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

[Mervin]

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Thanks for asking that. I have a couple that are like that. When I first saw them, I didn't know what to think. I thought I saw movement, so I put them back in.

Out of the 28 I started with, I tossed 14. I probably should have tossed 3 more, but we'll see on day 18. I just wish my DD's bantam Cochins would have faired better. I may source some closer to home, if the two still in there don't make it.

 

[LarryPQ]

Mixed feelings, but overall pleased+. The Reptipro has the thermometer at the top of the bator, so even with the fan, there is a diff in temperature from top to bottom. Good for differing species of reptiles, an irritant for chickens.

Still-- I can easily get 30+ chicken eggs in the top shelves--but have to hand-turn. Hand turning is super-easy: I just put the eggs in cartons on the shelves, and then tilt the shelvesto a 45-degree angle, 3 times a day. I cut extra shelves from perf-board just for this reason.

My favorite thing is how it is to keep humidity high. My biggest issue with hatching has ALWAYS been shrink-wrapped chicks. The Repti-pro lets me put a deep tupperware of water in, right next to the fan. When I have to jack up the humidity, I drape a papertowel over the edge and BAM! 80%.

Special bonus: there is a light inside the incubator. No leaning over the bator with a flashlight! I should just take a pic of the chicks that are unzipping right now.

Finally, The owner of Reptipro is awesome nice. His name is steve or mike or something easy like that. My first Reptipro one blew something on the board in week 2. He sent me a new incubator ASAP.


Now that I have the fancy Brinsea, I will probably use the Reptipro for a hatcherbator, since it is easy to get humidity up. Will keep you posted on its progress.

 

[Rathbone]

I have infamously bad luck with marans...which I am trying to hatch...AGAIN. I have trouble getting the humidity up high enough. Someone on here mentioned laying a damp paper towel on the eggs? I need advise everyone.

 

[LarryPQ]

what are you hatching with?

 

[ChooksChick]

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Okay, many disagree with my feelings on Marans, but if I get shipped eggs, I use NO WATER until lockdown (as usual) and I sand some of the color off the shell to help them evaporate better. I feel Marans drown easily when shipped because the color prevents proper evaporation. If you look at some of my old auctions you can see some discussions about it and a pic and instructions on how I sand them.

Like I said- others may disagree, but it works for me, particularly with darker eggs.

 

[Rathbone]

It is an old hova bator styrofoam incubator. It has a fan. There is a plastic insert at the bottom with wells for water, a piece of hardware cloth that rests on that. I have the wells all full of water, I placed a square of receiving blanket on top of the hardware cloth - and wet it. I then put the eggs sitting up in whittled down egg cartons. I have wet paper towels sitting between the egg cartons. Still - humidity is only at 60%

 

[yotetrapper]

I sure don't understand why everyone has trouble hatching marans. Out of all the breeds I hatch, I have the least trouble with marans. I got my first 100% hatchrate on my own maran eggs this year, as well as my best ever hatchrate on shipped eggs......90%.........marans.

 

[Rathbone]

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Wanna be my new best friend?

 

[dsqard]

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Wanna be my new best friend?

Probably depends on how different you really are.

I would demand chocolate yotetrapper!

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

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I used to live in Yuma. I can't imagine hatching in your climate. I bet humidity is an issue. Glad you have one that solves the humidity problem. I get shrink wrapped chicks sometimes up here in rainy-ville

I never had chickens when I lived in AZ.