Little Giant Incubation Experiment - Day 21 - Hatch Day!

[AmyLynn2374]

I don't have a Brinsea or an LG....

Hey, that would provide a third bator. We could go with the Brinsea, LG, and Janoel knockoff...lol

I want to butt in lol I'm using a 9300 I set 13 eggs and day 10 got rid of 3 infertiles.. Didn't add water day 1-18 humidity stayed around 30 kept my temp between 101-102 all air sacs growing and seeing movement turned the eggs manual 3-4 times a day.. Now is day 18 I added water and wet cloth and put a non slip cabinet liner under the eggs and got humidity to 65% am I doing good??? And advice will be appreciated this is my first incubation..

Sounds good. 65% is the low end of good, I prefer 75% but if you are a hands off hatcher 65% is fine.

I'm planning on doing a similar thing by myself with my LG and Hovabator, but with shipped eggs. I was thinking about your post, and you had mentioned the egg differences between your eggs and his. Although since you live in different places the handling of the eggs would still be a factor, you could order hatching eggs from the same source and set them together.( In my case the two test set would have traveled together with the same postal treatment.) Then you can apply your incubating techniques to those and see who has the best results. So then the only big issue may be do you both want the same breed of hatching eggs (which the same breed and hatching, from the same source would be a factor that could eliminate several variables), or if you want to get less expensive eggs would those be breeds you wanted or could sell off? I was also considering getting eggs from far away as well as closer to see how much of a difference that makes.

However, All of my own eggs I have set this year have been pullet eggs. I have had 96% and then 100% hatch rate with them. Unless you have a difficult to hatch breed, I don't think the pullet eggs would be an issue as far as being young birds. I almost did not set any because I had read post that said do not set pullet eggs. I am vary please with my hatch so far and I have some what appears to be very nice birds once they get all grown out. AND they all hatched in my LG!!

I do think it would be a fun experiment and would like to see how it goes. PS I am not trying to take the fun out of it, I had just been thinking of something similar myself and when you mentioned variables, thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth. However, my option would not be free.

Thanks for chiming in. In would be more even experimentally if we got eggs from the same source, however, the only reason I plan to do another hatch this year is to start my own lines with my pullets. (Plus I am not a fan on spending money on shipped eggs and then have them not hatch.) I am glad to hear that you've had good luck with your pullets. I think mine will do fine. ATM there's a couple of them I woudn't feel comfortable using yet as they are still on the small side, but hoping in 3-4 weeks they will be good. Plus I am getting 3 pure silkies from my sister to cross with my nn, so I should be good to have 2 dozen in one week, hopefully.

Great idea.
From what I've read from you, our results would be similar. The interesting comparison would be in the daily notes. You would have to keep up with every adjustment and change on a daily basis. Here is a sample of what the average Brinsea user's notes would look like:
Day 1: Turn on, add water, and set eggs
Day 2: nothing
Day 3: nothing
Day 4: nothing
Day 5: nothing
Day 6: remembered to glance at gauges. all good
Day 7: Add water
Day 8: candle
Day 9: nothing
Day 10: nothing
Day 11: nothing
Day 12: add water
Day 13: Oh yeah, gauges. Nevermind, all good
Day 14: candle. The chicks are starting to tie their ascots
Day 15: nothing
Day 16: nothing
Day 17: nothing
Day 18: Lockdown
Day 19: nothing
Day 20: 1 early hatch, 3 pips. Leave him in there
Day 21: Don't know how many hatched, can't count. Leave them in there
Day 22: Take out chicks. A few have already been accepted to Harvard. 2 pipped eggs remaining
Day 23: Last 2 hatched overnight. Spent a grueling 5 minutes washing the incubator and set the next batch

You're on. Give me a couple weeks or so to straighten out coop plans and get the other silkies from my sister and we will set it up. Hope you can handle the competition...lol

I love a good competition. You know your stuff Amy but you'd be at a big disadvantage because of the fancy incubator.

