Let the games begin! First attempt at hatching in 25 years.

[Sally Sunshine]

AWESOMENESS!!!! Congrats!!

 

[bilder]

Got a second hatch with a third working hard at freedom.

My daughters have barely moved from in front of the incubator since they got home from school.

 

[bilder]

Up to 10 with 12 more pipped and/or working on breaking out.

Several are going to have feathered feet! Nice mix of colors from these mutt chicks. Black, grey, blonde, and speckled so far.

 

[bilder]

How about some Peeps?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I LOVE THAT PIC!!! YAY!!

 

[jazzman]

I LOVE THAT PIC!!! YAY!!

X2!

 

[bilder]

I had to break the rules and open up the incubator to remove some chicks. They were bowling the unhatched eggs around too much for my liking. Figured that if they are healthy enough to be running over all the other eggs then they are ready for the brooder.

Got three more making a zip in the shell and another one just pipped!

 

[bilder]

I LOVE THAT PIC!!! YAY!!

The chick in the middle has a really nice silver/gray color to it. I really hope that coloring sticks and it is a hen. Should be really pretty when it gets older.

 

[aart]

Congrats!

Any info on your homemade incubator?

 

[bilder]

Congrats!

Any info on your homemade incubator?

It is just a cooler style incubator.

The cooler is a styrofoam one that is used to ship medications and vaccines in, so it is 2 inches thick. Got it for free off Craigslist.

Picked up a light fixture, water heater thermostat, and such from Home Depot for around 20 bucks. Took a glass pane out of an old picture frame for the window and used duct tape to keep it all together and to give it that redneck feel. Used a little coffee cup with a paper towel wick to keep the humidity in the 35-40% range. Drilled three holes along the bottom by the light and three near the top on the opposite end for ventilation. Use more duct tape to seal off the holes as needed.

Holds the temps really well. Was holding at a steady 98-100 for the whole time. Up to 16 hatched with another two due within the hour at the rate they are going.

I would like to add some kind of egg holder for the next time. Was using dollar store baskets till lockdown and then laid them on the floor of the incubator. The chicks are kicking the unhatched eggs all over the place right now and it would be nice to have them held steady next hatch.