New to hatching: down and dirty quick guide

[Heartsopenwide]

What are some great down and dirty dues and don’ts, must knows, hacks, and guides would you give? Settings, when thing need to happen: cooling mode, lock down, humidity and temp control, etc.

 

[aart]

Here's some light reading for you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

 

[Birdie mom]

Don't: -Get the eggs wet
- Use really dirty eggs
-Use cracked eggs
- Use thin eggs
-Take wet chicks out of the incubator
-Handle chicks too much (I know, its tempting)
- Let the temp drop or soar
- Open incubator for more than a few min
- Let the electricity go out
-Use a big trough of water for chicks, they can drown
-Constantly handle chicks (they need to nap)
- Keep food or water in the incubator (messy)
- Help chicks out of their eggs unless they are obviously struggling or seem weak
- Mix young chicks with bigger birds


Do: -Use clean eggs
-Use eggs from hens you know the roosters like
-99-100 degree F
-50-60 humidity
- Keep newly hatched chicks warm
- Remove rotten eggs (aka stink bombs. Don't drop them)
-Use new eggs that haven't been washed
-Change bedding when it starts to either stink, or get damp
- Make sure the heat lamp is secured (they can start fires if it drops)
- Separate injured chicks
-Keep a thermometer in the incubator (or a incubator that has one built in)
- When in doubt, consult the BYC

 

[Kiki]

Do not trust the reading on the built-in thermometer or humidity gauge.


#1 make sure you know your bator before you set eggs.
Know what the temperature is, at one glace, in a few different spots.
#2. Have multiple calibrated thermometers.
#3 Make sure you have assault tested humidity gauge

 

[Heartsopenwide]

Here's some light reading for you:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

Thank you!

 

[Birdie mom]

What kinds of chicks are you planning on getting?

 

[Heartsopenwide]

What kinds of chicks are you planning on getting?

I found woman local to sell me OE, Araucana, and BCM. He has Ayam Cemani, but I already feel like I am jumping in both feet trying for Araucana for a first hatch. He claims his are breed to have a higher hatch rate.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Temperature is the most important thing. To attain that, you need accurate thermometers. Either guaranteed accurate or calibrated. Without being as close to 99.5F as possible, all else makes no difference.
#2 most important IMO is fresh fertile eggs from hens fed a highly nutritious diet. Layer feed isn't nutritious enough to take embryos to term reliably.
#3 While humidity is important, I rely on measuring weight loss rather than a specific RH%.
If your eggs lose 12% weight through incubation, your humidity was correct.

 

[Heartsopenwide]

Temperature is the most important thing. To attain that, you need accurate thermometers. Either guaranteed accurate or calibrated. Without being as close to 99.5F as possible, all else makes no difference.
#2 most important IMO is fresh fertile eggs from hens fed a highly nutritious diet. Layer feed isn't nutritious enough to take embryos to term reliably.
#3 While humidity is important, I rely on measuring weight loss rather than a specific RH%.
If your eggs lose 12% weight through incubation, your humidity was correct.

What kind of food should they be eating?

 

[Birdie mom]

What kind of food should they be eating?

I use DuMOR. They have feeds for each age range: Chick, Starter/Grower, and Layer crumbles and pellets. They have age information on the back of their chick feed bags.

Idk if it is the best brand, but it has kept all my chickens are alive and well for a long while