Set eggs 3/5. Looking for others to hatch with!

[lillyman]

Well I am a bitt late to the hatch along; But here goes ... This year is my second year for hatching eggs ON march 4th I set 29 eggs into my homemade ice chest bator .tomorrow I start their lockdown. I have had a few temp spikes as high as 104 f for short periods of time ,, and two or three overnight lows down to 98-99f for several hours I am using an electricans temp gun to scan the egg temps, also have a temperature/humidity gauge in the bator . The humidity was stuck on 45% humidity for the first week even with a water tray and sponges .so I started using a very small room humidiffyer placed close to the bators air inlet opening to try to bring the humidity % up , works great but I have to watch the temp as the humidity increases the temp falls accordingly...Anyway enough tech stuff. I am looking forward to the hatch. Last year I started with 21 eggs 18 made it ... However half turned out to be ROO'S. ( sorry about the poor spelling )

 

[mayberrygirl]

Welcome!

I am hoping to build a cabinet incubator in the next couple of months. I am thinking 4' x 2'

 

[JulieNKC]

I'm hoping it was just too early to candle.

Another possibility is that the eggs I candled were from a pen where the rooster wasn't doing his job. (The eggs I candled were all marked C2. I didn't candle the C6 or C8 eggs yet.) I think I should wait until Day 5 or even Day 7 to make sure I'm not seeing some growth before giving up on any. The "clears" will be very obvious by then in comparison to the ones that are developing. I HOPE SOME ARE DEVELOPING! The breeder said she was having "high fertility" in these 3 pens.

I ordered a Hova Bator. I got one with circulating air and egg racks so I can be away from home and not worry about the different temperature levels (like my still air) or turning the eggs.

Last check, it was on the truck for delivery!

I'll keep you posted on the silkie eggs and my incubator arrival. (Knowing me, I'll probably even post a picture of it.)

I'd wait until day 7 at least.

 

[wholewheatchicken]

Well I am a bitt late to the hatch along; But here goes ... This year is my second year for hatching eggs ON march 4th I set 29 eggs into my homemade ice chest bator .tomorrow I start their lockdown. I have had a few temp spikes as high as 104 f for short periods of time ,, and two or three overnight lows down to 98-99f for several hours I am using an electricans temp gun to scan the egg temps, also have a temperature/humidity gauge in the bator . The humidity was stuck on 45% humidity for the first week even with a water tray and sponges .so I started using a very small room humidiffyer placed close to the bators air inlet opening to try to bring the humidity % up , works great but I have to watch the temp as the humidity increases the temp falls accordingly...Anyway enough tech stuff. I am looking forward to the hatch. Last year I started with 21 eggs 18 made it ... However half turned out to be ROO'S. ( sorry about the poor spelling )

Welcome! I will be interested to see how your hatch goes in the ice chest bator. I'm always curious about making one's own since they are so expensive! Scary on the roo part. I have 11 RIRs that are doing great. I want to sell them or give them away as I really don't want to add to my LF flock right now and I certainly don't need six more roos out there. The two I have are rough enough. I would end up having to eat them.....and I'm not quite there yet!
Good luck.....keep us posted. And we love pics along the way!

 

[wholewheatchicken]

I'm hoping it was just too early to candle.

Another possibility is that the eggs I candled were from a pen where the rooster wasn't doing his job. (The eggs I candled were all marked C2. I didn't candle the C6 or C8 eggs yet.) I think I should wait until Day 5 or even Day 7 to make sure I'm not seeing some growth before giving up on any. The "clears" will be very obvious by then in comparison to the ones that are developing. I HOPE SOME ARE DEVELOPING! The breeder said she was having "high fertility" in these 3 pens.

I ordered a Hova Bator. I got one with circulating air and egg racks so I can be away from home and not worry about the different temperature levels (like my still air) or turning the eggs.

Last check, it was on the truck for delivery!

I'll keep you posted on the silkie eggs and my incubator arrival. (Knowing me, I'll probably even post a picture of it.)

Where did you buy the Hova Bator from? I want to go peruse the store.
And you know I love your pics....just look what you created at my house! Gabby has been dying to get her hands on my little Ameraucanas and I have one silkie in the bunch. It is so fluffy I named it Patty - for fatty! I wanted to name it Toyie (since when I got it home and looked it over it only has nine toes

) but the children would not allow it. I am anxious to see what color it will end up being as it came out of a partridge pen, but has no partridge markings. It almost looks like it came from the porcelains she had, but this person didn't incubate too many chicks so I would think it would be difficult for her to mix things up. I'm hoping since it's missing that fifth toe it will be useful for something. I'm collecting "pets" around here at an unbelievable rate! I got another chick from the same person that only has eight toes..........I'm kind of wondering what's going on or if that is sort of normal with silkies???? Mine have had all of their toes so far and my breeders have all their toes.

