Setting eggs on FEB 10

[Bellurd]

I'm going to have to look into this more. I'm part of "The Los Angeles Urban Chicken Enthusiasts" but they only hold educational meetings it seems. I joined because I was hoping they'd have swaps.

In regards to your temp Emi... I had the thermometer on my Brinsea staying put at 99.5 but my little digital hydrometer was bouncing around from 98.8 to 99.3. I have no idea which one was actually accurate. But if the hydrometer was right then the low temp worked well for me. Maybe try the cooling thing too? After the first week, my brinsea would turn it's heater off for 1 - 2 hours and the temp would drop to the 80's, even 70's sometimes. They said it results in a better hatch rate.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Bellurd, I bet you have some swaps, you might just have to drive a little ways to get to them. We have to go 45 minutes to get to our nearest swap Of course, mostly I just sell my extra poultry on craigslist and Facebook groups.

The swap meets here are about 45 minutes away to whichever isn't bad to us. We are use to driving. Thankfully we have a thriving bookoo.com for selling.

I wanted to thank you guys for hatching with me again, because since the last time I'm really scared about hatching, and it's really nice to have people to talk to and hatch with

No, thank you!! Its funner to have someone else to hatch with! Not to mention as a stay at home mom I don't get out much these days si its nice to something to do and someone to talk to that isn't 3.

 

[CowgirlHC]

This hatch hasn't started so well! I'm already feared it will be a bust :-( We made sure everything was in order, played w/ the temp/humidity/plugs, etc and thought we had it down. I put my unit inside the 'bator that read both temp and humidity and felt we had it good. The unit sat around the level of mid ways on the eggs once in the turner. I put the probe portion at the bottom of the egg and the one that came with the 'bator on top of the eggs. Temp looked good til we put the eggs in and set the thermometers the same way and started OK, then when the turner kicked in it altered the temp because it moved the thermometers. Bad thing is, it took us a day to figure out why the flucuation cause, so we had a few dips down to around 97-98 and a few spikes around 102, but I know the internal temp didn't hit that because it's when the turner moved and caused the thermometer to raise towards the element. All I can do is watch it close and pray. We've had a crazy heat wave here in WV, which I'm happy for, but it really played a role, too, even being in a room rarely affected by much temp changes. We've been watching closely, the longest time anything could have happened would be like 3-4 hours before being caught, but now I don't think it was accurate because it kept being moved. AGH! Poor eggies :-( I ended up taking out the unit itself and just putting the little wire end in there and we try to keep it around mid ways level in comparison to the eggs, but when the turner moves, so does it. I "think" we got it right where we need it, but I'm still worried. The mercury thermometer wasn't very accurate, but it did get all of my chicks to about 15-18 days of age before they didn't develop any further. For something supposedly so convenient as an egg turner it may have caused me these poor chickies and I'll never forgive myself. I'm taking it out and putting the eggs in an altered carton for hatching, so here's to hoping. We will candle next Saturday to see.

 

[bugglesmommy]

I'm not feeling the hatching luck right now either. It took me ages to stabilize at 100°. My humidity is being a pain. At least I have eggs shipping Monday and a new incubator arriving Tuesday if on schedule. I'm hoping to win the drizzle Polish auction to. They are only 4 hours away so a lot less transit.

 

[CowgirlHC]

And after candling before setting, my 2 swedish hen eggs one had a hairline crack the other had a detached air cell I think, but I talked to the guy and he said go ahead and set them and candle to determine on day 7-8 and go from there. All I can do is watch and wait now. I don't see any more eggs in my future til I can get this thing regulated better. The turner is what has it all screwed up it seems, and I can't get 2 thermometers to agree.

 

[bugglesmommy]

And after candling before setting, my 2 swedish hen eggs one had a hairline crack the other had a detached air cell I think, but I talked to the guy and he said go ahead and set them and candle to determine on day 7-8 and go from there.  All I can do is watch and wait now.  I don't see any more eggs in my future til I can get this thing regulated better.  The turner is what has it all screwed up it seems, and I can't get 2 thermometers to agree.

Did you patch the crack with anything? I think they are more likely to explode and ruin other good eggs.

 

[my sunwolf]

Did you patch the crack with anything? I think they are more likely to explode and ruin other good eggs.

I agree, I would definitely patch the crack with wax, but it does still put the rest of the hatch in jeopardy regardless. And don't worry, as long as the spikes don't last too long (an hour) your eggs can still be okay! I'm going to find my lucky rock and knock on some wood for this hatch

Would be nice if I could speed up the days, though... worrying about these eggs is all I seem to be able to do. I have the temp set at 99.9˚F and it's steady between 99.2˚ and 99.6˚ (my incubator is pretty good about not going too high). Humidity is all over the place... was at 33% most of the day, dipped to 17, added water and then it was at 42. The eggs are so pretty sitting in the turner; I've got browns, creams, and blues in there now and they're really fun to look at.

 

[CowgirlHC]

The crack wasn't all the way through and I did not pack it, maybe I better do that tonight. How do you do it with wax just heat some up and drip it on? That won't cause problems inside the egg?

 

[bugglesmommy]

I'be read things here and there about patched/ patching eggs but I haven't tried patching or incubating a cracked egg myself. The oonly egg I have had crack was a quail egg before setting them...so I ate it. I didn't want the headache when I still had 22 good ones. Sorry I don't have more advice.

 

[my sunwolf]

I'm pretty short on advice too. I know you wouldn't want the wax too hot. Maybe melt it, let it cool almost to room temp but not harden up, and then smear some over the crack. Has got to be non-toxic, though. I've also heard you can do the same with a non-toxic crayon if it's made out of real wax.

On the incubation front, I just discovered yesterday that my egg turner wasn't plugged in for this hatch

So I've already gotten off to a pretty terrible start this time around.

My cat's been sitting in the same room as the incubator, staring at it, waiting to hear those irresistible peeps coming from inside the styrofoam... she's a little early, but I hope she won't be disappointed.