September 2016 Hatch-A-Long

[Fluffyserama]

sorry for your loss. I have a two year old too and my incubator is on my bathroom counter so it's my biggest fear, I constantly freak out!

Years back my sister and her then 3yr old twins lived with me. THAT was a nightmare on the incubation front. Anytime it was down low they got into it. Anytime it was higher they pulled it down by the plug. I finally gave up on incubation while we lived together.

I was kinda expecting trouble from my daughter, I just under estimatated her speed

 

[harmesonfarm]

@ChickenCanoe

I calculated my desired weight loss by doing a total average weight of my eggs on day one, then subtracting the new weight on days I weigh to calculate the difference. I then calculated by dividing 13% into 21. from that over, 21 days I gathered that I needed .3g loss. On day 7 the candled air sacs looked good and the weight loss was 2g average. over 21 I'll want approx. 6g in total average loss.

Some of my eggs are really small...I think that the breeder I got them from swindled in pullet eggs...I have Wheaton Ameraucana eggs that started at a weight as low as 35g and some Swedish Flowers that started as low as 43g or so. As far as I was understanding these birds laid medium - large and extra large eggs...not teeny ones.

I'm hoping they'll still produce good chicks...but we'll see. Could the weight loss calculation be lower because of the average being lower than regular sized eggs with my smaller ones?

 

[Fluffyserama]

That is good advice and an elaborate explanation.
I, on the other hand, rarely assist unless I think it was my fault they couldn't do it on their own. They haven't needed our help for millions of years. Survival of the fittest. If they aren't vigorous enough to hatch on their own, I don't want them here.

Survival of the fittest is only applicable if you are using eggs that have not been shipped and you don't have little ones opening the incubator at inopportune times.
(It seems I'm not very good at the last one

)
When the eggs are shipped the air cells can be to messed up for the chick have any chance of hatching properly on its own, but the overall vitality of the chick can still be very good. On this next hatch with the shipped seramas I'm not going to wait for an external pip before I jump in. I feel confident that the la bresse have not had their air cells compromised so I'll let them do their thing.

All that being said. IF the eggs have not been transported far. IF the conditions of incubation where favorable and IF nothing unforeseen happens during hatch out I do agree that the ones who cant make it out of their shell are more likely to have issues than their companions.

Some have success with nail polish. I've used that and beeswax but never had one hatch. 2 settings ago I dropped 2 eggs. It put a divot in one and the other had cracks on over 50% of it. I had a jar of liquid skin bandage close by. I covered all cracks with it. Both eggs hatched and chicks are fine.

I've never had luck with bees wax either. I like the idea of liquid skin. Its probably more breathable without compromising the egg. I think I may have to pick up a bottle in case of another accident.

 

[Joplus]

Years back my sister and her then 3yr old twins lived with me. THAT was a nightmare on the incubation front. Anytime it was down low they got into it. Anytime it was higher they pulled it down by the plug. I finally gave up on incubation while we lived together.

I was kinda expecting trouble from my daughter, I just under estimatated her speed [/quote]

I have 3 year old too. I put the incubator facing backwards (it's not like I need to see those useless gauges) and have the cord running behind the faucet to hopefully not have the toddlers pull it down. I have tried the closet but here in AZ there's no A/C vents in closets so it gets like 90 degrees in the afternoon and I had terrible temp spikes and bad hatches.

 

[Maeschak]

Thanks Harmesonfarm!

I have used that site a few times. It has great info and convinced me to use the weight loss method instead of air cells... I just didnt know what humidity would almost stop weight loss. On Thursday quite a few of my eggs (like 25%?)were the weight they should be at lockdown on Monday! I have my fingers crossed...

Good luck to all on your hatches!

 

[ChickieKeeta]

I just set 18 brown eggs and 9 blue. My hens are 2 RIR. 1 Wheaton Ameraucana. 1 blue Ameraucana. 1 black Ameraucana and 4 red star hens. My rooster is a Wheaton Ameraucana.
Nine chicks hatched Aug 20, 2016. If I had not blown it with losing the humidity by opening the bator I may have had 100% hatch. All developed.

I am using an inexpensive Harris Farms Pro-Hatcher Circulated Air Incubator # 6300. It came with the egg turner. I got it from Amazon. I believe it was about $105 to $112. It worked flawlessly. Now that I have posted I am a bit worried something will go wrong.

 

[Duke12]

Got my cream legbar eggs in I'm so excited! My very first hatch! Wish me luck!

 

[harmesonfarm]

Got my cream legbar eggs in

I'm so excited! My very first hatch! Wish me luck!

so exciting!

 

[two j farm]

Good luck!

 

[ladyargentum]

Got my cream legbar eggs in

I'm so excited! My very first hatch! Wish me luck!

I'm a first timer hatching eggs too

Wishing you the very best of luck and many healthy chicks

Today is day 16 for me and I am getting rather excited now... not long to go but still days away. Sorting out the brooder this weekend