July Hatch-a-long

[CarolinaHen]

We have our first pip! :cd

 

[DragonSadhana]

I did increase my humidity a lot between 75-80% the first half of the day, then kept it at 70% - it would constantly drop I'd have to put an ounce of water pretty much every hour & sometimes 30 minutes.... There were a couple times it got down in the 50's. probably not for long. They seemed to like it at 70%, that's when I'd get hatches. So I did my best, and kept it at 70 as much as possible. I didn't sleep good at all the 3 weeks, & no sleep during lockdown. 16/18 hatched, 2 chicks dead.

From what I understand, that is a fantastic hatch rate! Congrats!

 

[DragonSadhana]

E

We have our first pip! :cd

Whoo-hoo! Go, chickies, go!

 

[Sclark73]

We have our first pip! :cd

Congrats!

 

[Sclark73]

I did increase my humidity a lot between 75-80% the first half of the day, then kept it at 70% - it would constantly drop I'd have to put an ounce of water pretty much every hour & sometimes 30 minutes.... There were a couple times it got down in the 50's. probably not for long. They seemed to like it at 70%, that's when I'd get hatches. So I did my best, and kept it at 70 as much as possible. I didn't sleep good at all the 3 weeks, & no sleep during lockdown. 16/18 hatched, 2 chicks dead.

You explained yours much better than me, I'm running about the same. Also no sleep other than a few 10 minute naps that resulted in chick hatching dreams that woke me up since Thursday night. They need to hurry up already before I go into melt down. Although I'm more educated from all the threads I've been reading on byc. Like the colored hair bands from the dollar store($1.06) to band chick legs to keep them straight. Picked them up yesterday on a feed run to farm & fleet.

 

[CarolinaHen]

I have decided that it is MUCH easier to let my fiercely protective broody hen hatch eggs for me than to incubate them. When she hatches eggs, I candle them on day 10, and she shows me the chicks on day 21. With the bator, I am checking them every 5 minutes!

 

[Gen9]

I have decided that it is MUCH easier to let my fiercely protective broody hen hatch eggs for me than to incubate them. When she hatches eggs, I candle them on day 10, and she shows me the chicks on day 21. With the bator, I am checking them every 5 minutes!

yep, I want a broody... Set it & forget it!

 

[Gen9]

From what I understand, that is a fantastic hatch rate! Congrats!

Thanks! I just set 15 eggs today, modified my incubator & trying a new method. Just to see what happens. I won't be hatching again until early spring. I just don't know if I'd be comfortable with chicks in the winter time.

 

[Gen9]

You explained yours much better than me, I'm running about the same. Also no sleep other than a few 10 minute naps that resulted in chick hatching dreams that woke me up since Thursday night. They need to hurry up already before I go into melt down. Although I'm more educated from all the threads I've been reading on byc. Like the colored hair bands from the dollar store($1.06) to band chick legs to keep them straight. Picked them up yesterday on a feed run to farm & fleet.

Lol oh wow, yeah I had those same dreams! Lol!!
Also during the beginning I kept having nightmares. Once I candled them they stopped. But I would still get these sudden urges to go check the bator, all for very good reasons, the humidity was too high or too low. Yep I sure don't miss those cat naps - last night I slept 6 hours straight, it was nice, but here I am; back at it for August.

 

[Sclark73]

Incubating is such an addiction! After the last ones hatch I was going to be done for the year but after losing 33 in that junk incubator I may refill one.more time then call er' quits. I still have 3 broodies and 2 staggered hatches by Aug1. Ughs