Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[AmyLynn2374]

With the foamies I think you are correct. it  is hard to keep the moisture up in them.  I hatch in my foamies once in a while now, but moved on to cabinets, so I think I was low on my 60-65%.  Thanks for correcting me.

It kind of takes some time IMH to find what works best in your climate and ambient humidity levels,

Yeah, most hatchers I know that hatch in cabinet incubators generally don't incubate less than 50%. My opinion, the best way to figure out if your humidity is working for your eggs, and how to know when to adjust, is just monitoring the air cells. At this point, I have to honestly say, I seldom even look at a hygrometer anymore. I just keep an eye on the air cells. I do know that hatching in high elevations is much different and low humidity methods aren't as successful.

They are not shipped, my chickens are on the verge of getting out of freeloader status but my husband got a dozen eggs from a friend. They're RIR hen mixed with a BR rooster I gave him. We will see how this test run plays out. I only have the 1 LG at the moment, no cabinet. I want to hatch in my classroom but didn't want to traumatize the kids with my first attempt if it goes south.

So, I have to ask...if they aren't shipped, and there's no air cell damage, why are you waiting 5 days in to start turning? It's more beneficial to healthy eggs to be being turned as development starts.
I'm finally starting to get a couple more eggs here and there as well.

 

[chickforchicks]

Yeah, most hatchers I know that hatch in cabinet incubators generally don't incubate less than 50%. My opinion, the best way to figure out if your humidity is working for your eggs, and how to know when to adjust, is just monitoring the air cells. At this point, I have to honestly say, I seldom even look at a hygrometer anymore. I just keep an eye on the air cells. I do know that hatching in high elevations is much different and low humidity methods aren't as successful.
So, I have to ask...if they aren't shipped, and there's no air cell damage, why are you waiting 5 days in to start turning? It's more beneficial to healthy eggs to be being turned as development starts.
I'm finally starting to get a couple more eggs here and there as well.

I thought people said to wait 5 days before turning, but if that's only for shipped eggs I'll go ahead and start turning. The air cells should be fine. The only traveling they had was in a truck down the road in an egg carton.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I thought people said to wait 5 days before turning, but if that's only for shipped eggs I'll go ahead and start turning. The air cells should be fine. The only traveling they had was in a truck down the road in an egg carton.

That's only for shipped eggs with damaged air cells to give them time to "firm up" and rest. Most people will wait to turn for 2-3 days. Some will push it 4-5, but once you have development the best interest of the egg is to turn. For embryo development reasons and CAM development, mostly. Now a good share of people won't candle until at least day 5, many day 7. I candle pretty much every day...lol

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Just my two cents, many years ago I used styrofoam incubators too and have since went to cabinets. They are totally different and I found ways that work best for me and my climate. I incubate at around 30% humidity and hatch at around 75%. That works best for me and when I have the best hatch rates. I only incubate in my cabinet and hatch in the styrofoams. That also works best for me. There are a lot of good tips and tricks in this thread. With shipped eggs I put them in the incubator the day after I receive them but don't turn them the first day. I turn the turner on the following day. I have had pretty good luck. As far as shipped eggs, I think how the eggs are packed also affects the hatches. Most people who ship eggs do test hatches before shipping any eggs to get an idea of the fertility rate, at least I do. I also check the eggs I eat for breakfast. I want the people who get my eggs to have the best possible hatch. I used to candle my eggs quite often but now I just candle a few on day 10 and then candle all of the eggs when I set them for hatching.

