Set Jan 29, Hatch Feb 19/20 Join Me!

[fivestring]

I am setting eggs this evening (Jan 29). I will set 41 eggs in a Little Giant equipped with a computer fan and egg turner.

This is my first ever attempt. I would like some folks to join in on this hatch date. I know I will have many questions along the way and maybe we can help each other.

Please join in. It should be an adventure!

 

[milleryardchx]

I'm setting eggs this evening too! about 3 dozen eggs

What breeds are you setting?

I have Delaware, blue wheaten Amerucuans, and standard size golden laced cochin and a 3 of my bcm hens eggs

 

[milleryardchx]

I have 12 Blue Wheaten Ameraucana eggs! from Pasfinofarm all perfect

Then i have 14 golden laced Cochin from ebay all perfect!

Then I have 12 Delaware, 2 of my BCM hens eggs, and 1 Trader Joes free range chicken egg for kicks. My egg turner is filled to capacity. OHH my hubby wont be happy when he sees everyone in the incubator

 

[nuts4chickens]

I just set 16 dutch bantam eggs from robin416, 15 d'uccle eggs from ebay, and 6 mixed sp cochin bantams from my coop.I'm using a suro rcom 20 incubator I have been looking for dutch eggs for forever, so I am extra nervous and eggcited! I hope it goes well

 

[fivestring]

I just got done setting my eggs. 41 total. They are gonna be some interstin' birds if they hatch. My main roo is a blue orp and he is HUGE! My only other roo is a delaware but he doesn't get much action because of the orp roo.

My hens are (in order of numbers) delaware, rhode island red, americauna, barred rock, maran, blue rock, buff orp, polish/rir mix. I can tell the maran, and americauna's eggs but the rest are all brown layers. Along with that, not knowing for sure who da baby' daddy, each hatch should be a surprise!

So you see, I should have a big flock of mutts for the most part. I am looking to have some new hens for laying and replacing aging hens and any roos will be raised and cooked.

Oh, and you might be able to see the temp is at 95°. It is moving up. Like I said, I just set the eggs about 45 minute ago.

Here's the bottle I will use to add water without opening the lid. Just run the hose through a vent hole, past the eggs and turner tray and gently squeeze...

 

[nuts4chickens]

So today is day 1 for me. 38 bantam eggs total... dutch, d'uccles, and cochin mix. This my third time. I used a hovabator last 2 times and had 65% hatch rate... which was a miracle because they were shipped eggs... AND I candled every single day... (wanted to learn)... AND the power went out TWICE for 4 hours BOTH times.

All the chicks were strong and no post hatch deaths. This time, I'm using a Suro 20 and I am only opening to candle on day 7 and 10 because I really really want to get at least a few out of these.

Suro is working like a charm... holds temp EXACTLY at 99.5. The manual says to set humidity at the 40-45% range, but I read banties need a slightly higher humidity so I set it to 50%. Do you think that's too high?

I was thinking about bumping up the temp to 99.8 and taking the humidity down to 47%? Should I adjust it, or just leave it alone?

Also, I am wondering if candling every day was actually beneficial last time... hens get up off their eggs for 10-20mins every day to eat... maybe thats good for the incubator, too? Dumb question? Since this incubator is all digital it takes all the guesswork out so I can adjust it by the press of a button and within 30 seconds... its where I want it to be. Pretty cool...

 

[fivestring]

nuts4chickens, those Suro20 incubators look real nice! I hope you have a great hatch. I can't give any recommendations on your humidity settings or temp. I have read a good bit on incubating and most say to leave them alone as much as possible, so I am going to candle mine on day 7 or 8 and maybe once around day 13-15 and that's it.

It took me 24 hours to get my temp stabilized after placing the eggs. My temp was very stable for several days before. But I think I finally have it regulated at 99.6. It has held that number for about 3 hours now.

Now, hopefully I can just keep an eye on the humidity and add a little water once a day or so without the temp spiking or dipping.

 

[nuts4chickens]

I LOVE the Suro so far. We'll see how she does. I hope she's not just a fancy looking hunk of junk. I'm not going to open my incubator until day 7 either. I dont want to take any chances. I really really want these babies to hatch! These are my first REAL eggs. I did bump up the temp to 99.8 and took the humidity down a hair. It is going to be a loooong 7 days. I hope I can make it that long. I might need an incubator intervention!

 

[SilkieBaby]

Fivestring, good luck with your hatch!!!!


I'll be setting eggs next week.....got Buff & Black Orps coming. It's gonna be my first hatch too. I've had the bator going for the last couple of days trying to get the temp and humidity right and trying to make sure that I know that I'm adjusting it just right. Nerves are just about to get the best of me and the eggs are not even here yet. I'll be a basketcase before this is over with....... Glad that my BYC friends are here to help.

 

[fivestring]

silkiebaby, best of luck with yours, too. But you need to wait till day 18 or so to get nervous! lol

What kind of incubator are you using?