June Hatch-A-Long

[speckledhen]

My next batch is already set, due June 28.

Hey, got a question for you folks who just do the first tray/first 18 days and 2nd tray/last three days water in your HovaBator and don't use a hygrometer... I am trying to do that, but the digital hygro on the Genesis says 60% humidity even with doing it that way. I even feel it reads a bit low, per my history with this one. So, is it just picking up too much in our air and I need to let it out or what do you do? I've never done it this way, just using the incubator instructions for regulating humidity. It says I'll probably have to add water twice a week, but it is apparently already too high.

As far as hatching upright, I personally would not do it. Never got on board with it even when it first came up years ago here. Seems unnatural, considering that in nature, they all hatch on their sides. That may be a way to weed out weak chicks, just a thought.

I dig up dirt from the yard and put it in a box then place it in the brooder. My chicks love it.

Just did that with my 3 days olds today. They were over the moon. Good to start that immunity against coccidiosis that way, too.

 

[speckledhen]

My 5th and final june chick hatched today from the wrong end. First to have this much hanging off it as well
View attachment 2184557
View attachment 2184559

Should dry up and will fall off or you can clip it with scissors at that point. Not unusual.

 

[FortCluck]

My next batch is already set, due June 28.

Hey, got a question for you folks who just do the first tray/first 18 days and 2nd tray/last three days water in your HovaBator and don't use a hygrometer... I am trying to do that, but the digital hygro on the Genesis says 60% humidity even with doing it that way. I even feel it reads a bit low, per my history with this one. So, is it just picking up too much in our air and I need to let it out or what do you do? I've never done it this way, just using the incubator instructions for regulating humidity. It says I'll probably have to add water twice a week, but it is apparently already too high.



Just did that with my 3 days olds today. They were over the moon. Good to start that immunity against coccidiosis that way, too.

I have been doing the dirt for a very long time about 6 years with all my chicks. They love the bugs and the grit from it. It really helps their immunity plus it gives them something to do.

 

[Willow2253]

My next batch is already set, due June 28.

Hey, got a question for you folks who just do the first tray/first 18 days and 2nd tray/last three days water in your HovaBator and don't use a hygrometer... I am trying to do that, but the digital hygro on the Genesis says 60% humidity even with doing it that way. I even feel it reads a bit low, per my history with this one. So, is it just picking up too much in our air and I need to let it out or what do you do? I've never done it this way, just using the incubator instructions for regulating humidity. It says I'll probably have to add water twice a week, but it is apparently already too high.



Just did that with my 3 days olds today. They were over the moon. Good to start that immunity against coccidiosis that way, too.

Hey, we have the same hatch day!
I’ve heard that you can put a sock of uncooked rice in the incubator to absorb extra humidity, or those little silica packets that come in like shoe boxes and stuff.

 

[speckledhen]

Hey, we have the same hatch day!
I’ve heard that you can put a sock of uncooked rice in the incubator to absorb extra humidity, or those little silica packets that come in like shoe boxes and stuff.

Okay, that could work sure. If opening the top plug doesn't work right, I can try that. I just wish I knew what the actual humidity was. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[speckledhen]

I have been doing the dirt for a very long time about 6 years with all my chicks. They love the bugs and the grit from it. It really helps their immunity plus it gives them something to do.

Yes, absolutely right!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

My next batch is already set, due June 28.

Hey, got a question for you folks who just do the first tray/first 18 days and 2nd tray/last three days water in your HovaBator and don't use a hygrometer... I am trying to do that, but the digital hygro on the Genesis says 60% humidity even with doing it that way. I even feel it reads a bit low, per my history with this one. So, is it just picking up too much in our air and I need to let it out or what do you do? I've never done it this way, just using the incubator instructions for regulating humidity. It says I'll probably have to add water twice a week, but it is apparently already too high.

As far as hatching upright, I personally would not do it. Never got on board with it even when it first came up years ago here. Seems unnatural, considering that in nature, they all hatch on their sides. That may be a way to weed out weak chicks, just a thought.



Just did that with my 3 days olds today. They were over the moon. Good to start that immunity against coccidiosis that way, too.

I have had success getting humidity down (my ambient humidity is between 60 and 70% right now) with the "toasted" sponges. I was able to get the humidity down to 25-30% for the Marans I hatched 2 weeks ago, all 7 that went to lockdown hatched. I had tried the rice in a sock trick, the baking soda, salt trick and the charcoal trick, none of them worked near as well for me anyway. The toasted sponges are labor intensive and only last about 2 hours, before you have to switch them out. You can then re-toast them several times, before they get too crumbly! At night the humidity would spike a little to the mid 40's, as I am not getting up every 2 hours to check in the middle of the night.
I am using the sponges now in all of the incubators, not just the Marans and keeping the humidity around 30-35%. The ameraucanas I had incubating last month were not as successful and they ran 40-50% most of the time, thinking the lower humidity would work well for them this time around.
Good luck with your eggs!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I put down my paper towels (dry) under my eggs day 18 so the goo butt thing will not stick to the bottom mesh, one good thing about the cup methods, is they can hatch and rest and when they are ready to step away from the egg they can, if they hatch but still have all the cords hanging off (which is normal) but it can stick to the bottom of the incubator.

 

[gimmie birdies]

These are my 3 avatar frizzle babies, right to left 2 frizzles, one smooth. the one to the right is giving a look of love, normally seen from a duck.

 

[FortCluck]

I put down my paper towels (dry) under my eggs day 18 so the goo butt thing will not stick to the bottom mesh, one good thing about the cup methods, is they can hatch and rest and when they are ready to step away from the egg they can, if they hatch but still have all the cords hanging off (which is normal) but it can stick to the bottom of the incubator.

Using the shelf liner works too