MARCH Hatch-A-Long 2015: Please Read the First Post to JOIN the H-A-L

[ChickyChickens]

It seems harder the first hatch of the year. Always checking temps and hoping everything is ok. Then yesterday i got a beautiful green egg in the nest and i thought oh if only it had been laid 4 days ago. It could have gone in the bator!

Hate it when that happens!!

Btw...congrats on 100 posts!!!

 

[paris_r]

i just joined, i will list my data on them later. i set one batch on 2/17 and will do more in about a week. one thing i wanted to bring up though because i am still hatching out from a pervious batch right now. I DONT like those metal screens at the bottom of the incubator-i found some blood in there and a baby with a big bare tummy was essentially grated!!! she is doing ok (fingers crossed) i put some liquid bandage on her-i am worried about infection.

advice here--what is the best thing to cover this wire up with? paper towels wont really work if i have water in the grooves because it will just wick it up.

 

[scflock]

Cabinet liner

 

[Studio Chick]

Well I haven't been able to get the eggs that I was picking up about 40 minutes from me due to back road conditions, and the ones that I ordered didn't show up today either, I suppose because of all the airport delays and such. I guess they are floating around out there somewhere in these historical low temps we are having. I was picking up some Lavender Americana, and LA/BR eggs, the LAs are already a week old

. The ones that are in the mail are 12+ Silver laced Wyandottes, and 10+ Barred Rocks, I have a feeling they will be ice balls by the time they get here. On a lighter note, I did find someone close to me that has the Lemon Cukoo that I fell in love with! I am so excited about that. He will have a dozen eggs and some day old chicks for me in a week. I have been searching everywhere for them, and come to find out he is the next town over.

Needless to say, I am getting another incubator....I think that's what you all call chicken math, haha. I can't wait to get on here and post that I finally have set my eggs! I have already been worrying about them like a mother hen, but this is so much fun.
Deb

 

[mymilliefleur]

i just joined, i will list my data on them later. i set one batch on 2/17 and will do more in about a week. one thing i wanted to bring up though because i am still hatching out from a pervious batch right now. I DONT like those metal screens at the bottom of the incubator-i found some blood in there and a baby with a big bare tummy was essentially grated!!! she is doing ok (fingers crossed) i put some liquid bandage on her-i am worried about infection.

advice here--what is the best thing to cover this wire up with? paper towels wont really work if i have water in the grooves because it will just wick it up.

I use multiple layers of heavy paper towels. It works pretty well for me.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I plan to start collecting eggs from my Easter Eggers on monday! I can't wait to get them in the 'bator on the first!

 

[Studio Chick]

I plan to start collecting eggs from my Easter Eggers on monday! I can't wait to get them in the 'bator on the first!

So if you are collecting now to set on the first, I guess that means the eggs that are over a week old that I haven't been able to pick up still have a chance? That's comforting to know.....

 

[mymilliefleur]

So if you are collecting now to set on the first, I guess that means the eggs that are over a week old that I haven't been able to pick up still have a chance? That's comforting to know.....

I've set eggs that are as much as 15 days old with success, but I try not to set eggs older than 10 days.

 

[Studio Chick]

I've set eggs that are as much as 15 days old with success, but I try not to set eggs older than 10 days.

That is really good to know, in the tons of reading I have been doing, there are several different answers. Some even say not to wait after five days. Thank you

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

So if you are collecting now to set on the first, I guess that means the eggs that are over a week old that I haven't been able to pick up still have a chance? That's comforting to know.....

I look at it this way....one of our broody hens has a special hiding place where she will go and lay an egg every day or so until she feels she has a big enough clutch to try and hatch out. Then she disappears. Three weeks later she re-appears from her hiding place with over a dozen new chicks. So that means at least one of those eggs was at least two weeks old before she started to sit on them. I've had successful hatches out eggs that were 14 days old, as well as from eggs that have been "accidentally" refrigerated over a week-end.
My reasoning is that when in doubt, just look at how it's done in nature...chances are, you'll find your answer there.