- Feb 24, 2009
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You all seem like nice advice-givers... I'm a pre-K teacher... this is my 4th year of attempting a hatch! Any advice would be appreciated as I have lots of excited students and don't want to disappoint!
Here's my story:
1st year: rented a bator and turner. Had some trouble with temp consistency, but had 3 out of 12 hatch - several chicks made it to the end but died in their shells - I think I opened the bator too much ... oopsie, newbie mistake!
2nd year: rented a bator - the turner broke halfway through, and had to turn manually. 2 out of 12 hatch.
3rd year: got a new LG still air bator and turner! No problems I was aware of, but 1 hatched then died the next day, 2 more had pipped and got stuck facedown! Tried again with another 12, this time water kept evaporating quickly it seemed... 3 out of 12 hatch... 5 more looked to be developed when candled...but not even pipped.
This year - using the 1yr old LG bator and turner. Got 11 eggs, mostly Rhode Island Reds and something starting with an A... also one "Blue". Bought a cheapie digital thermometer and hygrometer - I salt-tested the hygrometer and its pretty perfect. I put the eggs in at 10:30am on Wednesday, so today was day 6, right? The temp is at 99.5, however, when I came in on Sunday, the temp was down to 96!! (when I left school on Friday, it had been 99.5). Humidity has been pretty consistently at 60-65%, I've only had to refill the water 2ce. If I take one of the plugs out, the humidity goes way down, and someone recommended that I leave them in until day 18.
So here's my questions:
1. When should I candle them? Last year I did it 2-3 times, I think if I only candle them once, it might be better for them temp-wise, right? When is the best time?
2. Did being at 96 degrees for possibly a day or two kill some/all? Please say they're fine! Ugh!
3. Is it okay that I'm leaving the red plugs in for now?
4. What else can I do at this point to have the best possible hatch?
5. I'm considering carton-hatching this time around, as last year I had two get stuck facedown. Any thoughts?
Thank you! I'm one of the only teachers at our school who has ever tried this, and I'm starting to get the reputation as not having much success!! If things don't go well this year, I am afraid of trying again. Please help!
Here's my story:
1st year: rented a bator and turner. Had some trouble with temp consistency, but had 3 out of 12 hatch - several chicks made it to the end but died in their shells - I think I opened the bator too much ... oopsie, newbie mistake!
2nd year: rented a bator - the turner broke halfway through, and had to turn manually. 2 out of 12 hatch.
3rd year: got a new LG still air bator and turner! No problems I was aware of, but 1 hatched then died the next day, 2 more had pipped and got stuck facedown! Tried again with another 12, this time water kept evaporating quickly it seemed... 3 out of 12 hatch... 5 more looked to be developed when candled...but not even pipped.
This year - using the 1yr old LG bator and turner. Got 11 eggs, mostly Rhode Island Reds and something starting with an A... also one "Blue". Bought a cheapie digital thermometer and hygrometer - I salt-tested the hygrometer and its pretty perfect. I put the eggs in at 10:30am on Wednesday, so today was day 6, right? The temp is at 99.5, however, when I came in on Sunday, the temp was down to 96!! (when I left school on Friday, it had been 99.5). Humidity has been pretty consistently at 60-65%, I've only had to refill the water 2ce. If I take one of the plugs out, the humidity goes way down, and someone recommended that I leave them in until day 18.
So here's my questions:
1. When should I candle them? Last year I did it 2-3 times, I think if I only candle them once, it might be better for them temp-wise, right? When is the best time?
2. Did being at 96 degrees for possibly a day or two kill some/all? Please say they're fine! Ugh!
3. Is it okay that I'm leaving the red plugs in for now?
4. What else can I do at this point to have the best possible hatch?
5. I'm considering carton-hatching this time around, as last year I had two get stuck facedown. Any thoughts?
Thank you! I'm one of the only teachers at our school who has ever tried this, and I'm starting to get the reputation as not having much success!! If things don't go well this year, I am afraid of trying again. Please help!

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