"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Ron Skekel]

Out of curiosity, do any of y'all candle for internal pips? I was planning to follow the advice on that one article and not open the incubator until the hatch is finished. But I've heard of other people candling during the hatching.

Also, vent plugs: the article I was following said to leave them open through day 18, then close one, and to close the second on day 20. I was also told that this was a terrible idea.

Thoughts?

The article I'm talking about: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method

I wouldn't candel leave them be. You will see some tomorrow without the candel. If you are dry hatching I would leave it closed till quite a few hatch as the eggs hatch the humidty will spike then open vents to keep humidty to 40 /45%. Are you dry hatching? Pam

 

[Ron Skekel]

Today while I was cleaning my coops my olive egger came in and laid a egg on the floor. So I picked it up with the other eggs laied today an brought them inside. So went back out and cleaned a different coop. Then I went bact to the first coop to finish I look in the corner and theirs another egg.

So I know my one olive egger didn't lay 2 eggs that fast plus the color was a little greener. My other olive egger has been laying a brown egg. But the only chicken that could have laied it is her. Anyone ever herd of a chicken changing the color egg they were laying? Pam

 

[campingshaws]

I wouldn't candel leave them be. You will see some tomorrow without the candel. If you are dry hatching I would leave it closed till quite a few hatch as the eggs hatch the humidty will spike then open vents to keep humidty to 40 /45%. Are you dry hatching? Pam

Well, I'm trying. I've read really varied suggestions for the lockdown humidity. Right now I'm trying to keep it around 65%, middle ground. I've had these lady's eggs for eating and the shells are really hard.

I've got no sounds, and no movement. This is the worst!

 

[Ron Skekel]

Well, I'm trying. I've read really varied suggestions for the lockdown humidity. Right now I'm trying to keep it around 65%, middle ground. I've had these lady's eggs for eating and the shells are really hard.

I've got no sounds, and no movement. This is the worst!

My last two hatches I followed with higher humidity 1st one 2 chicks but my dog did unplug it too. The 2nd one 5 hatched I thought something isn't right. So after listening to everyone I went dry Terri has a lot experence and she was right. I think humidty that high drounds the chicks in the learing center their is and article that explains exactly what Terri was saying. Now whats done is done don't freak out. There is a learning curve to everything. I would lower the humidty. Hope for the best I'm sure some will hatch. Pam

 

[campingshaws]

My last two hatches I followed with higher humidity 1st one 2 chicks but my dog did unplug it too. The 2nd one 5 hatched I thought something isn't right. So after listening to everyone I went dry Terri has a lot experence and she was right. I think humidty that high drounds the chicks in the learing center their is and article that explains exactly what Terri was saying. Now whats done is done don't freak out. There is a learning curve to everything. I would lower the humidty. Hope for the best I'm sure some will hatch. Pam

My understanding of dry hatch was humidity 30-35% until day 18, then up to 60-65%.

I guess we'll see. I've really battled the humidity in both directions every step of the way. Ugh. This is so hard.

 

[Cody A]

Today while I was cleaning my coops my olive egger came in and laid a egg on the floor. So I picked it up with the other eggs laied today an brought them inside. So went back out and cleaned a different coop. Then I went bact to the first coop to finish I look in the corner and theirs another egg.

So I know my one olive egger didn't lay 2 eggs that fast plus the color was a little greener. My other olive egger has been laying a brown egg. But the only chicken that could have laied it is her. Anyone ever herd of a chicken changing the color egg they were laying?

Pam

Pam. Reminds me of a Gary Larson, sounds like your hen pulled a fast one on you. Probably has an Easter egg dying kit hidden in the nest box.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

My last two hatches I followed with higher humidity 1st one 2 chicks but my dog did unplug it too. The 2nd one 5 hatched I thought something isn't right. So after listening to everyone I went dry Terri has a lot experence and she was right. I think humidty that high drounds the chicks in the learing center their is and article that explains exactly what Terri was saying. Now whats done is done don't freak out. There is a learning curve to everything. I would lower the humidty. Hope for the best I'm sure some will hatch. Pam

The thing I've found is that too high humidity will cause the chicks to drown in the shells before hatching -- esp if you are hatching eggs w/very hard shells. I finally got that through my thick head. When they start hatching, the humidity naturally spikes -- you don't have to add anything! - all that birth process & liquids coming out as the chicks hatch & dry will make the humidity go up. Don't open the bator unless you absolutely have no choice - because if the humidity drops too fast while they're hatching, then you get "sticky chicks" bits of shell will stick to them or they will be unable to hatch all the way -- esp. the ones that hatch later. Confusing enough?

Having said that, what works for me might not work as well for you. Everybody has to experiment & find out what works best for them. Take notes - write down what happened, do egg-topys on the ones that didn't hatch. You'd be surprised what you forget from one year to the next. You'll start reading your notes & say 'Oh that's right! that worked" or "OK that didn't work so well".

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Firing up the bator again! won an auction on some Urch/Turnland RIRs, coming from Amite so hopefully won't be jostled too much in the shipping. I think they'll be a nice addition to my RIRs.

 

[campingshaws]

So you mean if it's too high at lockdown? I thought that happened if the humidity was too high the whole time.

I woke up to an egg that looks like this:

Anyone ever have this happen?

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Today while I was cleaning my coops my olive egger came in and laid a egg on the floor. So I picked it up with the other eggs laied today an brought them inside. So went back out and cleaned a different coop. Then I went bact to the first coop to finish I look in the corner and theirs another egg.

So I know my one olive egger didn't lay 2 eggs that fast plus the color was a little greener. My other olive egger has been laying a brown egg. But the only chicken that could have laied it is her. Anyone ever herd of a chicken changing the color egg they were laying?

Pam

how cool is that? I never heard of one changing from brown to green, but if you think about how the dark egglayers fluctuate in color -- and I do have one EE that will lay a darker green earlier in her cycle & then it lightens up later in the year.