Setting up the bator and setting shipped eggs this week....anyone else wanna join?

[delisha]

I think it depends on your humidity, where you live, the incubator you use, the health of thee chicks, the breed you are hatching, shipped or homegrown eggs, and if you can keep your hands out of the incubator. There are many variables to a successful hatch. You need to do what works for your environment. Finding that key is the hard part. Experimenting with each hatch is a great idea.

I am going to have problems with this hatch..I can tell already. I have two shipments of eggs in the bator, one is LF the other is Bantam. They are progressing differently. I was told Silkies hatch early, mine are going to be late. They need less humidity, my LF need more. I am trying to work it out, and, I do not have another incubator.

 

[Gallina Sarda]

Thanks so much for all the answers! I had already cut the cartons down and removed their bottoms before setting the eggs in them. I do like the idea of it being neater and less chance of chicks kicking others about - no need to encourage day old bullies, lol. Maybe I'll divide the eggs just to see if it makes a difference. A little experiment on my first hatch.

Any pips hapenning out there?

 

[delisha]

No pips..mine are not ready..

I do not think I will have chicks till Friday

 

[chickenlickin8]

Thanks so much for all the answers! I had already cut the cartons down and removed their bottoms before setting the eggs in them. I do like the idea of it being neater and less chance of chicks kicking others about - no need to encourage day old bullies, lol. Maybe I'll divide the eggs just to see if it makes a difference. A little experiment on my first hatch.

Any pips hapenning out there?

No pips over here either. Day 21 is Friday but I'm hoping for an early bird to pip tonight or tomorrow maybe.

I'm having a little trouble keeping the humidity at 60% +, it's at 57% right now and I added a wet sponge.

What does everyone use to raise your humidity?

 

[delisha]

sponges work..or wet paper towels..I do not worry about humidity unless I have large air cells. I have normal high humidity with out adding moisture. I think I will be loosing many to drowning. Tiny air cells with no water added at all. Tons of moisture in the egg.

 

[chickenlickin8]

sponges work..or wet paper towels..I do not worry about humidity unless I have large air cells. I have normal high humidity with out adding moisture. I think I will be loosing many to drowning. Tiny air cells with no water added at all. Tons of moisture in the egg.

Sorry to hear that. I hope they don't drown. So you think my humidity is ok at 57% or so with a wet sponge in there? I know on hatch day it will increase naturally with hatching eggs.

 

[fishermans wife]

No pips over here either. Day 21 is Friday but I'm hoping for an early bird to pip tonight or tomorrow maybe.

I'm having a little trouble keeping the humidity at 60% +, it's at 57% right now and I added a wet sponge.

What does everyone use to raise your humidity?

I am having the exact same numbers for humidity! It is running just under 60% - and I just added more water to try to get it up! This is the first time I have had that issue! Fortunately I have small holes in the bottom of my bator that the tip of a syringe fits into, so I put water in that way! I will try a wet paper towel if I can't get it to stabilize at 60%.

No pips yet....but it is early! This is the hardest part! Wish you could see what was going on in the egg. I read recently that it is better for them to hatch on time than too early - they will have less problems. I have only hatched 2 other times, but they usually pip day 19 and hatched day 20 for me.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Look at your air cells..than determine if you need more. If you have good air cells..leave it be till they pip

 

[chickenlickin8]

I am having the exact same numbers for humidity! It is running just under 60% - and I just added more water to try to get it up! This is the first time I have had that issue! Fortunately I have small holes in the bottom of my bator that the tip of a syringe fits into, so I put water in that way! I will try a wet paper towel if I can't get it to stabilize at 60%.

No pips yet....but it is early! This is the hardest part! Wish you could see what was going on in the egg. I read recently that it is better for them to hatch on time than too early - they will have less problems. I have only hatched 2 other times, but they usually pip day 19 and hatched day 20 for me.

Hopefully we will have good hatches anyway. This is my 4th hatch and I had bantam eggs pip on Day 19 last time and LF eggs pipped on Day 20 then hatched on Day 21...waiting is the worst part. Bator watching like crazy....LOL!

Look at your air cells..than determine if you need more. If you have good air cells..leave it be till they pip

Air Cells look good so I will just be patient...HA....It's so hard being patient...lol!

 

[fishermans wife]

So this must be what dad's felt like in the waiting room before they allowed them to be with the mother when she was giving birth!

I think I look in the bator about every 10 minutes!! I just caught myself putting my ear against it hoping to hear SOMETHING!