setting eggs tonight!! anyone else?

[Corg33]

Does that thing have any kind of viewing window?

 

[CALI CHICK]

Does that thing have any kind of viewing window?

Not exactly a "viewing window", but it has 2 1/2 inch circle on the top to look at the thermometer. I can turn the lid around to get a little peek at the eggs too. Plus, I'm turning the lid to balance out the hot spots. Without turning the adjustment screw (on top) I am getting readings of 99-100 for the last few hours. If the temp is low, I turn the lid so it's over the cool area or put tape over a vent hole. If it gets up to 102, I take all the tape off the holes. I always leave one or two vent holes clear.

What does your incubator look like and how do you regulate temperature in it? It's about time to turn these eggs for the first time (biting nails!). I hate to lift the lid because it might take over an hour to get the temps back to 99/100.

 

[Corg33]

OMG that would drive me crazy not being able to see the eggs and not to mention when they start to hatch or will you have a separate hatcher?
Mine looks like this. It was a little giant still air but I added the fan kit to make it a forced air.


Another Blood ring


This one looked clear yesterday but when I opened it it looked like a day 5 quitter was in it. the embryo was in between the middle of the air cell. The air cell looked kind of split. I know its hard to see but this is the best pic I could get. Also made me decide to leave the other clear ones alone because they could have formed the same way and thats why I can not see them when I candle.


Edit to add that is the same egg in both pics

 

[CALI CHICK]

Yep-I'm going crazy not being able to see. But on the other hand, maybe I won't be as tempted to candle as much. (Out of sight-out of mind?) Right now I hate to open the lid for anything but turning so hopefully I can keep that up. When I did turn, it surprized me and only dropped to 97 and then got back up to 99/100 in about 20 minutes.

I am strongly considering borrowing another incubator for hatching. Another friend just mentioned she had one. I don't know what kind it is, but I'm pretty sure it has a window that we could observe better than this old Brower! I really like your incubator -love the 2 windows. What kind is it again? Maybe I will actually invest in one someday. For now our goal is to hatch out at least 7 show quality silkies since buying them is too expensive right now. Plus, incubating eggs is part of my son's science curriculum this year, so it's nice that we get to experience it first hand.

BTW-that picture of the blood ring is another excellent photo. I know just what to look for next week. I hope you don't find anymore. Aren't most of your eggs shipped too?

 

[Corg33]

all of my eggs are shipped and my incubator is the little giant but im thinking of getting this one
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/620840/new-style-hova-bator

 

[CALI CHICK]

WOW

That's a Cadillac of incubators. I want one too...but I don't 'need' one. This is my first hatch and I don't know if I could handle doing another one. I'll stick to the borrowed bators for now. Although, I might change my mind depending on the results I get.

Do you plan to incubate lots more chickens?

 

[Corg33]

I will be incubating more eggs. I'm going to build my flock from eggs I hatch. But how often I hatch will depend on if I have homes for the extras. Right now I do. Yay!

 

[CALI CHICK]

I'm thinking there are 4 "high-pressure" times of incubating -besides the day to day anxiety of checking hum/temp.

1st-Day 1 Setting the chicks and getting the humidity and temp regulated to start with.
2nd-Days 7-10 Checking for development, blood rings, clear eggs...
3rd-Day 18 Lockdown
4th-Day 21 Hatch day

So, why on the beginning of my Day 2 am I still stressed and literally sick to my stomach. I'm finishing my second cup of ginger tea trying to recover from a sleepless night. I checked the 'bator' about 6 times last night. The only real change was a low reading of 97* around 3 or 4 AM. The eggs were huddled together like a clutch of eggs under a hen, so they should be fine.

Yesterday I went to Walmart and bought some of those handwarmers and little jars of babyfood (add hot water and place in bator). I thought if the power goes out again, I want to have some type of heat source. My DH said he might have a power inverter for the truck too, so I could plug the incubator into that in an emergency.

How are your eggs doing LaynaDon and Corg? You guys are over a week ahead of me and seem to have sort of settled into this hatch business. You are 1/3 of the way done!

I'm still stressing and fretting.

 

[LaynaDon95]

You'll settle in, Cali.
I was on my toes for the first few days! I had to force myself to keep my hands off of them.
You have nice set up from what I can see.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Ok, totally off topic, but I had to share with you two! Our chicken coop is starting to look like a building! I'm sooooo excited! Apparently our leghorn is excited to, because she laid twice yesterday.