Mahonri's 2nd Annual BYC EASTER HATCH. Post pics of your chicks!

[StormyMoon]

Quote:
Ok, Mahonri... Here's what my bator looks like with 120 eggs in it.. This is a homemade incubator.. There are 2 dozen eggs in two cartons, one on each side underneath the angle of the ones you can see... I had to go this route since my other incubator still has about 80 eggs in it that go to lock down tomorrow... Just the way the egg availability worked out due to a family wedding out of state earlier this month... LOL I'm planning to move these all into the other incubator on the 6th after it's finished cooking the current batch..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/72494_100_2766.jpg

Geez how do you turn all those eggs in there?

 

[thebirdguy]

Quote:
Ok, Mahonri... Here's what my bator looks like with 120 eggs in it.. This is a homemade incubator.. There are 2 dozen eggs in two cartons, one on each side underneath the angle of the ones you can see... I had to go this route since my other incubator still has about 80 eggs in it that go to lock down tomorrow... Just the way the egg availability worked out due to a family wedding out of state earlier this month... LOL I'm planning to move these all into the other incubator on the 6th after it's finished cooking the current batch..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/72494_100_2766.jpg

Geez how do you turn all those eggs in there?

This is a first...

I practiced tonight and I have to take 4 cartons out, turn the others around and then put the 4 back in.. Thank goodness I only have to do the tetris thing for a few days!!!

 

[LarryPQ]

FOR THOSE OF YOU PARTICIPATING IN MAHONRI'S EASTER HATCH CONTEST:

Please submit your guesses here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/vie...RlZi05NWMxLTQ2MjgtOGM5MS1hYTAyZTQxN2QyYjY&ifq


And see everyone's responses here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ai7KIISf0iW0dDQwZVBvdmZVNmRtZ3NsN2RWWlpvRUE&hl=en#gid=0


If you need to change your answers, just re-submit the form. I will delete any repeats I come across.

 

[debilorrah]

I am gonna have to figure out how to stack eggs in my bator because I have ducks in there that have one more week to go.

 

[LarryPQ]

Deb- can you please test my links/form?

 

[The Sheriff]

I received 12 beautiful eggs today from kathyinmo. Thanks Kathy! I am waiting for 6+ olive eggers from Keri and I'm good to go. I might slip in an Icelandic pullet egg I found today on the coop floor. I am really looking forward to the hatch. Like I need more chickens!

 

[countrygirl911]

well she has been off for the nest for 3 hrs so maybe she was not broody she is nesting on the roost but she was acting like it could she be starting to become broody what should i do with the eggs outside? also did i cause her to leave the nest by cleaning her box? after she left the box for over an hr i had my husband go and put the old bedding back in to see if she will go back to the box but no go. is she becomming broody or is it my wishful thinking? how long does it take for her to go full broody this was her first day acting like this.

 

[debilorrah]

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They both work great!!! Good job!

 

[StormyMoon]

Quote:
Geez how do you turn all those eggs in there?

This is a first...

I practiced tonight and I have to take 4 cartons out, turn the others around and then put the 4 back in.. Thank goodness I only have to do the tetris thing for a few days!!!

Thats a good idea , it doesn't seem so hard when you explain it like that.

I was seeing you tilt the box one way lol and then tilting it the other later on...... haha

 

[Hurley]

One more day to collect any last minute eggs! I've got 68 eggs and a handful of spaces left between the 2 incubators. Thought of just tetris-stacking one, but now have way too many for that.

Incubators are currently working on stabilizing and the eggs are resting. Got a lovely box of 32 eggs today, Iowa Blues! Yoop yoop.

Some pics from today:

Rigging up the incubators to keep my hands out of them as much as possible. This pic shows my rigged up water delivery system. From the outside there are 2 red rubber catheters coming out that I can connect to with a syringe. Because I'm too lazy to load up the syringe multiple times, I just pulled the plunger out and put in a spare funnel I had, works great! There are 2 catheters because there are two reservoirs to fill separately.

A view of the inside showing the soda straw delivery system and the chambers. I put a drop of food coloring in each to make it easier to see water levels from outside the bator.

Egg turner in place over the chambers.

Taped the back seam to act as a hinge for opening the lid as well as to minimize air flow fluctuations due to a non-tight fit of the box lid.

Eggs waiting to be set. Left - Iowa Blues, Right Rear - B/B/S/Cuckoo Marans, Right Center - B/S Ameraucanas carrying the silkie/fuzzy gene, Right Front - Olive Egger F1s (Marans x Ameraucana hens) and a handful of other huge eggs from the layer pen for grins.