Setting Eggs 12/28 - Hatching Buddies? Hatch-Along

[OR4-hmom]

I'm on the other side of the curve.

When I candled last night the air sacks where about 3/8". I'm not due to lock down until Wed. Looks like 75% survival rate now.
I increased humidity to 50%, I'm afraid of drying them out to much.

 

[eggorthechicken]

well we can compare notes at hatch time.... iI should get some hatching Wednesday as well. I emptied out the well so ill put it in lockdown tomorrow and see what happens. cross fingers.

 

[hokankai]

That is why I like the weight tracking method. But yes if your air cells are too small (have you compared to pictures and diagrams?) then lower humidity for the last few days. If they're too large add water.

If your air cells are too small, then you can bump back lockdown too until the chicks have pipped internally, and then you need to up the humidity to 70%. You don't want to increase humidity for eggs that already have too much water, that's how you drown chicks.

Check out the lockdown section of this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/577310/a-guide-to-humidity-weighing-and-lockdown#post_7493364

 

[hokankai]

Just weighed everyone and all but one were 2 grams too heavy. I'm not adding any water unless it drops below 25% to try and get them to lose water. Average I've been seeing when I go down there is about 37%.

 

[eggorthechicken]

Thanks for the info! I'll take a look.

 

[DraigAthar]

That is why I like the weight tracking method. But yes if your air cells are too small (have you compared to pictures and diagrams?) then lower humidity for the last few days. If they're too large add water.

If your air cells are too small, then you can bump back lockdown too until the chicks have pipped internally, and then you need to up the humidity to 70%. You don't want to increase humidity for eggs that already have too much water, that's how you drown chicks.

Check out the lockdown section of this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/577310/a-guide-to-humidity-weighing-and-lockdown#post_7493364

I love that article, SO helpful. I'm going to time lockdown this hatch for whenever the majority of the eggs have hit the correct weight. So far we're on track still! Still have a good full gram variance on either side of the mean, but each egg seems to be progressing at a steady rate at least.

 

[chicken pickin]

Yes I understand. I have a heat lamp with a 150 watt red bulb I used last time in incubating my ducklings. I brood them in the house. I was just not all that happy with them being in the light 24 hours a day.

Can I ask where you bought a 150w red bulb? I need one and TSC doesnt sell them.

 

[chicken pickin]

double post sorry

 

[Sphinx]

That lavender orp baby is so cute!


I'm getting really excited for this hatch. As of two days ago, all seven of mine were wiggling. After I get the kids off to school, I'll probably candle again.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Most of our hardware supply stores carry the red lights, you might try your feed store. I think I saw them in Wal-mart also in the light bulb area. I usually brood inside and have a harder time finding the smaller wattage bulbs. I have a couple smaller ones I found in the reptile section at feed store.