Well, the humidity is 87% outside right now, so that's what my humidity is. Don't ya just love Houston??? It's only day 15 for me, so it's not even time to raise our humidity yet...oh well, we'll just see what happens...
pips and zip and LOTS of pics... Lockdown.......Hatch date 8/28
- Thread starter cluck-addict
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- Jul 17, 2009
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Bananas-
My second batch is 8 days behind the first.
I did my last turn this morning, and will take your advice and leave the bator closed.
It is a HOVA BATOR (without the fan), so I debated laying the second batch out on a scarf or fabric of some sort, draping the ends of the scarf out of the bator, and then gently pulling left/right to "roll" the second batch. I wouldn't have to open the bator and the eggs would get some agitation.
Keep in mind, I am in Phoenix, so it is naturally dry here. If my neighbor's chickens can hatch eggs when humidity is 10-15%, I am hoping we may be ok.
I have been averaging 55%, and to get it higher for lockdown, I added baby bowls filled with water---with new sponges inside the bowls to increase surface area and prevent chickie haricari. MIL is home today, so if the humidity is still too low, I will have her put the entire bator on top of a roasting pan (with rack) filled with water. The bator will still get bottom ventilation, butthe incomming air wont be so dry.
My second batch is 8 days behind the first.
I did my last turn this morning, and will take your advice and leave the bator closed.
It is a HOVA BATOR (without the fan), so I debated laying the second batch out on a scarf or fabric of some sort, draping the ends of the scarf out of the bator, and then gently pulling left/right to "roll" the second batch. I wouldn't have to open the bator and the eggs would get some agitation.
Keep in mind, I am in Phoenix, so it is naturally dry here. If my neighbor's chickens can hatch eggs when humidity is 10-15%, I am hoping we may be ok.
I have been averaging 55%, and to get it higher for lockdown, I added baby bowls filled with water---with new sponges inside the bowls to increase surface area and prevent chickie haricari. MIL is home today, so if the humidity is still too low, I will have her put the entire bator on top of a roasting pan (with rack) filled with water. The bator will still get bottom ventilation, butthe incomming air wont be so dry.
Laree-
I am in southern California, so my humidity is really low too. I think that's why it messed things up so much to open the bator to turn the eggs, because the humidity instantly dropped quite a bit every time I cracked the bator because the air humidity is just so low.
The scarf sounds like a great idea though, or I wonder if you could rig something up where you put the eggs in an open egg carton, tie strings to either end of the carton and thread the strings through the top holes in the incubator, and then you can elevate either one end of the carton or the other by lifting the string on one side or the other of the carton. Kind of hard to describe what I'm envisioning, I hope that makes sense... I don't know how your incubator holes are configured but mine has some holes in the top which would work perfectly for something like that....too bad I didn't think of that the first time!
Anyway, best of luck with your hatch!
I am in southern California, so my humidity is really low too. I think that's why it messed things up so much to open the bator to turn the eggs, because the humidity instantly dropped quite a bit every time I cracked the bator because the air humidity is just so low.
The scarf sounds like a great idea though, or I wonder if you could rig something up where you put the eggs in an open egg carton, tie strings to either end of the carton and thread the strings through the top holes in the incubator, and then you can elevate either one end of the carton or the other by lifting the string on one side or the other of the carton. Kind of hard to describe what I'm envisioning, I hope that makes sense... I don't know how your incubator holes are configured but mine has some holes in the top which would work perfectly for something like that....too bad I didn't think of that the first time!
Anyway, best of luck with your hatch!
- Jul 17, 2009
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oooh! That is a good idea too! Batch # 2 are in a "nipple rack" (for baby bottles--
) with some of that spongy/foamy fabric on the bottom of the rack to prevent accidental rolling around. The rack has plenty of tie-on places.
Perhaps when I get home I will set up another rack with stings and needles for quick installation and egg transfer. Even if the holes are wrong, I can drill some from the top without opening the bator....
Haha! Check me out, all MacGyver and stuff...
Perhaps when I get home I will set up another rack with stings and needles for quick installation and egg transfer. Even if the holes are wrong, I can drill some from the top without opening the bator....
Haha! Check me out, all MacGyver and stuff...
I have one that has started chirping..really messed me up for a minute as I was taking some out to put in the hatcher from a different bunch and grabbed chirper with it thinking it belonged in the 8/26 hatch
guess it's just anxious to come out and play with my kids
We have 9 dth the 26th and 14 on the 28th hatch then a well needed hatching break for 20 days.Setting a total of 100 this week then I'm Done hopefully for the year
I've been running around 71-73% humidity for lockdown and getting real good results right now.My temp goal is 99.5 which is working great in the Genesis my others need to be tweaked now I have shut off the ac and opened the windows-it's been cold here(50's at night)
We have 9 dth the 26th and 14 on the 28th hatch then a well needed hatching break for 20 days.Setting a total of 100 this week then I'm Done hopefully for the year
I've been running around 71-73% humidity for lockdown and getting real good results right now.My temp goal is 99.5 which is working great in the Genesis my others need to be tweaked now I have shut off the ac and opened the windows-it's been cold here(50's at night)
- Jul 17, 2009
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what?!!! I have a pip!
