Setting eggs today, 6-30-12...anyone else want to join in the fun???

[Cats Cradle]

Is it too late to join in - I set my first dozen eggs on June 28th in the afternoon. They are bantams (silver spangled hamburgs). I probably should have used eggs from my backyard laying flock first to learn the tricks of using my incubator, but I really really wanted these hamburgs. I've got 6 more being mailed out soon so I will have one more chance right away.

So far I have five that are still in the bator. I'm using a Hova-bator, model 2362N. Has anyone ever used this model? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome! The more the merrier!!!

I LOVE the silver spangled pattern!!!! I will be drooling over your chicks when they hatch!!! (I do NOT need more chickens... I do NOT need more chickens... I do NOT need more chickens...Do you think this is working?...I don't feel convinced yet! I do Not need more chickens...)

I have an old Hovabator Genesis that I just love... it's a 1588. Tell me about yours. What features does it have? Fan or still air?

 

[InTheJungle]

Cats Cradle is right...they will hatch, but they will not be sex links. They will probably be lovely and lay lots of nice brown eggs. I agree...go for it and smile. Perhaps he is thinking of hybrids like mixing mules, donkeys and horses...I believe those mixes come out sterile because they are not the same species.

While I like some of the heritage breeds, I can tell you that my red star/red commet/ cinnamon queen/ production red/ red sex link...what ever you want to call them...I have two of them...Thelma and Louise, they are the friendliest girls and lay an egg a day like clockwork. They are good foragers and are always moving around looking for food other than from the feed tub. So I think they have a better feed to egg ratio than some of my other girls.

My two are also named Thelma and Louise! we got our second egg today, and into the incubator it went. hey I am dying to try an experiment. if I took an egg from a store bought carton, and let it warm to room temp, and put it into the bator, does anyone think there is a chance it will hatch? I got the idea when I cooked myself some eggs for dinner. I'm actually afraid to to try it. But has anyone attempted it and had any luck?

We are expanding our coop right now. we discovered a flaw. if I were to open the back to check nest boxes, what's going to stop escapees? so now we are expanding the run an additional 8 ft sq to enclose the little house too. I feel so lost when it comes to building. and I'm neurologically disturbed which makes things harder. bi-polar, depression, anxiety, the whole nine yards and my animals help me relax and be happy again.

 

[InTheJungle]

Oh, Thelma and Louise feel thin to me. is this normal? what else shouls I be doing? they get Southern states maintenance diet (just switched from Dumor) I mix in a little Dumor Layer pellets, and Pennington Ultra Nut & Fruit Blend wild bird food. plus a handful of grit. My 13 year old daughter collects sweet clover and sweet grass (fish shaped) and the chickens and ducks just love it. and when we mow the yard, we use the bag on the mower first, and fill it three times and spread that inside the run and the chickens go crazy over the fresh grass. Plus my neighbor brings over weeds from her garden. I just ran out of dried mealworms I had also been mixing in their food. They have 2 containers of water, one hold 1 gal of water, the other holds 2 and depending how muddy the ducks make it, it gets changed AT LEAST once a day.

Is there anything else I should be providing?

 

[gvolkert]

Welcome! The more the merrier!!!

I LOVE the silver spangled pattern!!!! I will be drooling over your chicks when they hatch!!! (I do NOT need more chickens... I do NOT need more chickens... I do NOT need more chickens...Do you think this is working?...I don't feel convinced yet! I do Not need more chickens...)

I have an old Hovabator Genesis that I just love... it's a 1588. Tell me about yours. What features does it have? Fan or still air?

Thanks for the warm welcome - I'll be sure to post pics when my spangled hamburg hatch. I've been dreaming of this breed for 2-3 years now. But of course there are others that I've got my thoughts on as well....

My Hovabator is a 2362N, its got an auto-turner and a fan. I'm using a digital reptile thermometer and hydrometer combo unit that has probes that are inside the bator. So far the thing I am most worried about is the humidity as unless I add water everyday it falls below 30%.

 

[Cats Cradle]

My two are also named Thelma and Louise! we got our second egg today, and into the incubator it went. hey I am dying to try an experiment. if I took an egg from a store bought carton, and let it warm to room temp, and put it into the bator, does anyone think there is a chance it will hatch? I got the idea when I cooked myself some eggs for dinner. I'm actually afraid to to try it. But has anyone attempted it and had any luck?

