May 2020 Hatch-A-Long

[matlock585]

I do dry incubation as well. Mine usually stays around 40% and I have mostly gotten good results with that. From what I understand the styrofoam incubators hold humidity better than plastic ones do.
This is my first hatch in several years and my first hatch ever with a store bought incubator.
I worried about mine the whole time and thought the air cells were too small, but when I looked at them before lockdown I'd say 95% looked textbook perfect.
Keep us posted on it. I'll be anxious to hear how they're doing next week.

 

[kelseyk]

Thanks, yes the hygrometer is accurate. I am just so worried to lose these eggs, slight paranoia is involved I am sure. The humidity goes down in the evenings, to about 45%. Day time to 60%. I just wanted to make any interventions needed before it is too late to make any corrections.
Most people on this forum seem to prefer dry incubation, but then I understand silkies need higher humidity due to their smaller size. First time incubating expensive eggs!

I have incubated silkies at the same humidity as my other chicken eggs - I keep my incubator between 45-50% days 1-17/18 and then around 60-65% in lockdown in the hatcher.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have incubated silkies at the same humidity as my other chicken eggs - I keep my incubator between 45-50% days 1-17/18 and then around 60-65% in lockdown in the hatcher.

Thanks! I have read so much conflicting information, not sure what to think anymore!

 

[lady dimitrescu]

my incubator is terrible (never buy the weird offbrand Chinese incubators from Amazon) I guess you get what you pay for. Fortunately, all the eggs are developing nicely. Sadly I had to remove one because it stunk!
Anyways I want to buy a new incubator, I’m conflicted between harris farms incubator or brinsea, which one should I buy?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I have Brinsea Mini II Advance and Maxi II Advance versions. Like the Mini better. Holds heat nicely. First time using them, have silkie, marans and lavender ameraucanas brewing right now. I will let you know how they perform at the end of the month.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I do dry incubation as well. Mine usually stays around 40% and I have mostly gotten good results with that. From what I understand the styrofoam incubators hold humidity better than plastic ones do.
This is my first hatch in several years and my first hatch ever with a store bought incubator.
I worried about mine the whole time and thought the air cells were too small, but when I looked at them before lockdown I'd say 95% looked textbook perfect.
Keep us posted on it. I'll be anxious to hear how they're doing next week.

Thanks so much, I can always count on the wonderful people on this forum to help! I plan on candling on day 14 (Monday) to see how things are progressing.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Sad day, sold my 4 Guineas :/ Neighbors were going to kill me since the birds have been alarming ALL day for the past two months Not just calls, alarms.

But! There are 12 of their eggs brewing hoping we can hand raise 4 with everyone to have a little less stressed out Guineas. So we shall see.

Also sold all of the bantam silkie/sebright mixes. The little boy that was with his dad helping gather them tried to take the Deathlayers... yeah, NO.

Turkeys are in lockdown with the two remaining coop eggs. Not sure who is next?! Been candling, but some IDIOT (me) didn’t write dates on most of the eggs so no clue who is ready.

Two lonely little Australorp cross peeps in the giant brooder box.

 

[Knighstar679]

my incubator is terrible (never buy the weird offbrand Chinese incubators from Amazon) I guess you get what you pay for. Fortunately, all the eggs are developing nicely. Sadly I had to remove one because it stunk!
Anyways I want to buy a new incubator, I’m conflicted between harris farms incubator or brinsea, which one should I buy?

Bang for the buck the Harris farms is a great incubator. It runs around 150 and hatches really well. Temp and humidity are usually very accurate. Dry hatching is super easy, if you have a humidity you like a little water in the morning and night usually keeps it where it needs to be most of the time.

 

[Knighstar679]

I put six black East Indies into lock down last night. One from my current pair and 5 from the lost jersey shipmen. Those have really bad saddle cells, I am likely going to have to assisted hatch at least two.

 

[matlock585]

I have 2 hatched and 5 pips that I can see. The 2 that are out are moving everything and it's getting harder to see pips. I'm already planning my next batch.