My homemade bator

[gumbii]

Oops... 1am double post fail...

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Looks wonderful!

 

[DRAGGINZUZU]

well 4 have hatched. and 1 more pipped and another zipped? but they havent done anything since ysterday. Can I help? I know your not supposed to but the one that is half way through isnt moving anymore. Its just hard to sit and wait if I can save em.

 

[MTopPA_18707]

It may or may not be the correct thing to do . . . helping the chic's hatch.

But here is some really good reading on the topic.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9316

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=9316

Just curious, what was the % humidity in the incubator during lockdown [ie day # 18 until hatching] ?

Low humidity causes dry sticky membrane. In those cases a chic can pip, but can't rotate to unZip the top of the egg shell.

-Xriva

 

[DRAGGINZUZU]

Maybe hes just not done. the humidity is 65-70% , Ive read about not helping weak chicks, but it looks like he zipped half way and just stopped. I dont see any movement can it take a few days to finish? this one was the 1st to pip yesterday at 3 am and the others were later they already hatched and are out. so its been like 28hrs

 

[DRAGGINZUZU]

Well I tried to help and there both dead. the one that was almost out ???? fully developed, I have no idea . the other just seamed really wet with fluid in the shell. You guys think my humidity was too high? around 70-72% like I said I have 4 babies doin good, 2 were dead and 6 eggs nuthin. so Im callin 50% hatch. out of 12 eggs. The guy I got the eggs from said the fertility of the roosters might be down because of the time of the year. He wont have eggs again until feb. I still think Its a sucesses.

for a homade bator that cost 12$ Im going to let the others stay in for a few more days incase I have some late bloomers today is day 22

 

[MTopPA_18707]

I'm no pro . . . so hopefully other more experienced people will answer.

[On our family dairy farm we had tons of chickens, all bought as chic's ~ never incubated a single one.]

But per reading . . . humidity after day # 18 should increase to 70%.
[Page 62]

Lower humidity allows the membrane to dry, especially once the chic pip's through the shell. A dry membrane is a death sentence.

I read somewhere else that 95% humidity was good after day 18 - and a fogged incubator window would be a good sign
[though fogging would depend in part on the temp/humidity out side the window.]

What 'lockdown' humidity levels have the rest of you used with success ?

---

Getting humidity elevated can be tricky . . . here are some tips I've read about:

- Keep the incubator in a closet with a humidifier.
- Put sponges in the water pan in the bottom of the incubator - they help wic the water into the air faster.

I did see a cautionary note, not to close the incubator vent holes in an effort to increase humidity as that would increase carbon dioxide.

---

In any case, I'd be very happy to be as successful as you were. That's not a bad hatch rate at all.

My kids and I will be trying this ourselves once it gets a little warmer . . . toward this spring.

Warm Regards,

Xriva

 

[ck_dunham]

I like it! i'm building one my self and this looks nice! i hope it works out!!

 

[Rebel Rooster]

Cool Beans! Humidity sounds good... Stuff like that happens even when you do everything right! Don't sweat it at all...

 

[DRAGGINZUZU]

Yeah its just sad when the little guy got almost done and didnt make it. This was just a test run before I put in my quail eggs. hopefully I'll do better with them.