Just set 41 eggs!!!

[Mommysongbird]

I just set 41 eggs, I have NEVER filled this incubator before.

I put in 9 duck eggs, 14 bantam eggs and the other 18 are from our big hens.

I am HOPING all the big hens eggs are fertile since we lost our rooster that was with them, he's been gone since Jan 7, but I know a few of the girls eggs were fertile, the ones that were laying then. So I guess all I can do with their eggs is HOPE!!

The bantams are still young, so we'll see.

And the ducks, well I am HOPING with those too. When we had our "Spring like" weather, they all were having too much fun.

The only issues I see with this is

1: the duck eggs have to stay in the bator longer, 7 days longer. I have to take the turner out on day 18 I think it is for the chicken eggs, do I just continue rotating the duck eggs,bBut how would I do that when they will be in lock down?? Of course this all depends on whether or not they are fertile like I think they are.

2: I have an egg turner in it, which I always use, but this is the first time it's ever been full, how will I know when I need to put more water in??

3: Trying to keep the temp up will be a task as well since our house cools considerably at night. :/ The temp held between 99.5 and 100 all day yesterday, set up day. Then this morning, I seen that it had dropped. :/

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I just set 41 eggs, I have NEVER filled this incubator before.

I put in 9 duck eggs, 14 bantam eggs and the other 18 are from our big hens.

I am HOPING all the big hens eggs are fertile since we lost our rooster that was with them, he's been gone since Jan 7, but I know a few of the girls eggs were fertile, the ones that were laying then. So I guess all I can do with their eggs is HOPE!!

The bantams are still young, so we'll see.

And the ducks, well I am HOPING with those too. When we had our "Spring like" weather, they all were having too much fun.

The only issues I see with this is

1: the duck eggs have to stay in the bator longer, 7 days longer. I have to take the turner out on day 18 I think it is for the chicken eggs, do I just continue rotating the duck eggs,bBut how would I do that when they will be in lock down?? Of course this all depends on whether or not they are fertile like I think they are.

2: I have an egg turner in it, which I always use, but this is the first time it's ever been full, how will I know when I need to put more water in??

3: Trying to keep the temp up will be a task as well since our house cools considerably at night. :/ The temp held between 99.5 and 100 all day yesterday, set up day. Then this morning, I seen that it had dropped. :/

Just for future references when you want to do duck and chicken eggs together, the best way to do it is to start the duck eggs a week before the chicken eggs, then they should expect to hatch together.

Humidity question. You should have a hygrometer to measure the humidity (and check air cells) this will let you know when you need to add water if you need to add water.

Turning question. With chicken eggs they do not need to be turned the last week, I would think that duk eggs woud be the same, I'd double check that. I stop turning my chicken eggs at the end of day 13. Once the bird is formed and moving independantly they do NOT need to be turned. So it may not be an issue for them, but if you you are not comfortable not turning, I would continue to turn the eggs during lockdown until you have a pip in the chicken eggs then stop turning and higher your humidity for hatch.

If you are using a styro bator, I would make sure that you are rotating the eggs around in the turner, because the motor for those turners give off much heat and eggs left closest to the motor have a tendancy for elevated growth, and I've found a higher tendancy to fail. By rotating the eggs it will keep one egg from being in the elevated temps for an extended time.

At night can you set up a brooder light or other light source to direct toward the bator to help keep temps up and/or wrap a towel/blanket around it to insulate it during night hours?

 

[Mommysongbird]

Just for future references when you want to do duck and chicken eggs together, the best way to do it is to start the duck eggs a week before the chicken eggs, then they should expect to hatch together.

Humidity question. You should have a hygrometer to measure the humidity (and check air cells) this will let you know when you need to add water if you need to add water.

Turning question. With chicken eggs they do not need to be turned the last week, I would think that duk eggs woud be the same, I'd double check that. I stop turning my chicken eggs at the end of day 13. Once the bird is formed and moving independantly they do NOT need to be turned. So it may not be an issue for them, but if you you are not comfortable not turning, I would continue to turn the eggs during lockdown until you have a pip in the chicken eggs then stop turning and higher your humidity for hatch.

If you are using a styro bator, I would make sure that you are rotating the eggs around in the turner, because the motor for those turners give off much heat and eggs left closest to the motor have a tendancy for elevated growth, and I've found a higher tendancy to fail. By rotating the eggs it will keep one egg from being in the elevated temps for an extended time.

At night can you set up a brooder light or other light source to direct toward the bator to help keep temps up and/or wrap a towel/blanket around it to insulate it during night hours?

Never thought about setting the duck eggs a week before. LOL Oh well, live and learn. I usually let a broody hen hatch the duck eggs or even my Pekin, but she has yet to hatch any, she goes broody, sits and sits and sits, but she always looses all her eggs.

I have a hygrometer in there, will have to move it a bit. When the eggs rotated, the hygrometer/thermometer rotated with it out of the viewing window. :/ LOL

Okay, so I can take the turner out before 3 days til the end.

Yeah, using a Styrofoam type bator. Have used a few times for chicken eggs only, but have had good results. Since this is the first time having a FULL bator, I will move the eggs around, thanks for that info.

