Our First Broody and Incubator Hatch: a Diary

[aart]

Crazy!

 

[meetthebubus]

Ha! Thankfully its not worse I've lived here during the 128 degree day

 

[igorsMistress]

Ruby came out for food and water first thing this morning. She also had apple and broccoli slaw.

Incubator was at 50% h when I went to bed at 20% when I got up so I added water.

 

[BlueBaby]

@igorsMistress I just finished candling my eggs again tonight. I had to toss only one of the 16 eggs for a bloodring when I candled the other day. There are more veins in all of the 15 remaining eggs, and I am seeing movement. So, your batch of those 6 eggs should do ok.

 

[igorsMistress]

Humidity down to 40% in the incubator this morning. Added a little water. Ruby sitting on infertile eggs in the coop, still in her correct box.

ETA: I've learned to use warm water when adding to the incubator. I add less water this way and have fewer spikes in humidity in there.

 

[Onslow's Hens]

Our hatch day is Tuesday. Eva came out yesterday and took a nice dust bath, ate and drank. I used that time to check on the 7 eggs. 1 was not good - had to toss it. So - 6 eggs now. I ordered 3 chicks to be delivered Thursday morning from Meyers (my fave Hatchery). Just in case the hatch does not go well, I want her to have chicks to raise. My plan is to let her hatch the eggs on Tuesday thru Thursday with no intervention from me. Let her handle it. Thursday night, slink out and put the hatchery chicks under her along with whatever she has hatched. Hopefully in the morning when chicks come out from under her, she does not notice the new additions. I watched several UTube videos about it and it seems to work most of the time. Since she is only sitting on 6 viable eggs, adding a few more should not be that noticeable to her?? I hope.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Onslow's Hens

I think that sounds like a good plan. I doubt she'll notice.

My plan is to keep 3 eggs in the incubator and put 3 under Ruby on Tuesday afternoon. From there hatching should be Thursday thru Saturday. I hope.

Please update and let me know how it goes. I hope you have good success!

 

[igorsMistress]

Currently 90* and 44% h in the coop. 100* and 42% h in the incubator.

The fan and mister are working great. Very pleased with the outcome so far. I do have to turn the litter because it gets wet but I don't mind.

 

[igorsMistress]

I quickly candled eggs this morning. Not happy with air cell development. Gotta see what I can do to help. Probably too much humidity, but I've never done this before so...

Edit, well maybe not...and I'm pretty sure I saw movement in egg 6 this morning, CCL mix, yay!!

 

[igorsMistress]

I've put the hygrometer/thermometer that came with my incubator on top of it to monitor the room conditions. Right now I have 40% humidity and 78* in the room, 100* and 42% h in the incubator. I turned off the ceiling fan while I'm working and will leave it of until lockdown.

I've noticed it's over night that the humidity really drops, but hubs works outside so it needs to be comfortable when he's sleeping and I turn down the a/c to 76* for him. Maybe I'll move the table I have the incubator on to a different spot.