Questions

[Joplus]

I have a Farm Innovators incubator, digital, w turner and fan. It has a fan but has a weird cold patch in the corner. Why is it like that? What can I do about it. Ok next question. I'm being forced to get rid of my roo and my hens just started laying about 2 weeks ago. The eggs are tiny but I plan on incubating anyway because I only got 2 ameraucana hens out of the dozen fertile eggs I bought. What problems might I encounter? Ok final question, I'm also buying polish and silkie eggs to add to the hatch, I've only hatched regular breeds, any advice? Thanks

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Bantams will hatch sooner than standards, I would run a separate hatch for them.

How cold is you cold spot? I move my eggs to a new place in the incubator once per day to avoid this issue.

You might end up with a low fertility/hatch rate from them just starting laying and the chicks will be smaller. Also higher chance of deformities as the reproductive system is still working out its' hiccups.

They are actually called pullet and cockerel until they are 1 year old.

The eggs can still be fertile to about 2 weeks after the cockerel in gone. Maybe wait as long as you can?

Good luck, either way!

 

[Joplus]

The cold spot is about 97 and the rest is about 100. Are polish and Silkies considered bantam? I guess if they are that small then they'll be the same size as my pullet eggs. I want to get the hatch started this weekend all together so they are close in age to a hatch I have in lockdown right now.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The cold spot is about 97 and the rest is about 100. Are polish and Silkies considered bantam? I guess if they are that small then they'll be the same size as my pullet eggs. I want to get the hatch started this weekend all together so they are close in age to a hatch I have in lockdown right now.

Actually, silkies are bantam and Polish come in both bantam and large fowl.

Maybe putting the bantam eggs in a couple days later so they go into lock down and hatch at the same time. Or just quit turning the bantam eggs and move the hatched to the brooder once they are dry a couple days before the LF are hatched and have a couple days to get some size on them. Anyways, my understanding is that bantam hatch at day 18 or 19 instead of 21. But I have not hatched bantam to verify.

SO I'm guessing your incubator has a fan... I would either avoid that area where it is low or make sure the eggs all go through a cycle in there. Low temp will cause delayed hatch if the continue to develop. But since you know it's there... just rotate them. If I had to guess, there has got to be cool and warm spots in most bators.

I measure a couple different locations and it varies according to the height of where the thermometer was set as well.

Did you already check out the hatching 101 article?...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Great tips and links for so many questions! Also, hit up Sally, the writer... she seems sincerely helpful and WAY more experience than me.

 

[Joplus]

Thanks so much guys. I think I'll add the Silkies a couple days later. That's what I did when I put quail and chickens in the same hatch. I don't want anyone subjected to the wrong humidity

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Happy hatching and best wishes!