SET EGGS JUNE 23 ANYONE WITH ME?

[WRVgirl]

I guess we made it through the night!

No peeps here either.

Temp is at 99.5, it was sitting right at 100 when I work up and the humidity was at 77%. The book I have on hatching chickens said that 75-80% is the optimal humidity during lockdown so I'm right in the middle and that's what I'll strive for. I'm at 77% with only the water rings filled, I had to remove the bowls of water because I had been sitting at 95% while they were in there [only a few minutes] hopefullly I didn't damage any babies

Kind of bummed though, I forgot that once I lock down, I can't candle anymore! I've been candling nightly so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my evenings now that I can't check out the chicks

 

[WRVgirl]

I remember my first hatch, I set 15, locked down 5 and had one hatch. You are doing great with your hatch if you're putting that many in lockdown. If you get hatch fever like I did, I'm guessing this will not be your last go at it. I am setting my 8th hatch this week since January. My first hatch, I had trouble knowing if I was seeing anything when candling on day 8, now I can tell on day 2-3 if they are going to develop. It gets easier the more you practice.

I don't think you will have any trouble if you boiled your water but it could cause a temp spike as boiling point is 212 F. I usually just let my water run hot out of the faucet to add. The bowl idea is great as it is easy access to add to. Good luck.

Unfortunately, if I end up with 17 babies, I won't be allowed to hatch anymore. My husband said we can only have 6 chickens...I have 4 and now the possibilities of 17 babies...I might be a single chicken women here soon [

]

If this goes well, I may put an ad in the paper and offer to hatch other peoples eggs for free. It'll give me experience.

I ended up just using hot tap water, but on top of the pre-existing water rings, it was too much, so I removed them.

 

[Roxannemc]

HI I just put mine in lockdown and forgot to warm the water Now it got cool in there opening it up and the water and i opened again and added somewarm water and added warm rags around the eggs then added a dry rag in one spot as it will get too humid i am sure..Geez mess up at the last minute.Should have waited until iwas all the way awake.Anxious.The temp is coming up 97.5 now hope it is ok to be low for an hour or so Went to 96.6!!GUCK.
My humidity is now 75 and the temp is slowly coming up 97.5 now.Guess i could squirt hot water on m y dry rag to help get it up but then too much humidity.GEEZ.Dont know what to do.Put a thread up to ask hope some old timer is on.

Well closed the one hole up,hated to do it but no other way toget the temp up... and upped the temp and now its at 98.5...Not too worried there.Will have to ajust the temp now though b/c i messed with it a lot. WHEW i am all shaky-ish.Now its 99.3 just minutes later. Took off the cover on the hole again. Hope being low for an hour didnt mess them up .Will see in a day or 2

Anxious to hear about everyone elses.

 

[Roxannemc]

Unfortunately, if I end up with 17 babies, I won't be allowed to hatch anymore. My husband said we can only have 6 chickens...I have 4 and now the possibilities of 17 babies...I might be a single chicken women here soon [

]

If this goes well, I may put an ad in the paper and offer to hatch other peoples eggs for free. It'll give me experience.

I ended up just using hot tap water, but on top of the pre-existing water rings, it was too much, so I removed them.

Put them up on Craigs I have good luck there selling my chickens. LOTS of ppl want older chicks too like 4 or 5 months old (DH might let you raise them to SELL???(thought)
I have a waiting list for any extra babies i have. Dont know how rare yours are but i would ask $3.50 at least for a baby .Rare more.Put an ad up RIGHT now,its free so whats t oloose ? and get a list going of interested ppl.ifyouwant to keep allyouget just tell them they havre to wait til next hatch..all these are sold.
And hatching someones eggs... first get a contract so that you arent repsponsible for any that DONT hatch.You never know with ppl If they buy the eggs spend $25 -$50 they may want their money back for any that dont hatch..especially those that cost a lot.
Then ask for a buck or 2 for each that does hatch or so much $ each egg put in the bator.
It cost electric and time and they might be happy to have someone else do it for them Some ppl are too busy for the time it takes to do this.I have seen ads that you can buy eggs from ppl and they will hatch them for you too
(Hope this isnt a hijack of a thread with this subject.).

 

[WRVgirl]

They are silkie eggs from Catdance Silkies [Karen] show flock, I'm expecting to see some pretty silkies from this hatch. I'm hoping to keep them for a couple months so that I can choose which ones I want for myself.

In other news, I just unplugged my second vent hole, so now I'm waiting for the temperature to settle before I go to the gym So excited for Friday!!!

 

[Roxannemc]

I guess we made it through the night!

No peeps here either.

Temp is at 99.5, it was sitting right at 100 when I work up and the humidity was at 77%. The book I have on hatching chickens said that 75-80% is the optimal humidity during lockdown so I'm right in the middle and that's what I'll strive for. I'm at 77% with only the water rings filled, I had to remove the bowls of water because I had been sitting at 95% while they were in there [only a few minutes] hopefullly I didn't damage any babies

Kind of bummed though, I forgot that once I lock down, I can't candle anymore! I've been candling nightly so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my evenings now that I can't check out the chicks

If you read 75-80 then that must be ok, I am at 73 humidity now i wish to be a little lower for mine ,it will have to drop itself.They say you have to go with what works for you so since their are so many conflicting things said i think you just have to try and see what happens like all the experienced ppl have wrote on here when i asked that question.Probably there is a variance that is ok from 65-80 All will work probably
yeah now we just sit for 3 days.Ihearsdsome peep in the egg at from 18 days to 21. I have been listening but havent heard a thing yet..

 

[walkswithdog]

I hate plugging vents. I keep a xenon under cabinet light ( flat like a hockey puck) with cord that I can plop into the incubator if the temps fall too low. They're a hot light and quickly bring up temps. Warning hot hot light. Never point one of those at eggs, plastic or foam walls I keep a jar of water in my big bator for thermal mass and point it at that. In smaller ones I have tile and can point it at that. It helps to have options. Luck!

 

[srd5757]

Well... this morning I go out to check on broody and babies and there is an egg with a lil one's head poped out of it, outside of the nest. Not sure if momma kicked it out of the nest after it had dies or if it died because it was outside of the nest. Poor lil guy.

 

[ChickSter99]

HI I just put mine in lockdown and forgot to warm the water Now it got cool in there opening it up and the water and i opened again and added somewarm water and added warm rags around the eggs then added a dry rag in one spot as it will get too humid i am sure..Geez mess up at the last minute.Should have waited until iwas all the way awake.Anxious.The temp is coming up 97.5 now hope it is ok to be low for an hour or so Went to 96.6!!GUCK.
My humidity is now 75 and the temp is slowly coming up 97.5 now.Guess i could squirt hot water on m y dry rag to help get it up but then too much humidity.GEEZ.Dont know what to do.Put a thread up to ask hope some old timer is on.

I'm not an old timer

but I put towels around mine and cover the windows. Leave the little hole uncovered for circulation. You'll be ok. My humidity is staying at 65%. I'm going to leave it there until I see pipping or hear peeping. Then, I'll bump it up to 75%. I don't really know if there is a wrong or right to this. I really think it's a trial and error sort of thing. I hate to say that because we are dealing with life, but that is really what it is. Mother nature handles the ones that are not going to make it no matter what and the strong ones will. You and your hatch will be just fine. Now, say the same thing to me so that I can feel the same way. lol.

 

[ChickSter99]

Well... this morning I go out to check on broody and babies and there is an egg with a lil one's head poped out of it, outside of the nest. Not sure if momma kicked it out of the nest after it had dies or if it died because it was outside of the nest. Poor lil guy.

so sorry.