September 2015 Hatch-A-long!!

[Gloryjasmine]

Wow! I ran against your school in track/field and cross-country for Cordova High! I graduated from Kenny High. 1996! Oh my I'm feeling old! Yea and people ask me if we have country music,farms,FFA and 4-H..... I'm like Really??? Lol well nice to meet you and we might eventually figure out that we know a mutual friend.

 

[WVduckchick]

I want to join this, too!
I set my very first ever shipped serama eggs in my very first ever owned incubator Friday Aug 21st!

Here's hoping I do this right according to every different article I read.

Let the shipped eggs rest for two days...

Traced the air cell & X/O'd the eggies...

Ran the incubator for two days as the eggs rested, two thermometer/hygrometers, one mercury thermometer...

Set them & stare at them intently, turning (tilting) them 3+ times a day...

They are on my night stand so I can be a creeper & stare at them in the middle of the night, too...

As of today, looks like I didn't kill them yet!

I try to keep the temp @ about 99-100 & the humidity around 50%

If there's something else a noobie like me should be doing, any advice is very welcomed!

You're a stalker too?

Nice candling pics. Can't wait to see some itty bitty seramas!

Wow! I ran against your school in track/field and cross-country for Cordova High! I graduated from Kenny High. 1996! Oh my I'm feeling old! Yea and people ask me if we have country music,farms,FFA and 4-H..... I'm like Really??? Lol well nice to meet you and we might eventually figure out that we know a mutual friend.

Small world, as they say, huh!

 

[acemario]

I'm in! Here is what I am setting:
2- olive eggers using a wheaten ameraucana
2 olive eggers using SBELs
2 olive eggers using frizzles
3 speckled Sussex
1 dark barnyard mix

I set two nights ago!

(Hi @cynthia12)

 

[twink90]

Well I have a random egg zipping out this morning. My last batch hatched out Sat & next are due Friday. So this 1 egg didn't get the memo & wants to be odd chick out

 

[chickendreams24]

@Scovy Momma
Idk about your bator/geographical location but I believe I read somewhere that bantams should have a bit less humidity. Perhaps someone else can give you a better idea. My last two eggs were oegb and I had humidity about 30-40% days 1-18. My first hatch was silkies and bantams and I tried to keep it 40-55%(like the manual says) and I had a lot of problems with sticky chick come hatch day. And lost at least one because of it but saved one from it too. Of course if this isn't your first rodeo then you know what you're doing. Anyone feel free to chime in on this

 

[chickendreams24]

@acemario
Welcome to the hatch-a-long!

 

[WVduckchick]

@Scovy Momma
Idk about your bator/geographical location but I believe I read somewhere that bantams should have a bit less humidity. Perhaps someone else can give you a better idea. My last two eggs were oegb and I had humidity about 30-40% days 1-18. My first hatch was silkies and bantams and I tried to keep it 40-55%(like the manual says) and I had a lot of problems with sticky chick come hatch day. And lost at least one because of it but saved one from it too. Of course if this isn't your first rodeo then you know what you're doing. Anyone feel free to chime in on this

Good point, @chickendreams24 I didn't notice that number when I first read the post. I agree with you.

@Scovy Momma I think most folks are finding 30-40% is turning out better and less sticky chicks. I'm running 32% consistently now, with no water added. The only reason I would run higher, would be higher altitude, or very porous or thin shells. Keep an eye on your air cells. I would expect 50% would keep them too small, but your own environment may dictate it to be that high.

 

[Scovy Momma]

@Scovy Momma
Idk about your bator/geographical location but I believe I read somewhere that bantams should have a bit less humidity. Perhaps someone else can give you a better idea. My last two eggs were oegb and I had humidity about 30-40% days 1-18. My first hatch was silkies and bantams and I tried to keep it 40-55%(like the manual says) and I had a lot of problems with sticky chick come hatch day. And lost at least one because of it but saved one from it too. Of course if this isn't your first rodeo then you know what you're doing. Anyone feel free to chime in on this

Oh noes! No, never been to this rodeo! Circled the parking lot in high school just keeping an eye on broodies at school but this is my first stab at baking chicks. It's been hovering around 30-45% anyway. I get an odd 50% sometimes after I add a drop of water when I open it to fondle them. (I guess I'm a stalker AND molester of eggs) In Northern California & it's been pretty dry.
I am very grateful for any help! Thanks! Bring on the advice please!
Also, is it too late at day 5 to not have done damage? I'm worried every day that I'm going to kill the poor things.

 

[Scovy Momma]

Good point, @chickendreams24
   I didn't notice that number when I first read the post.  I agree with you.

@Scovy Momma
    I think most folks are finding 30-40% is turning out better and less sticky chicks.  I'm running 32% consistently now, with no water added.   The only reason I would run higher, would be higher altitude, or very porous or thin shells.   Keep an eye on your air cells.  I would expect 50% would keep them too small, but your own environment may dictate it to be that high.

Thank you very much! This incubator is so tiny that it seems I add a drop & it shoots up to 50%-60%! I have been forgoing adding water the last 2 days because I was trying for 50% but I may just go dry.
I have a pocket scale & am looking for a guide that may tell about how much they should weight on a certain day. Was hoping that may keep me on track. Should I trace the air cells at 7 days to make sure they're bigger than when I started?
Thank you for any help

 

[Scovy Momma]

You're a stalker too? 
Nice candling pics.  Can't wait to see some itty bitty seramas!


Small world, as they say, huh!

Yep, seems I find myself a stalker, taking pictures & staring into their window at night. The occasional fondle session when I get a chance & taking photos of them that I share with others on the Internet. I'm a Creeper McCreeperpants with these poor eggs. They may get a complex!