November Hatch-A-Long (2014)

[Rainier]

I'm joining in. New to hatching and my first two did not have good results!

Hatch 1 set 10 eggs. Five chicks made it to lock down. Ended up losing 4 chicks on day 15 after temp spike of 106 for several hours. The remaining chick stopped on day 19.

Hatch 2 set 19 eggs and only two hatched and both had to be assisted due to malposition. 13 eggs made it to lock down

This is hatch 3. Set 13 eggs and they are a barnyard mix. Day 21 is November 14.

I have some challenges with hatching. We do not have AC or central heat, we heat by wood burning stove. I'm using a LG 9200 still air, I turn by hand and if all of that wasn't enough these are pullets eggs. They are from my own flock of barnyard mix. Dad is BR and moms are RIR, BR hen, Australorp and three mutts that look like the Australorp but are a mix of ? Not sure who lays what other than the RIR's.

For Christmas I am getting a better bator but I also wouldn't trade doing these hatches because I've learned so much about hatching eggs and chick development.

 

[DesertChickens1]

I feel like I'm lucky, my incubator hasn't has any temp spikes or dips in the week I've had it running, it stays at 99-100 constantly ! I thought I'd have more trouble with the still air because I've heard people have more spikes with the still airs

 

[Rainier]

I think my problem with the still air is not being to keep a stable temp due to not having central air/heat. I have found that in the summer I cannot hatch as I cannot keep the temp stable and low enough to not fry the chicks. Moving the bator to the bathroom has helped.

 

[DesertChickens1]

I think my problem with the still air is not being to keep a stable temp due to not having central air/heat. I have found that in the summer I cannot hatch as I cannot keep the temp stable and low enough to not fry the chicks. Moving the bator to the bathroom has helped.

I always keep mine in the bathroom, its the only place my dogs can't get to haha

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I feel like I'm lucky, my incubator hasn't has any temp spikes or dips in the week I've had it running, it stays at 99-100 constantly ! I thought I'd have more trouble with the still air because I've heard people have more spikes with the still airs

My understanding is still air temps are supposed to be higher at 101-102 degrees instead of the forced air 99-100 degrees???

 

[DesertChickens1]

My understanding is still air temps are supposed to be higher at 101-102 degrees instead of the forced air 99-100 degrees???

I hadn't heard that :/ I read through the directions for the incubator and it said the ideal temp for chickens is 99.5

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I hadn't heard that

I read through the directions for the incubator and it said the ideal temp for chickens is 99.5

On the learning page: (and other places I have read) it says:

With a ​

Forced Air Incubator​

(fan model) you can get the best hatch rate by keeping the temperature at 99.5º F. throughout the entire incubation period. HOWEVER, when using a ​

Still Air incubator​

(no fan) at 102º F. The reason for different temperatures is that with a fan model the circulating air warms all around the egg while still air temperatures are warmer at the top of the egg than at the bottom. The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg). A high temperature tends to produce early hatches. A consistently cooler temperature tends to increase incubation times and produce weakened chicks. In both cases the total chicks hatched will be reduced. Prepare your incubator and run it for several days before adding eggs, to be positive you are maintaining correct incubation temperature. ​

It's at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 on BYC if you'd like to check it out. It's a great page for info.

 

[DesertChickens1]

On the learning page: (and other places I have read) it says: 

[COLOR=333333]With a[/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333]Forced Air Incubator[/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333](fan model) you can get the best hatch rate by keeping the temperature at 99.5º F. throughout the entire incubation period. HOWEVER, when using a[/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333]Still Air incubator[/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333](no fan) at 102º F. The reason for different temperatures is that with a fan model the circulating air warms all around the egg while still air temperatures are warmer at the top of the egg than at the bottom. The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg). A high temperature tends to produce early hatches. A consistently cooler temperature tends to increase incubation times and produce weakened chicks. In both cases the total chicks hatched will be reduced.  Prepare your incubator and run it for several days before adding eggs, to be positive you are maintaining correct incubation temperature. [/COLOR]​

[COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]​

It's at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101  on BYC if you'd like to check it out. It's a great page for info. 

Huh, imma have to go adjust the temperature on there then haha all but two of them seem to be doing really well so far so if I adjust the temperature now I guess shouldn't have any problems

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Huh, imma have to go adjust the temperature on there then haha all but two of them seem to be doing really well so far so if I adjust the temperature now I guess shouldn't have any problems

My first hatch, my thermometer (unbeknownst to me) was six-7 degrees off. It was reading six degrees higher than it really was. at lockdown I thought they looked a couple days off-behind, but I was hoping it was just my inexperience, it wasn't. I went into lockdown with 17 moving chicks and ended up with one.

My temp was off the whole entire time though and way off at that. I'd just say if it takes them a day or two longer hatch not to get too worried, but yours should be fine I hope. Just a degree or two.

 

[Rainier]

Yeap I keep mine at 101 and 30% humidity.

This is the page I reference https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubation-cheat-sheet