Possible 100% hatch today...just had to share good news for once!

[theperdews]

We hatched 50% on January 8th (Marans, Welsummer, Buffs) and decided to try to get a few Olive Eggers. So, we collected eggs from our Welsummer hens with the Ameraucana roo (and a few Ameraucana eggs, too) and put 24 in the incubator.

Out of the 24, we have 18 chicks and all but 2 of the remaining eggs have piped. The last two eggs are wiggling. If they all keep this up, we'll have a 100% hatch. Even if these final few don't all make it, it is quite a surprise for us to have them all fertile and going to hatch day.

Last time, we had a 50% which we were VERY happy with because the eggs were collected in December with below-freezing temps at times. This time, temps were usually freezing to 40 degrees during collection.

This is all I can think of that we did differently:

1. Better temps during egg collection
2. Incubator has a fan this time, and was still-air last time
3. We let the humidity stay around 15 to 25% until the 17th day, and then popped it up to around 65%
4. Used an Egg-O-Meter for temp control instead of the one that came with the incubator (they are ~3 degrees apart)

These chicks are hatching stronger and faster than our last batch.

Now, the bad news. ​

Since we were only expecting maybe 10 or 12 chicks, we have to find someone to take the rest! Our January hatch was 21 chicks, and we sure don't need an additional 24!

Toni

PS SW Iowa, in case anyone might need a few olive eggers...

 

[CarolJ]

Congratulations on such a great hatch! Hope you find great homes for the extra chicks.

I've had some abysmal hatches the past few months - like 10% and 25%. Next time I'll follow your humidity guidelines.

 

[theperdews]

Morning update...every single egg is open and empty. The chicks are bopping around too fast to count, but obviously there must be 24. We are amazed...we will only hatch chicks once or twice each year, but I'm guessing we'll never have a 100% hatch from 2 dozen eggs again. Very cool!

 

[3forfree]

I had a less than 50% hatch in january, 6 of 14 with one fully developed and dead, 4 showing some development, and 3 duds. My humidity was on a roller coaster after lockdown. I had a jelly jar with a papertowel for a wick during the first 18 days, and the humidity stayed around 30- 40%, after lockdown and putting a sponge in the bator the humidity would spike to 90, then go down to 40, then somewhere else. I finally gave up, and just let them sit and watched what happened. They hatched the day after they were locked down. All six came out the same night.

 

[Palmetto Plucker]

Morning update...every single egg is open and empty. The chicks are bopping around too fast to count, but obviously there must be 24. We are amazed...we will only hatch chicks once or twice each year, but I'm guessing we'll never have a 100% hatch from 2 dozen eggs again. Very cool!

May I jump in? I think that the humidity is the thing! Also, the calendar signs were perfect for hatching this weekend!! Almanac said chicks hatched would be strong and fast growers! Signs were in Cancer on a waxing moon. I believe! I had a better hatch than ever before!

 

[Arielle]

We hatched 50% on January 8th (Marans, Welsummer, Buffs) and decided to try to get a few Olive Eggers. So, we collected eggs from our Welsummer hens with the Ameraucana roo (and a few Ameraucana eggs, too) and put 24 in the incubator.

Out of the 24, we have 18 chicks and all but 2 of the remaining eggs have piped. The last two eggs are wiggling. If they all keep this up, we'll have a 100% hatch. Even if these final few don't all make it, it is quite a surprise for us to have them all fertile and going to hatch day.

Last time, we had a 50% which we were VERY happy with because the eggs were collected in December with below-freezing temps at times. This time, temps were usually freezing to 40 degrees during collection.

This is all I can think of that we did differently:

1. Better temps during egg collection
2. Incubator has a fan this time, and was still-air last time
3. We let the humidity stay around 15 to 25% until the 17th day, and then popped it up to around 65%
4. Used an Egg-O-Meter for temp control instead of the one that came with the incubator (they are ~3 degrees apart)

These chicks are hatching stronger and faster than our last batch.

Now, the bad news. ​

Since we were only expecting maybe 10 or 12 chicks, we have to find someone to take the rest! Our January hatch was 21 chicks, and we sure don't need an additional 24!

Toni

PS SW Iowa, in case anyone might need a few olive eggers...

NIce Job. Thanks for posting the details. Very helpful.

Question. Clarify better temperatures at collection time of the eggs. AND. What is the EggoMEter for temp control mean??