You'd probably be better off collecting eggs and then starting a batch. That will make it way easier for lockdown! Also, the chicks do better with some friends!

There are some fertile eggs sold at stores, but they are generally labeled as such. Seach for "Trader Joes" and you'll find some interesting threads with successful hatches! Hey... you can get your batch that way! (Sorry... I am a chicken enabler!)

 

[Cats Cradle]

Thanks for the warm welcome - I'll be sure to post pics when my spangled hamburg hatch. I've been dreaming of this breed for 2-3 years now. But of course there are others that I've got my thoughts on as well....

My Hovabator is a 2362N, its got an auto-turner and a fan. I'm using a digital reptile thermometer and hydrometer combo unit that has probes that are inside the bator. So far the thing I am most worried about is the humidity as unless I add water everyday it falls below 30%.

I looked up you incubator and it is actually very similar to mine. I think about the only diferences are mine has a bigger window for viewing, and yours I think has a temp adjustment on top which looks easier to use than mine. If yours holds temps as steady as mine does you'll love it!!!

All I used at first was the little thermometer that came with mine and I just followed the directions for filling the water tray... keep one channel filled on days 1-18, then fill second channel and lockdown. I've always had great hatches with mine, so I'll bet you'll love yours too!!!

For your humidity, it is surface area that matters. I think your plastic tray is probably exactly like mine... basically two channels and a few little other areas. Are you having to fill more than one channel? I fill one and I'm good for days. But, I'm in VA and it's humid here. If you are in a dry area then you'll obviously go through more water. However... a word of caution. Hygrometers are notoriously inaccurate. So if your gut tells you one thing and the hygrometer disagrees...

Can you believe we're only 2 days from lockdown??? (For those of us who set on the 28th anyway.) Almost there!!!

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

I am using a Brinsea Octogon 20 Advance with the humidity pump. I candled last night and removed three of the silkie/showgirl eggs. I am not quite sure about one of the shizzle eggs, so I left it in there. I can't decide if I am going to candle again at lock down or not. For me, hatch date will be Friday. I am looking forward to that, but then my incubator is going to get put away for a bit.

I also have another Brinsea, the 40...depending on how many I have I incubate in one and hatch in the other. They are pretty much set and forget incubators. I love them both.

 

[InTheJungle]

Grrr trying to open on my iPad and I forgot my password!!! I think we may be running into town shortly so I will be checking cartons. I'm on my iPhone because i don't feel like turning on my laptop.

Egg#3 arrived today it's another small one. Do you think the small ones have a chance of hatching? Do you guys candle your brown eggs? Or do you just take your chances?

I put a sun conure egg in the incubator too I'm sick of Tai tai laying on the floor of her cage and breaking them! I thought it would fall thought the hole in the tray but it fits perfect.

And I made sure all pointed ends are down!!!!

 

[lareynadenada]

Grrr trying to open on my iPad and I forgot my password!!! I think we may be running into town shortly so I will be checking cartons. I'm on my iPhone because i don't feel like turning on my laptop.
Egg#3 arrived today it's another small one. Do you think the small ones have a chance of hatching? Do you guys candle your brown eggs? Or do you just take your chances?
I put a sun conure egg in the incubator too I'm sick of Tai tai laying on the floor of her cage and breaking them! I thought it would fall thought the hole in the tray but it fits perfect.
And I made sure all pointed ends are down!!!!

My last hatch was mostly small eggs from young hens and they did great, chick were small but caught up in size within a week

 

[Cats Cradle]

I am using a Brinsea Octogon 20 Advance with the humidity pump. I candled last night and removed three of the silkie/showgirl eggs. I am not quite sure about one of the shizzle eggs, so I left it in there. I can't decide if I am going to candle again at lock down or not. For me, hatch date will be Friday. I am looking forward to that, but then my incubator is going to get put away for a bit.

I also have another Brinsea, the 40...depending on how many I have I incubate in one and hatch in the other. They are pretty much set and forget incubators. I love them both.

You have TWO Brinseas??? OK... I am officially jealous!!!