Our Egg Hatching thread! Hatch: Nov. 7th (Hatching Video PG 57)

[skeeter9]

I think the sponges do a better job than adding water containers. I just put mine right under the holes in the top of the bator and use a straw attached to a small funnel to add warm water to them as needed. It works great and I have no trouble getting my humidity up and keeping it there. Also, with using the straw/funnel thing, I don't have to open the bator and lose humidity or heat - a real no-no in those last few days.

My update: We had a power outage the other day and I was at work, so I couldn't do anything to insulate my bator and help hold the heat in. When I got home, the power was back on, but the probe temp in my bator was only at 97.something, so I'm not sure how low it really got. I know that the power was only out for a few hours, so I'm not terribly worried. I've been very busy, so I haven't been tempted to candle, but I think I'm going to today, just to satisfy my curiosity. Actually, maybe I'll go do that right now. . .

 

[MichiganWoods]

So how is everyone doing??

I just finished putting together my bigger brooder today. Here's a pic:

I opted to set it up out in the coop. I have a wireless thermometer out there. See the little white stick inbetween the feeder and waterer? That is the thermometer. It transmits the temperature to my clock inside the house. I am hovering at around 90 right now, so will adjust the distance of the lamp from the floor. I also have a little space heater out there set up on a platform I build into the wall for just such a thing. It has the auto-turn-off if it gets tipped over or if it gets too hot. I'm letting that run at 65 degrees. Oh... see the gray bowl in the upper left of the picture? That is the heated water bowl meant for dogs. I built the little box stand to elevate it off of the ground so hopefully they don't poop in it as much. Not sure if it's too close to the roosts or not though. I put those in this week too.

 

[MichiganWoods]

skeeter9, I have a feeling your eggs will be fine. My temps have been hovering around the 98-99 mark pretty much the whole time and my chicks have been growing just fine.

 

[kodiakchicken]

Nice looking brooder, Cass! Do you have other chickens too or are these your first? I can't put mine out in the coop due to older hens. That's okay, I don't think I could keep them warm enough to start with. Our winter is starting so early!

I candled a couple last night when I turned them, just to make sure I had some movement. They are still moving and doing great!

Now I just have to find some chick starter. The only feed store on this darn island doesn't have any! It's going to cost me $50 to ship in a 50# bag! Aarrrgghhh!

 

[Msbear]

Michiganwoods, I've been peeking in at this thread from time to time and I just had to say.....WOW! Man, you are my idol!! You take absolutely beautiful pics (Candling pics are not easy to get) and know how to work with them in photoshop. You also have such great communication skills with everyone...what's this post #215!! and you've individually answered any and all questions...and your brooder set up is p-e-r-f-e-c-t.

Way to go gal. Many of us have learned soooo much by reading your posts

-can't wait to see the pics of the babies

 

[MichiganWoods]

These will be my first chickens.

So the coop is all theirs until the little order from Ideal arrives and that second batch of eggs hatch!

I hate shipping costs. It's over triple the cost of what the bag actually costs. I just picked up my first 50lb bag from Tractor and Supply Co. and it was just over $15. I did have to drive over an hour to get it though. I was running into the same thing for space heaters. Outrageous shipping costs! Dratted shipping companies.

Msbear... awww, thank you! I'm no expert but I am certainly having fun. If anyone can learn anything from my experiences, all the better!

 

[pbjmaker]

I love your pvc brooder - I might just have to build me one of those! I am going to winter all my babies in the house and/or garage and that would be sooooo easy to build.

 

[MichiganWoods]

pbjmaker, it was super easy to put together! I had a ton of leftover PVC from another project and I thought it would be the fastest way to get my brooder done. Not to mention a lot lighter than a wooden one. - We would have wintered the babies in a garage, but we don't really have one. We've got a shed that could house a car, but there's no electric and it's across our driveway so not really conducive for baby chicks.

 

[skeeter9]

Yep, all 9 NHR's and all 5 BBS Orps are doing fine. I wasn't worried - didn't figure the temp got too low in the bator during the power outage.

Cass - love your brooder setup! Very nice and your chicks should be super comfortable.

Kodiak - that's a huge bummer about the chick starter! I wonder if you could split an order with other people to save on some shipping? I think some place ship for free if your order is over a certain amount. It might be worth it to check into it?????

Just think, guys, by this time next week we should all have fluffy little fuzzy-butts running around our brooders!!! Why do I still get all excited about this??? How many times do you have to hatch before it loses it's excitement factor?????? I'm such a silly goober!!!

 

[Riocotesei]

good to see everyones updates

I've set up the hatcher today look like I still need to add a sponge.
I'm expecting mine to pip/hatch on day 20 cause that's whats been happening. I'll be home on that day too.
This my 2nd test on carton method and 1st dry incubation.
Good luck eveyone!!!