No matter the condition of the eggs generally some won't develop, some will quit at some point of development, and some prior to hatch, when they hatch and on. This is part of life and hopefully your students will understand. As long as the conditions are good you should have a decent hatch but most aren't 100%. I have had 100% hatches but they are rare. I do staggered hatches. I hatch out hundreds of chicks each year. Good luck and have fun...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Just my two cents, many years ago I used styrofoam incubators too and have since went to cabinets. They are totally different and I found ways that work best for me and my climate. I incubate at around 30% humidity and hatch at around 75%. That works best for me and when I have the best hatch rates. I only incubate in my cabinet and hatch in the styrofoams. That also works best for me. There are a lot of good tips and tricks in this thread. With shipped eggs I put them in the incubator the day after I receive them but don't turn them the first day. I turn the turner on the following day. I have had pretty good luck. As far as shipped eggs, I think how the eggs are packed also affects the hatches. Most people who ship eggs do test hatches before shipping any eggs to get an idea of the fertility rate, at least I do. I also check the eggs I eat for breakfast. I want the people who get my eggs to have the best possible hatch. I used to candle my eggs quite often but now I just candle a few on day 10 and then candle all of the eggs when I set them for hatching.

No matter the condition of the eggs generally some won't develop, some will quit at some point of development, and some prior to hatch, when they hatch and on. This is part of life and hopefully your students will understand. As long as the conditions are good you should have a decent hatch but most aren't 100%. I have had 100% hatches but they are rare. I do staggered hatches. I hatch out hundreds of chicks each year. Good luck and have fun...

Packing and shipping is the biggest factor. The PO can be ruthless to eggs, and if they aren't packed good to begin with you're up the creek. My silkie eggs were packed so well I didn't have a single detached air cell. I had three or four that were a bit wiggly. I let them rest 12 hours, put the in the incubator in cut down cartons and didn't turn for the first day. The second day I tilted. By the 3rd or 4th all the air cells were firm so I was able to lay them down and turn normally. I prefer hand turning. I started w/the turner, but switched.
Lol. I check every egg I break open...lol It's just habit. I also candle almost every day of incubation too...lol
The two years I've been hatching I have only had one.

% Hatch. It was with my own pullet eggs. A batch of 20. Usually I have 2 that made it to lock down, that do not hatch. I don't know why 2. But that seems to be my number.
Now, do you run the 30% in the cabinet?

 

[cmom]

I have a place I can control it with the vents in the back. My cabinet is an older one that I have had for many years. I had others but sold them and now just have one.

This is how I pack my eggs.

Hatching





I put the license plate over the water tray. I have used aluminum foil too.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a place I can control it with the vents in the back. My cabinet is an older one that I have had for many years. I had others but sold them and now just have one. This is how I pack my eggs. Hatching I put the license plate over the water tray. I have used aluminum foil too.

That's a lot of chicks in brooders...lol Nice set up. My silkie eggs were each bubble wrapped. Shredded paper in the inner box and that box was put in a bigger box with bedding between the two. I think the double boxing is a good idea. We used to ship apples like you do eggs when I worked at an apple orchard/country store. They held the apples pretty tight. They didn't go anywhere, that's for sure.

 

[cmom]

I have had some boxes of eggs that were delivered mangled somewhat. I take pictures of the boxes before I ship them and if they are received mangled in any way I ask the receiver to please take a picture and send it to me. I have complained to the postal service and they blame it on machines handling the boxes. I'll still complain whenever it might happen. So far no cracked or broken eggs.



This label goes on each box in several places including right next to the address label.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have had some boxes of eggs that were delivered mangled somewhat. I take pictures of the boxes before I ship them and if they are received mangled in any way I ask the receiver to please take a picture and send it to me. I have complained to the postal service and they blame it on machines handling the boxes. I'll still complain whenever it might happen. So far no cracked or broken eggs. This label goes on each box in several places including right next to the address label.

Mine had arrows with "this side up" too, when I walked into the post office to pick it up it was sitting on it's side with the arrows pointing sideways. Not that I expect the box to never get turned sideways, but you'd think, knowing I was coming in to pick it up, that they would make an attempt to make it look good.

 

[chickforchicks]

I asked the IT guys at work if they had an extra computer fan they weren't using anymore for my classroom experiment hatch. He didn't just bring it over he made it ready to install. What a great bunch of folks!