Laree's "I CAN'T STOP MYSELF FROM HATCHING!!!" Hatch-a-long

[dsqard]

youngjedi, welcome to the thread! Can you post a picture of your incubator set up? It might help for some suggestions since you have been having a rough go at it. Also, I would suggest getting your humidity down some if possible for the first 18 days. IMO I would shoot more for 40%.

 

[Justuschicks]

It is important to let the eggs stand until they are room temp. If they are cold when they go into bator it can shock them. I let my mail order silkie eggs rest for at least 8 hours or more.

Here is my first incubator....as you can see, I made it.

It consisted of 2 glass bowls, a small Styrofoam bowl, a wet paper towel, kitchen thermometer, and a desk light. I used this up until the last week when I was able to afford an incubator. I got nervous that the light bulb would burn out in the middle of the night. You can see those chicks on my webpage. They are a barred rock/minorca mix.

 

[just2rosey]

Well I am hatching out today also.

I have a broody silkie on 9 eggs, plus 8 more eggs in my incubator due by tomorrow also.

The broody had 5 babies hatched last time I checked, and I have 4 pips in the incubator so far. These are in addition to the 22 ameraucana eggs in the incubator due on the 25th.

I hope they do well!

 

[babymakes6]

Quote:
Sounds great, except for the humidity-50% is too high to start. Try 25-30% for day 1-18, then bump it up to 55-60% for day 18-21. Good luck!

 

[youngjedi32002]

Quote:
I didn't have any trouble with the new incubator I made, it was with the little one I tried first, which looks exactly like the one that is pictured on the first post of this thread. I think the cover was too loose. I also think the eggs were too cramped. I really should have only put two in there, I think, but I wanted a higher hatch rate. I ended up sabotaging my own effort! I have plenty of room in this one! The cover fits tight and it can be sealed with duct tape, if needed! When I was using a wattage that was too hot, I popped holes in the side, then figured out I needed a 15 watt, not a 25, and it was easy to seal up the holes too! It looks a little beat up but it is doing great!

Is my humidity really too high? I have read so many conflicting numbers! It is pretty confusing! I have heard anywhere from 40 to 60%, so I stuck with 50%, trying to stick in the middle. I guess I can take some of the water out and that will help. If you think 40% for the first 18 days, what do you think I should try for when I go into lockdown? I am trying to get as much info as I can but I feel like I'm running around in circles! I do not want to screw this up!!!

Here's the inside:

 

[buckabucka]

They're hatching!!!!!

My first hatch (last month), only 1 of 20 was fertile. It hatched, and died within a week.

Today, 2 of 12 in the incubator hatched, 3 more with pips, and 1 of 2 under the broody hatched! These are shipped eggs (except for one) and I really hope to have at least 50% make it.

 

[NoseyChickens]

I'm so stinkin annoyed it isn't even funny. Left the house earlier today to run some erronds on my day off. Broody hen had an egg with a nice sized pip under her. Came home a few hours later. empty egg, no chick under broody! Baby chick is nowhere to be found. NOWHERE! I think the squirels took it!.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Ok I couldn't wait. The post office called me at 830 this morning to let me know my eggs were in. I'll say they rested until I could pick them up around 3.

 

[Mrs.brown]

Quote:

Hope you find it!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Gone without a trace?! Are you sure (no offense). My broodies are excellent at hiding contraband. I pick them up off the nest and eggs fall out that they've been holding under their wings or between their thighs. They always surprise me.