NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Ok fellow nybycers!!! What forms of storage do YOU use when waiting to get an incubator full of eggs? what about temp, turning, and how long do you store and get good results? All advice welcome!!


thanks!!

Ginny

I put them in cartons and in the laundry room since is stays cooler in there. I don't hold them for longer than necessary though they say 7 days and not more than 10. I Forgot to turn eggs this last time but some say just to raise one end of the carton and reverse back and forth.

I had read about storing them pointy side down here and then in the UK PP mag pointy end up. So for one hatch I did half stored each way. The hatch was the same so it didn't really appear to make a big difference.

I didn't concern myself with humidity but our house is humid enough I think. I suppose you could put your digital right next to or near where you keep you eggs. A safe place in a cool basement might be ok. I don't hatch often so I figure it's no big deal.

You can mark you eggs with a pencil. I did this saving eggs and as I found eggs that I thought look better to hatch each day I just switched them out. I'll let you know how things turned out next week end. I may have to do another hatch of just Dels since most of these are sold. Or all of them depending on how many hatch.

 

[rancher hicks]

I will be collecting Buckeye eggs. I can get 30 in the incubator, but I will only get 12-15 in a week. Last year I put them in the basement(cooler), in the incubator, not on, but the auto turn cradle on and out of 7 eggs 1 hatched. I would like to do better. So I want to know, what has worked out for other people..........

So you put the turner on ? This is most likely your problem. The turner motor generates enough heat to bring the temp in the incubator up to beyond the recommended 50* -55* for storing hatching eggs. Plus humidity is important too. You wouldn't want it to high or to low. I would think about 30-35%. But I can't be sure.

As I previously stated you might want to put your digital next to the eggs to keep track of temp and humidity. I wouldn't put them in the incubator as eggs breath and you don't want the air to become stale.

Since those little thermometers are so cheap I have no problem sticking them around the house or in and near brooder to monitor temps.

 

[Framac]

I can probably up my temp in the basement to 70. It is in floor heat, and the temperature in the entire basement is fairly even. It is located in a moderate traffic area. Mainly me going to feed the dog, or check on the bator/store collected eggs etc.

I am using an additional themometer in addion to the one on the 1588. One reads 100.5, the other 99.5, so I am averaging (as per the article you sent). I did follow your advise on Humidity, and tried to be around to open vents as they hatched to bring the humidity down some.

My wife liked the idea of the second bator and I do for a few reasons. First, and Formost, I can set every 18 days (19 really with the cleaning process), as opposed to 24 with a single bator. It also gives me the ability to do staggered hatches if I want. And lastly, if it gets to dirty/disgusting/continuous bad hatches, I can replace it more cheaply. I almost think my wife is on board with getting a 1583 for hatching, and I might just go to another 1588.

I did a count last night. 20 out of 25 for 80% hatch better then the 20 out of 33 from the first batch

Black Orp 4 of 5 -->1 clear
Lavender Orp 8 out of 10 --> 5 clear
Americanas 0 of 0 --> 8 clear Bloody Rooster laid an egg after day 7 of incubation
RIR 3 of 3 --> 1 clear
BRLW 2 of 4 1 clear
Blue/black orp 3 out of 3 1 clear

I chick piped and started to zip, but I think the temperature swings did it in.

Over all I am fairly happy.

Regards,

Framac

This temp is to low. 70-80* is good. While it may seem that the temp in the room is constant, if it is a high traffic area then the temp will fluctuate enough to throw things off. It could be that the area where the thermometer is registers 65* but elsewhere in the room is cooler. Never go by the thermostat setting for room temp. If you'd like to continue to use the basement you might want to create a separate "room" by hanging tarps and putting an oil filled electric heater in it to bring the temp up to 80* Try to keep drafts and traffic to a minimum.

I notice in my Gen 1588 that eggs in certain areas of the incu hatch first and others later. I have read that the area near the turner motor is warmer than the opposite corner. I prefer to leave that hole empty.

You may want to keep the temp higher than 99.5. Even to 101.0. I suggest two digitals or at least one if your not using one. If you use two, it was advised by Don Schrider ALBC expert, to take an average of the two.

Your humidity is important and the PP mag recommends. 35% to day 16. Then up it to 55% to day 19. Then up it to 65%.

I personally don't understand switching eggs to another incubator on day 18. You either wash the one you've used for the entire hatch or the one you've used to hatch. Either way your washing a unit. Not to mention that it should be cleaned anyhow. There are still bacteria in there from the shell of the eggs and moisture I would think.

As for the BLRW eggs you might check for fertility. Give the birds a small dose of vitamins a few days before you begin collecting eggs. Also if you got the roo and the hens from the same batch that might be a problem too.

These are just thoughts of course and not meant to insinuate you are doing anything wrong.

 

[Framac]

One thing you might want to try is to find a dairy farmer with a few extra cats. Most will part with them for a thank you, and most know the ropes as far as what to do.