It is 3 days early and I have a pip!
I guess there is something to your "incubation during shipping/heat" theory.
I came home from work, checked the humidity, and SWORE I saw one move. I got REALLY close and thought I heard a chirp. Then I heard the birds outside and figured I was nuts!!!
I rigged my egg turner for batch #2, and set up a secondary water well to raise humidity, then the DH and I unstalled both. The bator was open less than 30 seconds.
When I checked the humidity 15 minutes later, there were what looked like shell peices in there! I grabbed the flashlight, and sure enough, a little beak was sticking out! It is a sizzle chick and I SERIOUSLY hope he makes it! He'll be my first hatched egg, so send him good juju!
It is 3 days early and I have a pip!
I guess there is something to your "incubation during shipping/heat" theory.
I came home from work, checked the humidity, and SWORE I saw one move. I got REALLY close and thought I heard a chirp. Then I heard the birds outside and figured I was nuts!!!
I rigged my egg turner for batch #2, and set up a secondary water well to raise humidity, then the DH and I unstalled both. The bator was open less than 30 seconds.
When I checked the humidity 15 minutes later, there were what looked like shell peices in there! I grabbed the flashlight, and sure enough, a little beak was sticking out! It is a sizzle chick and I SERIOUSLY hope he makes it! He'll be my first hatched egg, so send him good juju!
Congrats on your little chick Laree
Ha ha, I was doing the same thing with my first batch- every single bird outside that chirped I kept thinking was my chicks, and then when my babies really started chirping I kept thinking it was the birds! Lol
Ha ha, I was doing the same thing with my first batch- every single bird outside that chirped I kept thinking was my chicks, and then when my babies really started chirping I kept thinking it was the birds! Lol
- Jul 17, 2009
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OK- 3 pips now.
Pipper #1-not much progress, still breathing...maybe cant get leverage or is sticky-stuck?
Pipper #2- pipped 10 minutes ago...1/2 way unzipped
Pipper #3 - pipped at same time as #2...then got lazy. The eggg's still moving so, still alive?
Americauna egg shaking and baking. No pip yet.
LOTS of peeping going on.
Pipper #1-not much progress, still breathing...maybe cant get leverage or is sticky-stuck?
Pipper #2- pipped 10 minutes ago...1/2 way unzipped
Pipper #3 - pipped at same time as #2...then got lazy. The eggg's still moving so, still alive?
Americauna egg shaking and baking. No pip yet.
LOTS of peeping going on.
- Thread starter
- #99
COngrats to everyone who is progessing. How exciting. today is day 18. I'll take them out of the turner tonight.
how did you decide to use egg cartons or just set them on the floor.
I CAN"T decide.
Help.
how did you decide to use egg cartons or just set them on the floor.
I CAN"T decide.
Help.
- Jul 17, 2009
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Sorry about the novel, but I am STOKED!
Update-Remember, they are technically not due until Wed or Thurs.
OEGB #1 pipped and zipped in 10 min. Popped out after a short nap. Total time: <1 hour.
OEGB #2 pipped and rocked for about an hour. No progress as of this morning. I could not see the beak.
Americauna rocked for an hour, until midnight. No progress as of this morning. Hoping he will be "on time"
Sizzle #1- Pipped at 6pm, no progress as of midnight. Seemed like it was in distress. I decided to help out--I reasoned if it was going to die, it would probably die without help, or later on if deformities were present. Zero sum game if you are a pessimist. Hope if your are pragmatic/optimistic.
SO- helped it out---immediately saw the problem: HUGE chick in a little egg. No room to move. I used the technique on the incubating sticky...so the humidity and temp of bator never dipped, but did finally go up to 75%. Rescued chick was up and walking as of this morning.
Sizzle #2-no movement or pips yet. Hoping he will be "on time".
I moved both chicks to the brooder this morning--the OEGB kept getting stuck between the water troughs. They seemed happier under the brooder light. I will get pics up as soon as I figure out this new camera.
Update-Remember, they are technically not due until Wed or Thurs.
OEGB #1 pipped and zipped in 10 min. Popped out after a short nap. Total time: <1 hour.
OEGB #2 pipped and rocked for about an hour. No progress as of this morning. I could not see the beak.
Americauna rocked for an hour, until midnight. No progress as of this morning. Hoping he will be "on time"
Sizzle #1- Pipped at 6pm, no progress as of midnight. Seemed like it was in distress. I decided to help out--I reasoned if it was going to die, it would probably die without help, or later on if deformities were present. Zero sum game if you are a pessimist. Hope if your are pragmatic/optimistic.
SO- helped it out---immediately saw the problem: HUGE chick in a little egg. No room to move. I used the technique on the incubating sticky...so the humidity and temp of bator never dipped, but did finally go up to 75%. Rescued chick was up and walking as of this morning.
Sizzle #2-no movement or pips yet. Hoping he will be "on time".
I moved both chicks to the brooder this morning--the OEGB kept getting stuck between the water troughs. They seemed happier under the brooder light. I will get pics up as soon as I figure out this new camera.
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