues, being unplugged and not turned properly, it looks like we will get 4 of the 17 to hatch. Very low hatch rate, but considering what they've been through.... Fingers crossed we don't get any more quitters, and everything goes okay with hatching. (Due Saturday night!)

Good luck with them. My batch that had the too hot too cold treatment went into lockdown today, 1 egg that is a possible but I'm not at all hopeful.