May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Iluveggers]

@junior67 not sure how handy you are, but maybe rig up a temporary styrofoam cooler incubator until hatch? I think it is just a light bulb for heat, a bowl of water, and a couple thermometer/hygrometers that need a steady eye…

 

[Dinoroar]

I don't know if wild birds count in the hatch along? I've been following a pair of barn owls that are nesting here in Ireland with two webcams set up by Birdwatch Ireland. The barn owls do staggered hatches and each egg will hatch a couple of days apart. They have 5 eggs in the nest and the first is due to hatch today. Apparently it has most likely pipped.

These are links to the two cameras live streaming, one in the nest and one at the nest entrance. We've been watching the mama for a month and the male bringing her food every night so it's very exciting today. I hope it goes well for her. I don't know if anyone is interested but I thought I'd share!

This is awesome

 

[junior67]

@junior67 not sure how handy you are, but maybe rig up a temporary styrofoam cooler incubator until hatch? I think it is just a light bulb for heat, a bowl of water, and a couple thermometer/hygrometers that need a steady eye…

Not sure I have a safe place away from the other pets that I would be comfortable with that. I may see how the eggs under my broody survived today. I will be giving my broody one egg tonight to talk to for lockdown as well. So may hand turn tomorrow and go from there. Hopefully on need to worry for Tue and Wed.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Not sure I have a safe place away from the other pets that I would be comfortable with that. I may see how the eggs under my broody survived today. I will be giving my broody one egg tonight to talk to for lockdown as well. So may hand turn tomorrow and go from there. Hopefully on need to worry for Tue and Wed.

I was planning on just continuing with hand turning, tbh. The eggs hold enough heat inside them that whatever temp drop there is, it comes right back up with the cover on.

Now you have me second guessing, lol!

 

[Dr Evy]

This morning we had one pip. On the wrong end but a pip nevertheless

And my only duck egg that made it this far died yesterday. I feel absolutely horrible. It was my first time hatching ducks and I was beyond excited. She internally pipped but couldn’t make it to external for some reason.

 

[junior67]

This morning we had one pip. On the wrong end but a pip nevertheless View attachment 3489057


And my only duck egg that made it this far died yesterday. I feel absolutely horrible. It was my first time hatching ducks and I was beyond excited. She internally pipped but couldn’t make it to external for some reason.

Yay on the pip!!!!

I have read ducks can struggle with external pip and to watch for bruising on the egg and do a safety hole in that spot. I am sorry you lost the last one.

 

[junior67]

I was planning on just continuing with hand turning, tbh. The eggs hold enough heat inside them that whatever temp drop there is, it comes right back up with the cover on.

Now you have me second guessing, lol!

Sorry didn't mean to make you second guess. My problem was the humidity during pips and hatching. I was worried I would shrink wrap the ones hatching. How far apart are your eggs?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Sorry didn't mean to make you second guess. My problem was the humidity during pips and hatching. I was worried I would shrink wrap the ones hatching. How far apart are your eggs?

It's okay, not you're fault!

OEGB eggs are due sometime between Wednesday and Friday. Next batch (from my mixed flock) are due Friday. Then there's eggs from a particular hen that thought she was being smart by having a hidden nest (but I found her!) due around the 12th. And finally, I have duck eggs due on the 17th and 22nd.

Yes, I'm insane. But it's the happy kind.

Oh, hopefully I will make enough at a local livestock sale and be able to purchase a second BETTER incubator! What all do you folks recommend so far as brand? I want something that can take a minimum of 30 eggs but also won't cost me a fortune (so, no Brinsea).

 

[junior67]

It's okay, not you're fault!

OEGB eggs are due sometime between Wednesday and Friday. Next batch (from my mixed flock) are due Friday. Then there's eggs from a particular hen that thought she was being smart by having a hidden nest (but I found her!) due around the 12th. And finally, I have duck eggs due on the 17th and 22nd.

Yes, I'm insane. But it's the happy kind.

Oh, hopefully I will make enough at a local livestock sale and be able to purchase a second BETTER incubator! What all do you folks recommend so far as brand? I want something that can take a minimum of 30 eggs but also won't cost me a fortune (so, no Brinsea).

I have the NR360 and like it but only takes 22 unless you stack and hand turn. Hopefully others have good ideas.


Oh so some are 7-9 days behind so will be on day 12-14 for hatch? Those may be ok to not be turned. I thought I read the last week isn't as important.

Now the duck eggs are another story since they will still have a while to go. They will be what right about half way?

 

[Canadian Wind]

I have the NR360 and like it but only takes 22 unless you stack and hand turn. Hopefully others have good ideas.


Oh so some are 7-9 days behind so will be on day 12-14 for hatch? Those may be ok to not be turned. I thought I read the last week isn't as important.

Now the duck eggs are another story since they will still have a while to go. They will be what right about half way?

The NR360 is nice, but yeah, want something with more capacity. It's also a bit on the expensive side for me right now...

Yeah, I'm not too worried about the eggs hatching just a few days after, nor the others the next week, but those duck eggs are going to need to be turned. Then again, I have a bad habit of opening up the incubator all the time, lol! I think I only have a total of 12 duck eggs in there right now, so that takes less than 30 seconds to turn.