Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[Wisher1000]

I don't have a Sportsman (yet) and this is my first hatch, ever, but is there anything in the instructions about the humidity controls? I think I would read those thoroughly, first. Then if you have no answer, maybe you could call the company to see if it is meant to take those things into consideration. My humidity has been between 20% and 30% through the whole hatch so far and my air cells look good. There are some smaller and some larger, but the majority are about the same size and consistant with where the chart says they should be at this point. I hope that helps you at least a little.

I have a humidity question for anyone using a GQF Cabinet Sportsman Please

I have been dry incubating down here in the little fridge and styro bators. I don't increase or add humidity until the eggs actually start to pip. Now I have a GQF and I am not sure what to do. I know to weigh the eggs etc to determine if they are losing enough but not too much moisture but since it seems soooo very controlled do I just go with the humidity pan and 47% humidity? If I put water in the pan and just let it run it stays at about 47%. Should I still take the natural air humidity into consideration but wouldn't the read out show that as well? It has an outside temp reading as well as an inside temp reading so the humidity should be taken into consideratrion as well? I don't want to kill any chicks but I did put two batches of eggs in it all ready just one day ago. Thanks for any input on this

 

[tbitt]

And now these are just for fun.......

This is the above Blue... these little winglets make me LAUGH!!!



The gals are stretching in this pic. I like how you can see the new feathers coming in.


Same boy as above....LOVE his colors


And a Golden 300 Gal


Can't leave out the Pekins

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Renee, how many eggs do you fit in this arrangement? 10, 12, 20, 24????

 

[gryeyes]

Marking my spot. <*yawn*>

 

[Arielle]

And now these are just for fun.......

This is the above Blue... these little winglets make me LAUGH!!!



The gals are stretching in this pic. I like how you can see the new feathers coming in.


Same boy as above....LOVE his colors


And a Golden 300 Gal


Can't leave out the Pekins

I hope you get these into the contest--difficult moments to capture on film.

 

[ronott1]

It seems that the eggs I get that do the best are not on their side in the package, but have the big end up and the pointy end down. That is what James does with the EO Basque eggs and in a different was that is how the Cream legbar eggs were shipped. I am pretty sure the foam insulation tip was packed with big end up in the package. Also, many say not to put references to eggs in the package.

Originally Posted by Arielle
SO cool! Very revealing. WOuld you consider placing all the ph otos in a single thread with both point of view? LOL

Hmm... Yeah, I might do that. I'll let you know.

4 of 12 (33%) of these eggs are developing:


And 12 of 15 (80%) of these eggs are developing:


When I shipped my swap eggs, I used James' method (above), and all 10 arrived intact. I wonder how many will hatch? I can't wait to see my flock's cross-country offspring.

 

[dsqard]

I need some help, too. I have candled and have marked the eggs that I think are clear, blood ringed, and quitters. All the rest I marked with a "G" for good. At lockdown, (which is Wednesday at noon, right?) do I really need to toss the ones that are no longer hatchable? How can I be sure? This is my first hatch and I am so afraid that I will toss one that had a chance. I heard one of the more experienced hatchers say she leaves them (as long as they are not weeping or smelly) until day 25. Is that a safe practice for one so new to this as I? Would it be safer to toss the ones I think are dead and just not do the eggtopsys so I won't be mortified if one is alive? I don't get grossed out but would flip if the little embryo was viable. My temps and humidity have been real good through out the hatch and I am pleased with everything so far. I have even thought of putting the questionable eggs in the freezer prior to the eggtopsy so I will know for sure I won't be horrified, but that would rob me of that data. I don't know which is the best choice, or if there is a better one out there...... anybody? HELP!

Wisher if you are not comfortable getting rid of eggs you are not sure about, it is safe to leave them in for that long as long as they are not weeping or smelly (like you said). The clears will be very evident when you candle right before lockdown. What I did the first time I hatched was to take a fresh egg and candle it so I knew what a "clear" would look like. It is a good reference for eggs that are developing. If the egg that has been incubating for the last 18 days looks like a fresh egg, it is not going to hatch no matter how long you leave it in. Those eggs are perfectly safe to pull out and dispose of. If there is very little development and you can't see veins any more at day 18 you can pull those too. They are quitters. Anything that is in a "grey" area, I just leave in. You don't have to do eggtopies if you can't stomach it. I sometimes do them on ones that made it to lockdown but did not hatch. Anything that I get rid of before lockdown just gets tossed. I don't crack them open at all. Most of the things people do, like candling and getting rid of eggs that are not developing, are a personal preference and there really is no "wrong" way to do it.

Renee, how many eggs do you fit in this arrangement? 10, 12, 20, 24????

That arrangement gets 12 eggs in the foam holders. Renee actually snuck a couple extra in between the two blocks of foam (each block holds 6 eggs and two blocks fit in that small box)

 

[Arielle]

I need some help, too. I have candled and have marked the eggs that I think are clear, blood ringed, and quitters. All the rest I marked with a "G" for good. At lockdown, (which is Wednesday at noon, right?) do I really need to toss the ones that are no longer hatchable? How can I be sure? This is my first hatch and I am so afraid that I will toss one that had a chance. I heard one of the more experienced hatchers say she leaves them (as long as they are not weeping or smelly) until day 25. Is that a safe practice for one so new to this as I? Would it be safer to toss the ones I think are dead and just not do the eggtopsys so I won't be mortified if one is alive? I don't get grossed out but would flip if the little embryo was viable. My temps and humidity have been real good through out the hatch and I am pleased with everything so far. I have even thought of putting the questionable eggs in the freezer prior to the eggtopsy so I will know for sure I won't be horrified, but that would rob me of that data. I don't know which is the best choice, or if there is a better one out there...... anybody? HELP!

The reason I wait 'til after day 25, usually day 30, is I read on BYC how many people pulled eggs and cracked them open to discover the reason for the demise, BUT the chick was not a quitter until it was cracked open. I have only had one weeping egg, and I figure a weeping egg is releasing fluids and not under pressure so unlikely to explode. I remove it anyway.

Renee, how many eggs do you fit in this arrangement? 10, 12, 20, 24????

That arrangement gets 12 eggs in the foam holders. Renee actually snuck a couple extra in between the two blocks of foam (each block holds 6 eggs and two blocks fit in that small box)

Thank you!!

 

[kathyinmo]

Just thought I would share a post I read on another thread.....

Quote:

 

[dsqard]

Kathy, I agree with you. That is clever!