March 2023 hatch-a-long

[junior67]

Do any of you lower your incubation temp by .5 at lockdown? I saw it in the Sally Sunshine thread, and then googled if you should, and found a few sources that said you should, but I’ve never done that. Anyone know?

I don't but find mine drops anyways since the humidity is up. I find higher humidity means lower temps.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

yup I am in MA our temps are all over really cold some days then 50 others.... hoping by the time I move the chicks out (in about 2 weeks) that it is a bit warmer to go out and sit with them. LOL was nice last summer to go out and sit and let them out of the brooder to jump up all over me (that is how I ended up with my 2nd roo as he was always the one that jumped and sat on me, the rest would just run around me and maybe come on me here and there. Jameson was always on my lap...... so he stayed even though I was 100% NOT keeping another roo!!!!! LOL)

Isn’t that always the way? I looked at these hatches as I would keep a couple that were special pretty because of the roo, but now I can’t see getting rid of any of them! I guess once they start showing their sex I will have cockerels I have to part with, unless I start a bachelor pad, which is a real possibility!

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

the thing is I would need to have all different sizes (and by chicken wire and hope the others didn't knock it down) since it would need to go under the poor boards then between the shared nest box to separate those. I have one girl that will ONLY lay on the left side (when looking at it from inside the coop) of the shared box. My broody was on that side and the other one that lays under there went to the right side NO problem. This one girl went on the side the broody was on and jumped on her and pecked her until she left she would NOT use any of the other boxes. I then moved the broody over to the other side and the 2 that use the shared box have happily used the left side of the box with no problems. but the nest boxes are higher than under the poop boards so they go under them then it goes up once they walk in. I also tried to block a broody in last year and she FREAKED out and jumped over the "pen" I made for her and got out then couldn't get back in to the eggs. tried to block her under the poop boards (before that nest box was there) and she freaked out and refused to even sit any more......

I am hoping bringing food and water out to her daily she will eat and drink and have no choice but to at least step off her eggs and go to other side of box (which I will then have to clean) or just outside her nest and poop) I figure she can't just hold her poop in.........

Yep, they tend to figure it out. Coop and run projects never end

 

[junior67]

Isn’t that always the way? I looked at these hatches as I would keep a couple that were special pretty because of the roo, but now I can’t see getting rid of any of them! I guess once they start showing their sex I will have cockerels I have to part with, unless I start a bachelor pad, which is a real possibility!

I wish. I can't keep many so basically have to pick one of each breed.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Do any of you lower your incubation temp by .5 at lockdown? I saw it in the Sally Sunshine thread, and then googled if you should, and found a few sources that said you should, but I’ve never done that. Anyone know?

I’ve always gone by the direction for the NR 360, which says to increase the humidity at the end. I tried a dry hatch to some degree last time, but that hatch wasn’t so hot.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I don't but find mine drops anyways since the humidity is up. I find higher humidity means lower temps.

Whoops, I thought it said humidity, not temp. Disregard…

 

[Iluveggers]

Whoops, I thought it said humidity, not temp. Disregard…

No worries! I left it where it was for now.

 

[RUTHIE258]

I have two eggs wiggling alot today. Am i likely to see a pip soon. Its day 19.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I have two eggs wiggling alot today. Am i likely to see a pip soon. Its day 19.

That’s too cool, I don’t think I’ve ever seen wiggling before pips! I’ve noticed that I’ve seen pips before day 21, but I’ve also sat 24 hours after the first pip before it hatched, it’s absolutely nerve wracking!

 

[junior67]

I have two eggs wiggling alot today. Am i likely to see a pip soon. Its day 19.

Wiggling means getting into position. Then needs to internally pip before external pip. But you are getting close. I haven't been lucky enough to see them wiggle.