Framac

OK, I have been talking with my mom and I may be able to get a cat!!!!!!!!!!

the Reason for the cat is we have been having a bad vole/mice and rat problem. our Fields are being taken care of by an old farmer Friend and the fields were hey fields but the last few years he has been growing corn and leaves the corn in the fields to dry, sometimes he can't harvests it till spring. we never had voles/rats till he started growing corn and the voles are eating everything that we are trying to grow!!!!!!!!!!

we have tried all kinds of traps and nothing in the traps!!!!!!!!!!!! my dad had to start shooting the rats and got them all, but now they are BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tripped over one tonight when I was doing something, not a good site to see !!!!!!!!!!

they are getting bolder and bolder every day now. SO I HAVE A FEW Qs, do any of you have indoor/outdoor cats or barn cats??? how did you get them to NOT go after the poultry??? I am thinking of getting one from a shelter because they have up to date shots and sometimes they are fixed, RIGHT?????? and I know there are a lot of cats that need a a good home at the shelters. have any of you adopted a cat form a shelter?? can you give a name of a good shelter ??? any idea what the adoption fee is?? I need the cat to stay around so what is a good age for a cat ?? male or female ?? if it's an outdoor cat only, how do I keep the cat to stay around and not have the cat take off ?? or does it need to be indoors first?? I really want the cat to be indoor/outdoors but will have to see what my mom says. that is why I am asking the Qs, to know what I need to do. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sachasmom]

that's a personal choice, but I prefer to have two, to keep each other company. As for feline leukemia, it's a contagious disease that can be passed between cats via saliva, feeding dishes, etc. There's also FIV (Feline aids), but that's less common as it's spread via blood transmission. Shelters will generally test for at least FELV and sometimes FIV. We went to a shelter out here a while back ago where they had cats roaming the entire place and we insisted on a test before we brought the cat into our house - that cat was FELV+, which meant the whole darn place probably had it.

There's a vaccination for FELV, which I'd recommend for outdoor cats. I don't give my indoor cats that vaccination.

We lost our Kitty this summer to FIV. He was fine, then not fine. It totally sucked because he was like the best cat EVER. We got two new cats from two different shelters and both together do not make up for how awesome he was. Neither of the new cats want to go outside. The Maine Coon cat did catch a couple mice in the house (I dunno how they got in) but the other cat killed my Quail. We named that cat Bad Kitty, because, well, we're constantly yelling at him No! Bad Kitty! The MC doesn't seem to bother the bunnies or the chickens, not so much Bad Kitty. I'd really like them to start going outside and catching the rats! Because I doubt my husband will go for another cat...

If you go to a shelter you'll get a fully vac'd and spayed/neutered cat, some of the feral cat programs will give them for free. Our shelter had "Free cat day" this summer, which was how we got Bad Kitty. Craigslist is full of folks trying to unload cats, so you might be able to find one that's a good mouser.

 

[greymane]

So sorry for your loss, Sachasmom.

Well, our one Cayuga is dutifully sitting on the eggs again today. I am hopeful for some ducklings in a month!

 

[vmdanielsen]

So you put the turner on ? This is most likely your problem. The turner motor generates enough heat to bring the temp in the incubator up to beyond the recommended 50* -55* for storing hatching eggs. Plus humidity is important too. You wouldn't want it to high or to low. I would think about 30-35%. But I can't be sure.

As I previously stated you might want to put your digital next to the eggs to keep track of temp and humidity. I wouldn't put them in the incubator as eggs breath and you don't want the air to become stale.

Since those little thermometers are so cheap I have no problem sticking them around the house or in and near brooder to monitor temps.

I never thought of the heat created by the auto tun cradle could raise the temp......but that is a good thought. I think that in the basement no cradle and lift one end then the other.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

My Del silver ameracauna cross just started laying nearly 2 weeks ago. Her eggs are so pretty. I love the color.

It's the blue one with white speckle.

 

[County Boy]

anybody got a buff silkie bearded roo. i need it to bearded and the one i have now turned aggressive.

 

[trilyn]

OK, I have been talking with my mom and I may be able to get a cat!!!!!!!!!!

the Reason for the cat is we have been having a bad vole/mice and rat problem. our Fields are being taken care of by an old farmer Friend and the fields were hey fields but the last few years he has been growing corn and leaves the corn in the fields to dry, sometimes he can't harvests it till spring. we never had voles/rats till he started growing corn and the voles are eating everything that we are trying to grow!!!!!!!!!!

we have tried all kinds of traps and nothing in the traps!!!!!!!!!!!! my dad had to start shooting the rats and got them all, but now they are BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I tripped over one tonight when I was doing something, not a good site to see !!!!!!!!!!

they are getting bolder and bolder every day now. SO I HAVE A FEW Qs, do any of you have indoor/outdoor cats or barn cats??? how did you get them to NOT go after the poultry??? I am thinking of getting one from a shelter because they have up to date shots and sometimes they are fixed, RIGHT?????? and I know there are a lot of cats that need a a good home at the shelters. have any of you adopted a cat form a shelter?? can you give a name of a good shelter ??? any idea what the adoption fee is?? I need the cat to stay around so what is a good age for a cat ?? male or female ?? if it's an outdoor cat only, how do I keep the cat to stay around and not have the cat take off ?? or does it need to be indoors first?? I really want the cat to be indoor/outdoors but will have to see what my mom says. that is why I am asking the Qs, to know what I need to do. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Java, thanks for the answer...I had a feeling it would be a week or so...darn it!

Here's a link to feral cat rescues..its pretty interesting...how to shelter them and places to contact as far as possibly adopting one..although Framac's option might just be cheaper!

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/feral_cats/tips/feral_cat_organizations.html#New_York