Poor results with first hatching, need advice for next batch

[arabianequine]

I was told not to use wood shavings because they eat it could hurt them and/or make them sick. I use newspaper then paper towels on top. You do wanna check for pasty butts if it is stuck dry cover vet they can't poop. I also have 3 different thermometers in my incubator they all say a different temp but it depends where they are positioned if right under the heat coil the it will run hotter the I have one digital and it always runs hotter and is currently right under the coil so I think it is about right cause the others are a couple degrees lower so where the egg is it should be perfect.....also my digital has the hygrometer on it and that is what you need to measure the humidity.


Hope you have better luck this time.

 

[momma's chickens]

I have never used a heat lamp with my chicks in my house, only a 100 watt light bulb. I find that the heat lamps make it too warm since the house is already warm. I have brooded lots of chicks this way.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I use the dry method of hatching. I put 1/2 cup of hot water in when I start the incubator. I do not add anymore water until the humidity goes down to 25 degree. I up it to 60-65 on day 18. Make sure all the air holes are open as well they need air circulation. One of the biggest problems with hatching is that people try to adjust the temps. I do not touch the thermostat once I have it reading 99.5. If I see the temp is lower I place a blanket or towel around the incubator to help keep it warm This helps especially in the cooler months when the house cools at night. I do not open the incubator until they ahve hatched and dried. I keep my brooder at 95 degrees I use a 100watt bulb. I put down paper towels the first week then sand. I seldom have problems with pasty butt. I believe its because of the sand. I usually dont go down in bulb size I adjust the height of the light instead. I try to put the light in the center of the brooder so there is alot of room for the chicks to gather under it. I have hatched alot of chicks this way its my way and someone esle will probabally have another system that works for them. Remember my humidity is going to be different than yours. It will vary state to state and city to city. Here in Florida its very humid so I dont use alot of water in the incubator I am on day 18 with this hatch and only today I added water to increase the humidity for hatching for the first time since I put the eggs in 18 days ago.Hope this helps it takes practice but as I said everyone will agree dont open the incubator more than you have too. PS I dont candle either not until the 18 day My daughter does though at 7 and 14 days but I prefer not too.

 

[Lotsapaints]

I used the dry hatch method and when I candled the eggs I went by the air sac at the top when it got too large I upped my humidity and I did calibrate it and all of mine were off as much as 7 degrees 2 were only 5 but one was over and the others were under. I had a very good hatch but my humidity was low at the end so next time I will be adding more water. When I brood my chicks I very seldom use more than a 125 watt light and if the room is warm I can use a 75. I go by how they act if they huddle under the light they need more heat if they are always sleeping at the far edge of the light they are too hot. I put shavings down then cover with a paper towel or some kind of rough paper not smooth after 2 days I don't replace the paper towels by then the chicks know what to eat...I never use fine shavings only the chunky type that way they are hard for the chicks to try and eat. Everyday I add a thin layer of shavings to keep it clean and dry when you have them in a plastic tub I clean out the shavings when it starts getting deep. Good luck on your next try just keep track on a calendar of what you did and learn from what happens. Everyone does it a bit different you will learn what works for you. Have fun and don't second guess yourself just keep trying.

 

[Delighted]

Thanks so much for the advice! That red bulb is coming out of the brooder! I kind of thought that was part of the problem. When the neighbor used it, the brooder was in his garage, in winter. I'd like to be able to leave the A/C vent open in that room-- it IS my son's bedroom! I can always lower the light or use a higher wattage. I'm guessing too high of a heat is what killed my chickies.

I think I like the idea of sand, too, or at least the paper towels on top of the shavings--just makes sense while they are so little.

This time, I have a variety of eggs in there, my sister gave them to me when I went to visit her in VA--she labeled them for me, but I've already forgotten the abreviations for some of the breeds! LOL! But I think I'll candle for the learning experience-- I don't think I'll always candle, I'll probably forget, but I would like to see things this time.

I'm going to have to read up on "dry hatch" vs--what?-- "wet hatch"? I don't know how much water is in there. I poured some into the bins, and then spilled it when i lifted the 'bator into the brooder. (I keep it there while there are no chicks in there, because my cat will sit on the warm incubator, otherwise) There's water under the clear tray, at the very bottom of the incubator.

