Our First Broody and Incubator Hatch: a Diary

[igorsMistress]

Went out at 1900 to turn off the mister. The temp at the nest box was 100* with 22% h. There's a patch of damp bedding but the wood and brick are dry. Left the fan on.

Incubator dropped to 38% h so I added water, back up to 48%

Candled the blue eggs tonight from the air cell end and I could see dark little blobs in them.

Ruby is on her temporary eggs tonight. I need to find our fakes...

 

[BlueBaby]

Went out at 1900 to turn off the mister. The temp at the nest box was 100* with 22% h. There's a patch of damp bedding but the wood and brick are dry. Left the fan on.

Incubator dropped to 38% h so I added water, back up to 48%

View attachment 1480319

Candled the blue eggs tonight from the air cell end and I could see dark little blobs in them.

Ruby is on her temporary eggs tonight. I need to find our fakes...

So you have all 6 of those eggs in the incubator now. Don't forget that you are supposed to turn them 3 times a day I think, since it look's like you are not using one of those egg turners.

 

[igorsMistress]

Adding water is a PITA.
This worked good for me.
A siphon bottle, a piece of house plant irrigation tubing, and a piece of silicone aquarium tubing to connect them. Will go thru the tiny vent holes in the foamies.

View attachment 1479965

I now have a Incuview incubator and the bottom mesh is 1/8",
some of us got these to add water. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075H5HQ94/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I cut off the luer lock and the metal needle tubing fit into irrigation tubing on my siphon bottle.
View attachment 1479974

I like that siphon bottle idea a lot! I think I'm going to see if hubs has a drill bit the right size for the tubing I have and find one of those.

 

[igorsMistress]

So you have all 6 of those eggs in the incubator now. Don't forget that you are supposed to turn them 3 times a day I think, since it look's like you are not using one of those egg turners.

Yes, all 6 because Ruby will go to any port in her hormonal storm. She's switched nests on me twice.

That slotted thing on top of the grate is an egg turner. Water tray is under the grate with channels to fill as needed.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yes, all 6 because Ruby will go to any port in her hormonal storm. She's switched nests on me twice.

That slotted thing on top of the grate is an egg turner. Water tray is under the grate with channels to fill as needed.

I guess that's why most people that say they have broodies separate them with the nest of eggs, so they can't play musical chair with the eggs.

Ok, your incubator is different that mine, so I guess that's why I was confused.

 

[igorsMistress]

I guess that's why most people that say they have broodies separate them with the nest of eggs, so they can't play musical chair with the eggs.

Ok, your incubator is different that mine, so I guess that's why I was confused.

Makes complete sense to me now although a lot of people say they're protecting the chicks, which I see as moms job not mine.

Does your incubator have the trays that rock back and forth a few times a day?

 

[BlueBaby]

Makes complete sense to me now although a lot of people say they're protecting the chicks, which I see as moms job not mine.

Does your incubator have the trays that rock back and forth a few times a day?

I actually have 2 different brands of incubators. One I bought a turner for that does rock back and forth, but the other one I didn't buy a turner for. The one without the turner, I intended to be my lock-down one.

 

[meetthebubus]

Makes complete sense to me now although a lot of people say they're protecting the chicks, which I see as moms job not mine.

Does your incubator have the trays that rock back and forth a few times a day?

I saw the cutest video of a mama hen protecting her chick from an animal, looks like mama hens aren't so chicken lol

How many days are you in?

 

[igorsMistress]

I saw the cutest video of a mama hen protecting her chick from an animal, looks like mama hens aren't so chicken lol

How many days are you in?

This afternoon will complete 12 days. Lockdown is next Tuesday afternoon. I'm still trying to decide if I should put the eggs under Ruby that day or wait until after they hatch.

 

[aart]

This afternoon will complete 12 days. Lockdown is next Tuesday afternoon. I'm still trying to decide if I should put the eggs under Ruby that day or wait until after they hatch.

I would wait.....or maybe put a couple under her.