May 2023 Hatch-a-long

[Honora]

Congratulations! I still have never had all eggs at lockdown hatch. Pretty amazing! Out of curiosity what incubator did you use?

This is a first for me too. My incubator is a Brinsea, I think it’s called the Maxi 24. It has an auto turner. It has a bunch of annoying features but I have had great hatch rates on my first two hatches with it.

 

[Canadian Wind]

This is a first for me too. My incubator is a Brinsea, I think it’s called the Maxi 24. It has an auto turner. It has a bunch of annoying features but I have had great hatch rates on my first two hatches with it.

I'd love to get a Brinsea, but that's one heck of an investment.

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

I'd love to get a Brinsea, but that's one heck of an investment.

I am really loving my maxicoopx 30 incubator!!
(Not that anyone asked lol, and not that I've experienced anything other than my first junk incubator from china)
It holds its humidity and temp fantastically.
I have found that my humidity reading on the incubator is 5% off of the internal (I calibrated a cigar hydrometer) other than that I have no issues. Tempature being read on a calabrated meat thermometer reads right at 100° the incubator bounces between 99° and 100.5° which is where i have it set at. It auto turns although I've been turning by hand (you can disconnect the auto turn feature) you can fit 30 standing on end, (6 eggs per turner) I imagine 15 in the turning trays laying on their sides (3 eggs per turner) or 30 using 6 egg cartons. (5 sections per carton)

I recandled last night...(couldn't help it) and i saw movement in 2 of the 3 I thought were quitters!!! I am pretty happy abt that.

The eggs will be removed from their cartons and placed on their sides tomorrow night (day 14) I will be done turning them as well.

Plan is to recandle, inside the incubator from air cell end @ day 18 and no candleing past that point. I am hoping to not have to open the incubator during lock down but I imagine I will likely need to remove chicks due to eggs being on their sides and no broody hen to sit on the already hatched chick(s) and keep it still

 

[Canadian Wind]

The curse of the miniature breeds hits again!

11 eggs (which turned into 13 because I think the other hen snuck a couple more in recently); 4 chicks. I did get to see the fourth one POP out of it's egg when Momma stood up for a drink, though!

Checked the other eggs, one looks like it's close to hatching, and I have five more that may or may not be alive, one quitter, and two clear. I think this was too many eggs for the hen, I kept seeing some right at the edge under her, not receiving enough heat.

Keeping my fingers crossed for that one egg, and for the other five. I may toss the two clear in the incubator too, since they're probably way too young to have shown any development yet.

 

[Honora]

I'd love to get a Brinsea, but that's one heck of an investment.

Yes, it was expensive. I had a cheap one before and I never had very good hatch rates. My husband said now I can sell chicks to pay for the incubator

 

[Canadian Wind]

Yes, it was expensive. I had a cheap one before and I never had very good hatch rates. My husband said now I can sell chicks to pay for the incubator

That's actually what I want to do, eventually. But, after that disaster in April, those plans went out the window...

 

[Iluveggers]

I am really loving my maxicoopx 30 incubator!!
(Not that anyone asked lol, and not that I've experienced anything other than my first junk incubator from china)
It holds its humidity and temp fantastically.
I have found that my humidity reading on the incubator is 5% off of the internal (I calibrated a cigar hydrometer) other than that I have no issues. Tempature being read on a calabrated meat thermometer reads right at 100° the incubator bounces between 99° and 100.5° which is where i have it set at. It auto turns although I've been turning by hand (you can disconnect the auto turn feature) you can fit 30 standing on end, (6 eggs per turner) I imagine 15 in the turning trays laying on their sides (3 eggs per turner) or 30 using 6 egg cartons. (5 sections per carton)

I recandled last night...(couldn't help it) and i saw movement in 2 of the 3 I thought were quitters!!! I am pretty happy abt that.

The eggs will be removed from their cartons and placed on their sides tomorrow night (day 14) I will be done turning them as well.

Plan is to recandle, inside the incubator from air cell end @ day 18 and no candleing past that point. I am hoping to not have to open the incubator during lock down but I imagine I will likely need to remove chicks due to eggs being on their sides and no broody hen to sit on the already hatched chick(s) and keep it still

I saw this incubator also, and almost bought it, but there wasn’t a lot of reviews to go by. I’m glad it is working for you, and look forward to hearing how it holds up!

 

[Hedgeland Farms]

I saw this incubator also, and almost bought it, but there wasn’t a lot of reviews to go by. I’m glad it is working for you, and look forward to hearing how it holds up!

The reviews I read on it all equate it to the NR 360 but they like it better. I watched several videos of people who have tried both and went with the maticoopx they liked the features better, more space, less money, the dark lid was one I saw mentioned a lot helps when candleing vs the white lid on the NR 360 which allowed light to escape from the candler.


I am excited to continue to use it

 

[lexi234]

they are getting up and around for snacks today!
also, I set 10 duck eggs in my incubator as of last night!! having a bit of trouble with my other incubator for the lavender orp eggs… ugh

 

[gimmie birdies]

My eggs went into lockdown early because I went to LV for 5 days, but planned on being home today, hatch day was 17th of May...

Here are the chicks I came home to, 11 fully hatched out, 8 are still in egg, but either pip, or I also safety hole-ed a few, one of the 8 in the egg, looks alive, but it is a day behind (no safety hole added to the behind one, and I did toss 2, (liquidy)

Below was this one, too damp to take out yet.

An egg by the chick may, or may not be the egg it was from.

It is fun to have surprises. These are all the grocery store local eggs. I forgot to check which farm is hatching well, I am going to go back and look at some shells...