 

[arabianequine]

I would not use sand or wood people do put they don't know what food is when real little so not for at least 2 weeks....I would use newspaper and papertowels. At least top it with paper towels that is a good idea.

 

[Delighted]

arabianequine, thank you--that makes sense. I was kinda thinking while they are real little they may confuse food with bedding. I DO like the sand idea when they are older--just makes sense for the grit thing. I was guessing two weeks, so I appreciate the recommendation. (I may get overruled with the sand, and the neighbor push for the shavings-- if that happens-- no prob-- I'll put paper towels over top, and when he comes to see them, take it up temporarily haha!

)

 

[kid-n-chickens]

Well as everyone has said on here everyone has something different that works for them. I have used wood shavings in my brooders with all of my chicks that I have brooded this year and have not had any problems they peck at it but they will peck at anything. 5 storage tote brooder boxes with 50 plus chicks and havent lost any after they went to the brooder. Watch the chicks behavior if it is panting it is to hot if it is up and moving around it is perfect and if it is all huddled up it is to cold.
With the hovabator fill the center tray on days 1-18 and then for lockdown on day 18 fill both channels, remove the eggs from the turner and lay under windows so you can see pips.. I cover the wire mesh with non slip rubber shelf liner to keep the eggs from rolling as much when bumped by hatched chicks. its like rolling an egg on carpet vs. linoleum. Once you go into lock down do not open until you are done hatching if you hatch over several days you might wait until all pipps are hatched and then quickly remove the chicks and close the lid back. Next time you have a sluggish chick you might also consider giving it sugar water.

As far as leaving the a/c vents open I leave every room as I would want to live in it. This way the room stays at a more constant temp so the brooder box does as well This might help the incubator stay more constant as well. Just remember to check it to adjust the day you open the vents. I would just set the brooder box and incubator away from the vent so the air is not blowing directly on it. I dont know if the heat lamp was centered or at one end but I would put it on one end so the chick can get away from the heat if needed and does not have to stand under the heat to drink or eat. I use 100watt light bulb the first week or two then switch to the 60watt light bulb. (not the CFU's or the fancy bulbs d/t they dont put out heat just use the plain old light bulb.

I found that when I didnt get very good hatches it was my humidity but here is a trouble shooting thing that might help you http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/troubleshooting_incubation.pdf

Good Luck and Best Wishes with your next and future hatches.

 

[arabianequine]

Quote:
Everybody does have all different kinds of ideas and things that work for them I guess go with what sounds the best if it don't work try the other....tell your happy and you know your birds are too.

I don't think they need grit if you are only feeding bird feed from the farm feed store....I thought they only needed grit when you start giving greens and other things like that to help digest it. I may be wrong someone else can tell us for sure please do so I know.....I thought that is what I heard on ducks or turkeys not sure it the same with chickens I would think so.

I use a bedding it is a wood pellet and lasts forever for older chicks after 2 weeks they are big pellets and I think they are a horse bedding pellet my feed store has it and they use it on there chicks, ducks they are selling I think the bags that get broken open they rebag it and sell really cheap like 5 bucks for a 50 lb bag of it maybe check at your local feed store next time I go there I will get the name of the product cause I can't remember.......my only survivor chick from my first hatch ever of chicks on the second of April does not even go potty that much....and not really wet any at all it is pretty thick a bit moist poo the heat light helps dry things up....I have newspaper then paper towels I change it about 2 a week so far and only have to change the papertowels I use a double layer of extra absorbency.

The heat lamp I could not use it was way too hot....I used a 150 watt lamp bulb for 2 weeks then yesterday I went down to a 90 watt bulb but the bulb is only about 18-24 inches from the chick be sure to put it on one side or the other not in the middle so it can go to the heat if it wants it and if hot if can go to the cooler side. I heard you want the heat to be 90-100 degrees for the first couple weeks then start lowering 5 degrees per week there after feathers will start coming in and fully feathered by 4-6 weeks.


I am however so stoked I have my only turkey egg pipping today it is due on Sunday....I really did not think it would hatch but I kept it cause it was all dark when I candled last all the others I could see through and the yolk floating around none were fertile my hubby checked.

I will start another batch after this one is out of the bator.

Good luck with your future hatches....I am learning to on hatching but I raised chicks and turkeys last year.