That bator doesn't scare me... (Mine spiking does though...lol)

I will keep posted..I really hope it goes good.. Since everyone had me scared to open it during lockdown I place a wet wash cloth right under one of the vent holes and going to use a turkey baster to add water to the cloth if I need to, hope it works

That's the problem with conservative hatchers that don't give both sides of the coin. They scare the beejeezus out of new hatchers, of course, I think that's why they do it so the hatcher will do it their way. I give both sides of doing things and let the new hatcher find their comfort zone.

There are many who never open it, and there are some who open alot during lockdown. I try not to open unless necessary, but don't worry too much if I feel the need to do so. Dont be scared. You have to do what you feel is right in any given situation. Weigh the risks and gains first. Then go with your gut. Things can go wrong either way, but things can go right either way too! The wash cloth sounds like a good plan!

And this is what I love. You look at SC. He's a conservative (without the arrogance that his way is the only way) and doesn't open the bator. He has great hatches. I'm at the total opposite end. I am opening the bator to take out my chicks and the shells, flip my pippers back over, assist or check on a chick. And I have great hatches. (Note: I've never had a pipper or zipper not hatch or die in the shell.) And you have WV right there in the middle. She doesn't open if she doesn't have to, but she doesn't fall for that "certain death" if you open the bator legend. She takes precautions, but she's not finatical about it. Another good hatcher. It just proves that no way is the right way and nothing is certain. (I do take precautions because of my methods, but I make it work.)

 

[SimplyLogan]

I actually have a problem with paying for shipping eggs also, however the resources here are slim unless I want straight hatchery stock or back yard mix. I'm not looking for breeding show birds, but I have had experience with hatchery stock are definitely not pure bred. I plan on being self sustaining for meat and eggs. When you order two or three different breeds and you cant tell them apart when they grow up, (yet you can tell they are different) it makes you wonder what the heck you got and what will you get if you breed them. I am just glad I have had very good luck hatching for most all of my eggs. So far I have profited and that is a relief. I am at the end of ordering and should be set.

 

[whitney556]

Haven't got to get on here in a few days, but I candled all my eggs the day before yesterday and all 8 of them seem to all be developing well! I even saw one that appeared to be moving which got me super excited

I have been having a bit of trouble with my humidity though, I can't seem to get it below the upper 40's, and at some points it's up in the 50's. I live in the south so it's normally pretty humid here. Am I still in the safe zone with my humidity levels? Or do I need to really start trying to get it lower?

 

[caseymacom]

Hey, that would provide a third bator. We could go with the Brinsea, LG, and Janoel knockoff...lol

Sounds good. 65% is the low end of good, I prefer 75% but if you are a hands off hatcher 65% is fine.

Thanks for chiming in. In would be more even experimentally if we got eggs from the same source, however, the only reason I plan to do another hatch this year is to start my own lines with my pullets. (Plus I am not a fan on spending money on shipped eggs and then have them not hatch.)  I am glad to hear that you've had good luck with your pullets. I think mine will do fine. ATM there's a couple of them I woudn't feel comfortable using yet as they are still on the small side, but hoping in 3-4 weeks they will be good. Plus I am getting 3 pure silkies from my sister to cross with my nn, so I should be good to have 2 dozen in one week, hopefully.

You're on. Give me a couple weeks or so to straighten out coop plans and get the other silkies from my sister and we will set it up. Hope you can handle the competition...lol


That bator doesn't scare me... (Mine spiking does though...lol)  
That's the problem with conservative hatchers that don't give both sides of the coin. They scare the beejeezus out of new hatchers, of course, I think that's why they do it so the hatcher will do it their way. I give both sides of doing things and let the new hatcher find their comfort zone.