 

[CALI CHICK]

I ordered the Hova Bator from Stromberg's. There is an ad button on the BYC homepage, but I actually shopped around on the internet and decided to go with them since the shipping is free and felt it was the overall best price. It cost $144.50 no tax or shipping...remember, I returned my Cricut and MyStory Laminator in order to get the bator

. I think they had a still air model for $99, but I'm more comfortable having an even temp with a circulated air...no more hot or cold spots! I ordered it last Sunday (online) and would have had it in 4 days, but they actually ran out. They got more in stock Tuesday and shipped mine out the same afternoon. Today, March 20 is the expected delivery date and it looks like it should arrive anytime. Wouldn't you know last week someone was selling 2 HovaBators on Craigs List for $60 each.

Oh well, just so I don't get a lemon, I'm happy that I'll have my own incubator. And I plan to keep my friends' bator until she asks for it back-hehe! It is a still air so that will make a perfect hatcher for lockdown!

Regarding silkie toes: The breeder I got these resent eggs from said she hasn't had chicks with bad toes for many years. She is on her 8th generation of silkies, so I don't expect to have an issue with any of the chicks that hatch. Oh, she said the judges basically look to see if there are 5 distinct toe bones, so I'm happy that at least Shadow (who is a dark blue roo, I think) will still make a great daddy!

Ummmm, I need to excuse myself...the UPS truck is here...

 

[wholewheatchicken]

I ordered the Hova Bator from Stromberg's. There is an ad button on the BYC homepage, but I actually shopped around on the internet and decided to go with them since the shipping is free and felt it was the overall best price. It cost $144.50 no tax or shipping...remember, I returned my Cricut and MyStory Laminator in order to get the bator

. I think they had a still air model for $99, but I'm more comfortable having an even temp with a circulated air...no more hot or cold spots! I ordered it last Sunday (online) and would have had it in 4 days, but they actually ran out. They got more in stock Tuesday and shipped mine out the same afternoon. Today, March 20 is the expected delivery date and it looks like it should arrive anytime. Wouldn't you know last week someone was selling 2 HovaBators on Craigs List for $60 each.

Oh well, just so I don't get a lemon, I'm happy that I'll have my own incubator. And I plan to keep my friends' bator until she asks for it back-hehe! It is a still air so that will make a perfect hatcher for lockdown!

Regarding silkie toes: The breeder I got these resent eggs from said she hasn't had chicks with bad toes for many years. She is on her 8th generation of silkies, so I don't expect to have an issue with any of the chicks that hatch. Oh, she said the judges basically look to see if there are 5 distinct toe bones, so I'm happy that at least Shadow (who is a dark blue roo, I think) will still make a great daddy!

Ummmm, I need to excuse myself...the UPS truck is here...

Ummmm.....hello, Ms. Cali Chick. I happen to notice that it has been a few hours since Mr. UPS arrived at your doorstep and there is no update, no photos.......really, there is nothing. Are you holding out on us or are you just busy getting your bator going

 

[CALI CHICK]

Your second guess was exactly right....I was getting this baby put together and warmed up. It only says to stabilize temperature for half a day, so I'll move the silkie eggs into it tomorrow morning. It is holding a nice cozy 99-100 degree range. I filled one of the trays with water (in the new removable liner!) and the humidity is at 47%. That's a little higher than I like, so I'll remove some water tomorrow if it doesn't go lower on it's own. This is like playing with a new toy.

And, here is a picture of my 2362 model Hova Bator. Look and drool

! Strombergs included a nice catalog with my order. They have this model for $98 without the turners or you can get a still air (no turner either) for $68.

 

[wholewheatchicken]

Your second guess was exactly right....I was getting this baby put together and warmed up. It only says to stabilize temperature for half a day, so I'll move the silkie eggs into it tomorrow morning. It is holding a nice cozy 99-100 degree range. I filled one of the trays with water (in the new removable liner!) and the humidity is at 47%. That's a little higher than I like, so I'll remove some water tomorrow if it doesn't go lower on it's own. This is like playing with a new toy.

And, here is a picture of my 2362 model Hova Bator. Look and drool

! Strombergs included a nice catalog with my order. They have this model for $98 without the turners or you can get a still air (no turner either) for $68.

U,la,la.....that is one nice looking bator you have there. How many eggs does it hold? I'm going to go over and look at it and think about buying myself one. I wonder if I could get it here ASAP. My Catdance silkie eggs should be here in the morning and my Ameraucanas should be here Thursday or Friday and I need all the help I can get to get these eggs to turn into chicks and pop out of that shell.
My RIR eggs are weighing too much and the silkie eggs look like they are doing good. I don't think I can help the Reds at this point as lockdown is in three days. I hope they do not drown. Wet chicks would at least be alive chicks and that would be okay. I am very, very nervous.
Did I tell anyone that my Ameraucana egg that I thought was a quitter was a swimmer today????? That cute little baby must have been sleeping last night when I was peeking in there! I'm going to call it Joker if it's not careful!
Okay....I'm off to look at this Hova Bator.
Congragulations!!!!!!!!! Oh, and I love that chicken tablecloth you have there. Are you sure you're really a California girl? I'm going to have to move you to Texas or something like that

 

[CALI CHICK]

Glad you noticed the tablecloth. It's just a vinyl one from Walmart, but the theme and colors work in my kitchen.