March 2023 hatch-a-long

[pinewoodacres]

thinking I had my thermometer in a warm spot in my incubator since it has been reading around 100 but I am struggling to get my humidity up to 65...... It has been around 58 and I can get it up to 63 maybe but then it drops back down. Both sides are full. Only way I can get it up is to close my vent even a tiny bit but I know air is extremely important so I don't want to do that..... UGH. I think the mat I am using this time is a tad bigger than the one I used to use (I cut a new one for this time) so thinking that is it? debating on trying to cut it while it is in there or at least a couple spots to see if that helps.......

I did move my thermometer to a different spot to check it there so waiting for it to level out since I had added warmed up water so it brought the humidity way up till it balances out.

What day are you on again? I think your hatch day is same as mine, Friday the 17th, IIRC. I use a spray bottle to mist inside during lockdown/hatching and close it right away, that helps temporarily. I personally don't go that high on humidity because I don't want to risk drowning or having that wet sticky membrane getting stuck to them. Not that getting shrink wrapped in or partially out of the shell is much better! It is a tough call. I leave the vents closed as mine does have holes in it aside from the actual closeable vents, and I remove the plugs mostly when I notice it get steamy in there since that's an obvious sign of too much humidity. If mine hit 60 something, I would definitely open them even if it wasn't steamy looking. Just what has worked for me in the past.

 

[junior67]

What day are you on again? I think your hatch day is same as mine, Friday the 17th, IIRC. I use a spray bottle to mist inside during lockdown/hatching and close it right away, that helps temporarily. I personally don't go that high on humidity because I don't want to risk drowning or having that wet sticky membrane getting stuck to them. Not that getting shrink wrapped in or partially out of the shell is much better! It is a tough call. I leave the vents closed as mine does have holes in it aside from the actual closeable vents, and I remove the plugs mostly when I notice it get steamy in there since that's an obvious sign of too much humidity. If mine hit 60 something, I would definitely open them even if it wasn't steamy looking. Just what has worked for me in the past.

with the NR360 I have found incubating and 45 and lockdown at 65 is perfect. No sticky chicks, no stuck chicks or wet etc. I think brand of incubator makes a difference in that. there is 0 steam inside the incubator and it doesn't look steamy at all even when chicks are hatching. There are other vents to let air in but I have always left the one that I can close open as well and it has worked great in the past, I will close it for a bit after I open the incubator to get the humidity/temp back up but then open it right back up.

and yes we share a hatch day..... I am hoping mine hatch on Thurs or earlier on Fri though since I need to clean it and set more on Sat. haahaa!!!! last year all my chicks started hatching on day 20 with the few on early day 21, even the ones under my broody (same place I got these eggs and a couple of my own). This year I hatched someone elses eggs and they have been day 21........ so will be interesting to see what these ones do...... I have about 4 more hours till day 19 starts......... LOL

 

[FBMcrazy8]

So, I have a question ya all….I was looking for any pips and none. But I noticed this line and of course freaking out. I did a quick candle and seen that some of the air sac had yellow liquid in it (obviously would have to be yolk…right) baby is still moving but I’m worried that it is gonna be a goner. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bluer78]

I have eggs waiting to go into an incubator and I’m pretty sure I see papers in my future too. just kidding but I do know what’s going on in his head…”we have a zoo…we don’t need a zoo…what is this crazy chicken/duck lady thinking!”

So glad I'm not alone! I don't have ducks, but the chicken math keeps multiplying!! I couldn't leave tsc without this sign over the weekend!

 

[Kwoka]

I have 2/4 pips now, they will probably hatch tonight/tomorrow. Then, another batch of 5 going into lockdown for a Saturday hatch hatching just about every two days…I’m constantly cleaning the second incubator (used only as a hatcher) and mini-brooder for newborns. Never again lol

…but dang it, the Sulmtaler breeder about an hour away just listed his hatching eggs again. I missed the season last year, and I really wanted to try them out, but I have to get a grip lmao

 

[Austrian Chickens]

First pip

 

[Dinoroar]

There hatching away now the last 2 have been neckies which just give me such a kick as chicks.

Meanwhile in overstuffed incubator land I sort of solved my capacity problem by using a piece of wire shelf as a grid to put eggs in in the hatch shelf in the Dickey’s. (Which I don’t usually use). I still have to manually shift the shelf back and forth but much more doable than turning each one. The stacked eggs from the brinsea and nr 360 are now in there.

I ordered the new 24 egg disk for the brinsea which will up its capacity from 14 to 24. Hopefully they’ll ship it fast so I can put all 18 of my shipped eggs in the there happily on the turner .

 

[bluer78]

Holey Moley, I fell behind on this thread this weekend! Was our anniversary and we went out of town!
Anyway! I just candled last night, end of day 12... OMG THE FEEET!!

It's a screen shot from the video I took, so not the best... But, WOW! AH-MAZING!!
Put 22 in the incubator, 6 were infertile, pulled them day 6.
Last night, one was sloshing around like a broken yolk, pulled it. Down to 15 in the bator. For a first time, I'd say those numbers are pretty great! 4 of the 6 that were infertile were all from the same chicken... maybe she just doesn't like the roo?
Hatch date of 3/23, anyone else??

 

[Kikilu]

So, I have a question ya all….I was looking for any pips and none. But I noticed this line and of course freaking out. I did a quick candle and seen that some of the air sac had yellow liquid in it (obviously would have to be yolk…right) baby is still moving but I’m worried that it is gonna be a goner. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I am no expert so just trying to spit ball ideas…
Hard to tell from the picture but if there was yolk in the air cell that would mean an internal pip plus a broken egg sack. Can you tell if it’s pipped internally?

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

First pip