And this is what I love. You look at SC. He's a conservative (without the arrogance that his way is the only way) and doesn't open the bator. He has great hatches.  I'm at the total opposite end. I am opening the bator to take out my chicks and the shells, flip my pippers back over, assist or check on a chick. And I have great hatches. (Note: I've never had a pipper or zipper not hatch or die in the shell.)  And you have WV right there in the middle. She doesn't open if she doesn't have to, but she doesn't fall for that "certain death" if you open the bator legend. She takes precautions, but she's not finatical about it. Another good hatcher. It just proves that no way is the right way and nothing is certain. (I do take precautions because of my methods, but I make it work.)

thanks for pointing out different ppls method it helps me to relax a little more, some seem to make it sound so complicated, I have bantam eggs in and I keep hearing they usually hatch early so every hr I'm looking to see if I have any hatching yet. If I do get a early one should I leave it in or take it out?

 

[WVduckchick]

Haven't got to get on here in a few days, but I candled all my eggs the day before yesterday and all 8 of them seem to all be developing well! I even saw one that appeared to be moving which got me super excited

I have been having a bit of trouble with my humidity though, I can't seem to get it below the upper 40's, and at some points it's up in the 50's. I live in the south so it's normally pretty humid here. Am I still in the safe zone with my humidity levels? Or do I need to really start trying to get it lower?

Watch your air cells. If they are growing well enough, you might be ok. If they still look small, you might have to investigate ways to lower it. It will depend on what type of eggs, their porosity, etc.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I actually have a problem with paying for shipping eggs also, however the resources here are slim unless I want straight hatchery stock or back yard mix. I'm not looking for breeding show birds, but I have had experience with hatchery stock are definitely not pure bred. I plan on being self sustaining for meat and eggs. When you order two or three different breeds and you cant tell them apart when they grow up, (yet you can tell they are different) it makes you wonder what the heck you got and what will you get if you breed them. I am just glad I have had very good luck hatching for most all of my eggs. So far I have profited and that is a relief. I am at the end of ordering and should be set.

I've wanted showgirls so bad. I just have not been able to bring myself to invest in something that might not produce anything. I live in a highly rural area surrounded by other highly rural areas...lol A good share of breeds you could probably find locally/semi locally, but I like my mixes. I like not having a bunch of look a likes...lol I did hatch out a dozen Spitzhaubens, but I am only planning on keeping 4 girls and 2 boys.

 

[scflock]

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[AmyLynn2374]

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I love it!!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Haven't got to get on here in a few days, but I candled all my eggs the day before yesterday and all 8 of them seem to all be developing well! I even saw one that appeared to be moving which got me super excited

I have been having a bit of trouble with my humidity though, I can't seem to get it below the upper 40's, and at some points it's up in the 50's. I live in the south so it's normally pretty humid here. Am I still in the safe zone with my humidity levels? Or do I need to really start trying to get it lower?

I was going to say exactly what WVduckchick said.....lol

thanks for pointing out different ppls method it helps me to relax a little more, some seem to make it sound so complicated, I have bantam eggs in and I keep hearing they usually hatch early so every hr I'm looking to see if I have any hatching yet. If I do get a early one should I leave it in or take it out?

Wether you move them or leave them in is totally a personal decision. As long as your humidity levels are up above the 65% (I prefer 75%) you are timely and you have water/sponge on hand to stick in the bator to replinish lost humidity, there shouldn't be an issue if you would like and are comfortable removing the chicks. Yes, bantams are known to hatch a day or two early. I had two in my last hatch. One of them was my first to pip. The other was near to the end of hatch but my whole hatch (w/exception of one that was on time) hatched out day 19/20.

Watch your air cells. If they are growing well enough, you might be ok. If they still look small, you might have to investigate ways to lower it. It will depend on what type of eggs, their porosity, etc.

Exxactly what I was going to say!!

 

[fiset94]

Day 21... no sign of pips... BUT...I swear that I saw one of the eggs jiggling for a good 5 seconds. - That's a good sign right?? Does that mean that they are getting into position to then start cracking away at the egg??

Michele