***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

What does shrink wrapped mean. That scares me.

It is when the membrane dries out during hatch and shrink wraps to the body of the chick, immobilizing and suffocating it. It usually is to high of temp, to low of humidity, or opening the bator during lock down, or to dry of incubation. But in my case it is my bator, it has done it from day one no matter what I do about temps and humidity. Every hatch I have had has shrink wrapped all but one or two at the most. If it happens you have to assist hatch, there is no way for them to hatch on their own or to survive.

 

[burchettfrmgrl]

Oh that's soo sad I'm sorry. What temps and humidity were u at?

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh that's soo sad I'm sorry. What temps and humidity were u at?

temps were rock solid 99.5 no fluctuations, except when I would put water in the reservoir. Humid was at 40% until lock down then upped it to 70% I upped the humidity to try and stop the shrink wrapping this time, but it made no difference whatsoever.

 

[Kyzmette]

Quote:
Kass, next time I hatch I'm going to try that idea Cayuseranch put forward with the damp towel over the eggs. Do you think that might help you? Oh, and I just picked up tubing from Lowe's and ran it through the vent hole down into the reservoir, so I could just shoot hot water through it without opening the bator.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Next time I am doing one of two things, putting a blocking piece over the fan at lock down, so it won't blow directly on the eggs, or have my husband make an old dishwasher we have into a hatcher.

 

[miohippus]

Sorry kass hope things go better.

 

[miohippus]

i'm going to have my hands full this week i have a sow and 6 goats that are dew to start kidding/farrowing.

 

[BetsyannOK]

40% is awfully low. Recommended relative humidity throughout incubation until last 3 days is around 60% (wet bulb reading 86-87 degrees F). This could cause problems even if wet enough at hatching. This article seems good:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1515/hatching-quality-chicks

(By the way, hello everyone, I am new to Okies in the BYC. My name is Betsy and I live in NE OK.)

 

[Ksane]

Kass, I have one heck of a time keeping humidity up in my Brinsea at lockdown. I think 70% is too low though, I aim for the high 80's. The times that I've actualy been able to keep it that high I've had excellent hatches all on their own. In order to keep it that high though I have to fill both wells with paper towels and keep them soaked plus add a big cotton sponge and keep it soaked plus make sure the vent is almost fully closed. I drilled a tiny hole in the cover of mine and put a rubber hose (fish tank airline hose) into it. The end of the hose sits on the sponge and I have to squirt a LOT of water in there during lockdown to keep humidity in the high 80's. There's no such thing as too much humidity during lockdown if you've done a dry hatch. There's styrofoam incubators for cheap all the time at auctions, lots of people use those for hatchers.

 

[erinszoo]

Wow, how long have I not posted for? Geepers.

We have a lot going on. Our goat is very preggers at the moment but we aren't sure of an official due date yet. We just keep watching her for signs. Meanwhile our male goat keeps climbing over the fence into her paddock. And we went to the feed store on a Wednesday which of course meant bringing home ... more chicks. We're not even sure what kind we have but I think they're buffs plus one little cochin bantam that I think is going to be a frizzle. It's feathers are sticking out all over instead of laying flat.

In the meantime we are rebuilding what was our garage into a barn with a grow out pen, a milking station, and a stall for the baby goat and mama at night.

Asparagus is finally coming up along with peas and lettuce. The blackberries are leafed out and the peach tree, plum tree, and currant bushes are fully loaded with blooms. The apple trees are just now starting to leaf out thankfully. Unlike last year where they bloomed in March and then froze.

I've become a full time writer this spring so I'm home all day on the computer but I'm writing stuff so I don't end up on the web much. Hope everyone is keeping well.