NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi, that's nuts that your ducks are so early! Was the temp running high? My ducks are in trouble and are going to get grounded to the run because they keep going away farther than I am comfortable with. I'm putting nine eggs in the incubator today since I've had lots of interest in ducklings.

I have no idea, according to my Brisnea it's been at a steady 99.5-99.6 degrees. Is that too high for ducks?? I have another temp inside the Brinsea that stays in between the 99-100 spot. So it seems to have been steady.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I never fill mine like that, but I do generally get in about 30 LF eggs in my brinsea - I just stuff them in with no rails.

I think next time, I may opt out of using the rails. They seemed to mostly get in the way anyways.

 

[help4me]

Help,

Dont panic. Wait till dark then candle. Compare what you see to the chart Pyxis posted. You may have miscounted or your hatch may be later. My last three hatches have all started on day 22 and ended on day 24. As long as there are no pips, go ahead and add more water to the bator. Your humidity should be somewhere around 65 percent and your temp around 100. Do you have a hydrometer in the bator so you can see what the humidity is? Hold the flashlight in your hand with your thumb and forefinger gripping the top (light) of it. Gently place the small tip of the egg on the light. If you have to move the flashlight down a bit so there is no light coming out of your hand up around the egg, do so. The light should light up the inside of the egg enough to see what is going on. Compare to the chart.

We were all newbies once. Dont panic. Every time you hatch its a learning experience. You will find what works for you. I finally got it right this year!

Thank you. O.K. deep breath, at least my son kind of thinks it's funny if we have just been watching eggs for 22 days. He said," If someone came over we would say, oh we are just watching some random food." Megan, she does not see the humor in any of it. I will try later tonight, heck the whole family will go into the bathroom and see what we can see. In the meantime, I will add more water and continue to wonder. Oh, the pressure, as all I can hear in my head is do not open at lock down. Thanks again, I hate to have such a learning curve with what could be living chicks.

 

[Pyxis]

Lynzi, that's nuts that your ducks are so early! Was the temp running high? My ducks are in trouble and are going to get grounded to the run because they keep going away farther than I am comfortable with. I'm putting nine eggs in the incubator today since I've had lots of interest in ducklings.

I have no idea, according to my Brisnea it's been at a steady 99.5-99.6 degrees. Is that too high for ducks?? I have another temp inside the Brinsea that stays in between the 99-100 spot. So it seems to have been steady.

No, that's right where the temp should be. Weird!

 

[Lynzi777]

No, that's right where the temp should be. Weird!

Tell me about it! Lol 3 pips before lockdown! Lol

 

[melbu23]

Well Hello there fellow NY Chicken lovers. I am new to this but love reading all this threads.
Being new, I clearly have more questions than answers. Right now, the question I need to decide on is how to build or where to buy a coop. I am not very handy and so buying seems like a lot better option. What are all of you housing your ladies in given the crazy winters we get? Pictures and if bought where would be great.

 

[marquisella]

Hi,

I have a quick mini Brinsea question. Today was the start of day 22 and nothing is happening, not a pip, no rolling, no peeps. I feel as though I may of been staring at infertile eggs for the past 22 days.

My question is the water level is getting low, should I chance opening it to put more in or just leave it? I am a rookie, and can't seem to figure out the candling thing, and no I don't know what the humidity is as there is not one in the mini. I just followed the direction about lock down which strangely is only the last two days, unlike what I have been reading here. Either they weren't fertile, or I made some rookie mistakes.

How very disappointing especially for the kids. Anyway, not sure how long I should leave them, but I had filled both sides according to the directions and now there is about 1/4 left in both chambers. What should I do? Thanks.

As long as there are no pipped eggs, you can open the incubator. Try the water method. Fill a bowl with water, and put the eggs in it one at a time. If 2 minutes go by and you don't see any movement, they are duds. If you see them moving, put them back in the incubator. Your temps could be low and that would delay the hatch. You really need to learn how to candle. Its really easey. I have used one of those small led lights that Hargor Freight gives away. They work...

You can also tap the egg with something solid, and sometimes if ther e is a chick,it will peep.

Of course, if they are not fertile, you have wasted 22 days. That is why its important to candle at least a 1 week to make sure you have developing eggs in the incubator. Otherwise you are wasting time on duds.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

I know I have asked this before, I'm sorry for being repetitive. For candling blue eggs, is it a red filter over the light that allows you to see though?

Today makes one week of incubation for the BBS Ameraucanas under my broody. I'm not sure what I'll find. Friday I found her on the wrong nest, her eggs weren't cold, but not warm. So I decided to move her at night into the old A frame, she did not like that. I left her when she was on the eggs, but when I checked on her in the am she as off throwing a fit. So I moved the eggs back to her original nest and she set right down and has stayed put. Some of the eggs were cold, some were warm. Now I have a piece of cage wire in front of her nest so no one can kick her out.
I'll be amazed if anything hatches.
Anyone have an idea what my odds might be of a sucessfull hatch if all goes well from here on out?

On another note I made a trellis for the beans and peas today. My asparagus is popping up all over! Now if this weather would get a little warmer I'd be right on track!

ETA: And when I counted the eggs on Friday she only had 9/10 under her. I'm thinking she ate one? I double checked my cartons to make sure I didn't pick it up by mistake.

 

[Metella]

Melbu23 - Welcome !

The discussion of buy or build often gets heated because those who can sink a nail in the right place (not me) realize how much they save and want the best for their friends .....

However for me - when I had to get a coop fast - the SnapLoc was the one I got and I have had it over a year and LOVE it .


If building - a hoop coop is tough, hardy and the cheapest way I know to go.

 

[help4me]

As long as there are no pipped eggs, you can open the incubator. Try the water method. Fill a bowl with water, and put the eggs in it one at a time. If 2 minutes go by and you don't see any movement, they are duds. If you see them moving, put them back in the incubator. Your temps could be low and that would delay the hatch. You really need to learn how to candle. Its really easy. I have used one of those small led lights that Hargor Freight gives away. They work...

You can also tap the egg with something solid, and sometimes if ther e is a chick,it will peep.

Of course, if they are not fertile, you have wasted 22 days. That is why its important to candle at least a 1 week to make sure you have developing eggs in the incubator. Otherwise you are wasting time on duds.

Yes, I realize this, hence the frustration and other emotions right now.

Thanks for your help, and I truly do mean it. I was trying to lighten the mood with what my son had said, because yes, it sure is wasting time if they are duds, not to mention hard on the kids! I am sure candling is easy once you have the proper lighting and practice. I added the water, I re-candled and I think that one was a early quitter while I think the other 3 have chicks as I can't see anything, nor can I see through them. I fear they died. I think it is like looking at x-rays, sure it's easy if you have done it before, but for someone who has never looked at one,you just don't know what your looking at, not to mention my timing for the first candling was off well, no need for me to try and explain what happened, I feel bad enough, but thank you for your help.