Little Giant Hatch Along

[youngbiddy]

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It sounds like you're doing just fine. I used the dry incubation method on my first batch and I got a better than average hatch rate on shipped eggs. I did install a fan on day 8, because the temp fluctuations were driving me batty. Most of the problem was that I was using the thermometers that came with the bator and turner as well as the digital. Those mercury therms were killing me. They kept reading 104 on top of the eggs while the digital probe was reading 98.4 in the middle of the eggs. I scrapped the LG thermometers, installed a fan, and trusted the digital. Had a great hatch.

I put this on another thread, but it bears repeating. Even with Marans eggs you can still monitor the size of the air cell. Candle on days 7 and 12 and look at the size of the air cell. (hold the egg upright and shine your flashlight downward through the air cell) If it's grown a lot, up the humidity about 8%. I didn't candle between days 10 and 17, and I think a few of the eggs actually got too dry. My average humidity was 30%, and I think shipped eggs tend to be a little older so they don't have as much moisture to spare.

 

[enochabell]

First candling at 8 days shows 15 of the 17 are good. Veing and mass are really obvious.
With no go's not bad for my first try in the little giant. Not out of the woods yet still 14 days to go!!!

 

[BookWorm243]

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So glad you joined us

 

[BookWorm243]

Quote:
It sounds like you're doing just fine. I used the dry incubation method on my first batch and I got a better than average hatch rate on shipped eggs. I did install a fan on day 8, because the temp fluctuations were driving me batty. Most of the problem was that I was using the thermometers that came with the bator and turner as well as the digital. Those mercury therms were killing me. They kept reading 104 on top of the eggs while the digital probe was reading 98.4 in the middle of the eggs. I scrapped the LG thermometers, installed a fan, and trusted the digital. Had a great hatch.

I put this on another thread, but it bears repeating. Even with Marans eggs you can still monitor the size of the air cell. Candle on days 7 and 12 and look at the size of the air cell. (hold the egg upright and shine your flashlight downward through the air cell) If it's grown a lot, up the humidity about 8%. I didn't candle between days 10 and 17, and I think a few of the eggs actually got too dry. My average humidity was 30%, and I think shipped eggs tend to be a little older so they don't have as much moisture to spare.

I recently candled and the air cells where HUGE! I have the humidity up to 50-60 just to keep the air cells a normal size. I am down to 11 eggs all have wonderful veining and can see them kicking there feet in there

I is amazing how fast this has gone by. Lock downs the 9th

What should I put the humidity up to for lock down? I had planned to keep it in the 70's but I have had to raise the humidity already, so I am not sure if I should bump up the humidity even more for lock down.

 

[youngbiddy]

If you bump it up to 65-70% for lockdown that should be fine. My Lavender Orps aren't due till the 12th, but one of them has the biggest air sac I've seen yet. It's about a third of the egg. (!!!) I'm really worried about it; I could see it kicking around in there this morning but I don't know if it'll hatch. Two of the LO's were early quitters but the other 6 all showed movement and good development.
I've been keeping my humidity between 45-55% for the duration of this incubation, and all my air sacs are large. Some of them startlingly so.

 

[artathart]

I am having temp issues because it is so warm here today. I am having to spend most of my day keeping a watchful eye. I do have somewhere I need to be in which I will be gone right when the sun goes down so I am sure the temp will chage of course. So do you thik I should try and increase the humidity just a little and get it up to 40% for or will 35% be okay? I am not going to candle until day 10 because of the dark eggs I think. Who knows, I may sneak and do it sooner but will try to resist the urge. Can someone post a pic of what I shoudlexpect to see around 7-10 in a good egg and in a bad one?

 

[youngbiddy]

Candling progression pics..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261876

35% should be just fine; try not to worry too much.

 

[bburn]

search on here....there are all kinds of posts and links about candling. I have been looking at them.

 

[BookWorm243]

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Thanks!

 

[mudchicken]

Had to toss 4 eggs. 4 out of 40 ain't bad. Day 10!