I have wrapped the bator in some of that aluminum bubble wrap. I got a bunch of it one time from a local pet store. We have used it for so many things. I will see how good it works.

Here is my bator, well actually it is my son's, we got it for our first hatch which was a science project.



This is the bator wrapped in the aluminum bubble wrap.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Never thought about setting the duck eggs a week before. LOL Oh well, live and learn. I usually let a broody hen hatch the duck eggs or even my Pekin, but she has yet to hatch any, she goes broody, sits and sits and sits, but she always looses all her eggs.

I have a hygrometer in there, will have to move it a bit. When the eggs rotated, the hygrometer/thermometer rotated with it out of the viewing window. :/ LOL

Okay, so I can take the turner out before 3 days til the end.

Yeah, using a Styrofoam type bator. Have used a few times for chicken eggs only, but have had good results. Since this is the first time having a FULL bator, I will move the eggs around, thanks for that info.

I have wrapped the bator in some of that aluminum bubble wrap. I got a bunch of it one time from a local pet store. We have used it for so many things. I will see how good it works.

Here is my bator, well actually it is my son's, we got it for our first hatch which was a science project.



This is the bator wrapped in the aluminum bubble wrap.

LG9200. That's what I use. Mine has the fan kit installed though. I don't use my turner. I did in the beginning until I did a hatch of 42 eggs and in order to keep the eggs away from the turner motor I decided to hand turn. My best hatches including my 100% rate was done hand turning. (Not that I know how much credit hand turning can claim...lol) Can I ask what you are using for humidity levels? Do you check the air cells at all? I also don't run mine with the red vent plugs in at all. I adjust my temp for having them out. Some people leave them in the first few days, some only leave one in. No matter what you do for incubation, make sure you have the red plugs out for hatching so that the chicks can get the oxygen they need. The LG 9200 can be frustrating with temp fluctuations, but I have awesome rates with it and my chicks are always healthy no leg or navel problems. It's a bit more work than a Brinsea or RCOM, but it can be done. That is still air, right?

 

[Mommysongbird]

LG9200. That's what I use. Mine has the fan kit installed though. I don't use my turner. I did in the beginning until I did a hatch of 42 eggs and in order to keep the eggs away from the turner motor I decided to hand turn. My best hatches including my 100% rate was done hand turning. (Not that I know how much credit hand turning can claim...lol) Can I ask what you are using for humidity levels? Do you check the air cells at all? I also don't run mine with the red vent plugs in at all. I adjust my temp for having them out. Some people leave them in the first few days, some only leave one in. No matter what you do for incubation, make sure you have the red plugs out for hatching so that the chicks can get the oxygen they need. The LG 9200 can be frustrating with temp fluctuations, but I have awesome rates with it and my chicks are always healthy no leg or navel problems. It's a bit more work than a Brinsea or RCOM, but it can be done. That is still air, right?

Yeah mine has a computer fan that we hooked up. Does pretty good.

I have only tried without the turner one time, it's been a while and forgot it. But it was quail eggs and we only had 1 egg to hatch our of about 25 or 30. :/

I may end up taking them all off of the turner and do it by hand. I just hate to have the lid open that long to turn them. Did you not have issues with loosing too much heat???

I am just using a hygrometer / thermometer that you would get for a reptile habitat. This is a new one, the temp is right on target with my candy thermometer so I am HOPING the hygrometer is too. This is a new one right out of the pack, we have never had issues with them for my sons reptiles, so I think it will be good. I have never checked air cells, never thought about. :/

I have to keep the plugs in or I loose too much heat, even covered and the water tends to evaporate more quickly, I usually take out one at about week 2. I have done really well with chicken eggs in the past with this little thing, so I am happy with it.

Yes, still air but we put in a fan. I can unplug the fan if need be too, but have never had to.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Yeah mine has a computer fan that we hooked up. Does pretty good.

I have only tried without the turner one time, it's been a while and forgot it. But it was quail eggs and we only had 1 egg to hatch our of about 25 or 30. :/

I may end up taking them all off of the turner and do it by hand. I just hate to have the lid open that long to turn them. Did you not have issues with loosing too much heat???

I am just using a hygrometer / thermometer that you would get for a reptile habitat. This is a new one, the temp is right on target with my candy thermometer so I am HOPING the hygrometer is too. This is a new one right out of the pack, we have never had issues with them for my sons reptiles, so I think it will be good. I have never checked air cells, never thought about. :/

I have to keep the plugs in or I loose too much heat, even covered and the water tends to evaporate more quickly, I usually take out one at about week 2. I have done really well with chicken eggs in the past with this little thing, so I am happy with it.

Yes, still air but we put in a fan. I can unplug the fan if need be too, but have never had to.

My bator recovers pretty easily once it's shut. I just shut the vent holes and wait till it gets back up to temp. It doesn't drop more than a couple degrees on the average when I turn anyway. If you are having problems keeping the temps up, you would probably benefit from having the turner in there and taking advantage of the extra heat that it throws off.

I run dry when I can and only use a sponge when dry is too dry. I don't ever put water in the wells until lockdown. I use this method: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity It has a good chart for air cells too if you are interested. I swear by it for non elevated altitudes.