January Hatch Buddies?

[chkinut]

i'm going into lockdown on sunday...finally!!! i built a brooder today outta 4 large boxes that i bought at walmart, cutting them to what i want and taping them really good. then laying a good layer of pine shavings down with paper towels on top. put my light up and checked the temp....went to TSC and bought chick starter. gettin' ready!!!! (watch none hatch...lol). but i'm getting new chicks from Meyer on march 1st anyway. my brooder measures 5'7" X 3'. man! it's huge! you'd think i was preparing for 100 chicks! oh well, it gives me plenty of room to sit in there with them to socialize the lil' buggars! can't wait!!!!

 

[chicken-owner-31]

You wont regret having a larger brooder! Mine outgrew the one I had pretty quick. Then again, I had 30 of the little buggars!

Yay for lockdown Vebyrd!

MW, I'm trying SOOOOO hard to wait until day 10 to candle. But I'm afraid I may cave and do it at 7. I've been a good girl so far....my auto turner doesn't seem to get all the eggs on every rotation, and I haven't opened it up to "fix" the issue. I figure it is turning every hour and usually the eggs all alternate turning every other hour, so considering most folks turn only 3 times a day, they are ok. But it sure is hard not to open it up and move the eggs around so they are not touching and turn properly!

I'm hoping my humidity is ok. I calibrated my hygrometer and it was 5% points off. My humidity has been in the 32-40% range with no water whatsoever. (I live in a very humid climate, and decided to try dry incubation.) After day 3, I think I will bump it up a little more (35-45%) by adding water to one pot and then leave it like that until lockdown, when I will go up to about 60%. I've read on here until my eyes hurt and figure with my climate and circumstances, it's the best thing to do. Hope it'll be ok.....I am the type to second guess myself 24/7.

 

[mrsfarmchick1]

It's almost time to candle for me... just two more days. I have never candled EE eggs before though and I'm hoping I'll be able to see alot. I have 22 eggs and they are 8 days right now. When I candle they will be 10 days. I don't think that I will toss them yet unless they ooze or smell. I will wait until I candle at lockdown. It's less than two weeks and the eggs will hatch Anyone else candling around the 2nd??

I'll be candling on the 3rd (15 BCM eggs hatching -hopefully- on the 14th)
I'm going this weekend to get a better flashlight.

 

[serendipityfarm]

I just set 6 mixed breed eggs under a broody cochin. I thought it would be convenient. They will be incubating one day on the frst, so should be due to hatch around the 21st

Good Luck with all the January babies!
~Terry

 

[blefky]

Hi! I'm just about to start my first hatch. I was in Ohio over the holiday and brought back a dozen coronation light sussex eggs. The birds were beautiful, so.... couldn't help myself! Now to get busy setting everything up and calibrating the hygrometer. So excited! Happy New Year everyone!

 

[tgi_chicken]

Hi I just set 10 eggs at midnight dec 31st hoping for a hatch on the 21st

 

[blefky]

Quote:
Great! We can keep each other company! What kind of eggs are you hatching?

 

[Whiskey Bay]

Well all but 2 hatched out today.Right on time and only one early bird this time. YAY..!!! Silkies and Old English,with I think just 1 showgirl in this batch. BUT I got 2 lil buggers (Silkies) I don't know what color they are gonna be.I have never seen any like them. They have sorta splashy colored heads with racing stripes...lol...I'll go get a pic in a few.

 

[Hogarth]

We have 9 Serama eggs they should start hatching on Jan. 4th or so. We also have 3 americauna and 2 Orpingtons all should be hatching next week. My wife and I are just starting, but having a great time with them.

 

[chkinut]

Quote:
I'll be candling on the 3rd (15 BCM eggs hatching -hopefully- on the 14th)
I'm going this weekend to get a better flashlight.

that's mostly what i'm hatching (BCM). they're pretty dark eggs! hubby has a pretty powerful flashlight....so i used it to candle. i sure couldn't see as much as i did with the ameraucanas, but it was enough to show that there's growth. good luck!