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

[Gallina Sarda]

We got hit really bad with the snow storm..lost power.I wrapped the incubator really well.over 13 inches of snow..I am pretty sure the eggs are toast..I candled tonight and I do have some slight activity..I have one silkie that is still alive..but 8 are gone...:depressing..I should have left them in the incubator. I was afraid of them smothering.

- so sorry Delisha.

 

[Gallina Sarda]

Melinda - I'm so sorry to hear about your power loss. You still might have a chance though. Temp drops when a hen leaves the nest. What did the bator temp drop to?
Congrats on your first baby...take a pic for us to see.
Sometimes it takes a full 24-48 hours before they peck at starter food. Mine just started eating starter this morning. Try the great suggestions Melinda and Gloria Jean gave....good luck!

Good morning Justine,
I love the photo of all your fluffy babies - what a successful hatch - you go girl!
The lowest temp reading yesterday was 84deg. and that wasn't for terribly long. Today is supposed to be hatch day - I have a feeling that I will be bator sitting all day...
i found an interesting thread on BYC after the power came back on yesterday. "I'm incubating, what do i do if the power goes out?" It is sponsored by Brinsea and is very interesting... Worth a look for any of us that are expecting more bad weather.
I need to find my happy place and think positive thoughts - not typically a drama queen... this hatching thing has got me all wonky

 

[chickenlickin8]

We got hit really bad with the snow storm..lost power.I wrapped the incubator really well.over 13 inches of snow..I am pretty sure the eggs are toast..I candled tonight and I do have some slight activity..I have one silkie that is still alive..but 8 are gone...:depressing..I should have left them in the incubator. I was afraid of them smothering.

Vicki - I'm soooo sorry to hear about that. Cyber hugs coming your way! That storm effected so many people. It looked bad on TV. How are the orp babies? I know you will incubate again and have a great hatch!

SOOOOO happy, the little chick is drinking on it's own. I scared it when I yelled as it took a drink of water all by itself. I don't remember being this worried over my human kids when the were little....

YAY!! Glad the chick is doing so well now. Any other activity?

Hello All,

I have read this thread from start to finish and it's better than ANY book I've ever read! I was right there with you all in the excitement and anticipation! From ordering eggs to broody hens and having eggs delivered to first pips.....makes me want to buy or make an incubator and participate too.....I, however, can only have just a few hens and no roosters where I live, so I was thinking on buying pullets from my local feed store.

In the process of getting my coop and pen together, my hens will be under supervised free range.

I am kind of confused about incubators though....still air vs circulated air, humidity levels, pipping.....it is like giving birth all over again!! And then there's the expense of purchasing everything you need for a homemade incubator vs purchasing one. The whole humidity thing has me nervous. I live in Colorado where it's usually dry as a bone. We just got more snow (further hindering coop building).....

So should I or shouldn't I? I work out of my home so leaving incubating eggs is not a problem. I kind of like that incubator Gloria Jean is using.....input please.....anyone?

Pat, the "chook chick" from Colorado Springs, Colorado

Welcome! Thank you so much for read our thread. Join in and hatch when you are ready! I feel we were and are still all in it together and what an amazing experience it is...with highs and lows.

We all hatch a little different but I use a Little Giant Incubator. This was my 4th hatch and I found this to be my best hatch yet. I did still air with an egg turner. I kept the humidity around 50% til lockdown (Day 18) and slowly raised it to 60% for hatch day (Day 20 & 21) using a wet sponge in the corner. During the incubating period I didn't handle my eggs much, only twice (Day 7 & Day 10) to random candle for veining and signs of life growing. I candle again on Day 18 as I put the eggs in lockdown....clear eggs I toss at that point. Which I had 6 out of 41 eggs.

You will learn alot through trail and error, plus find alot of great advice and experience on this site. Also, you meet so many nice people from around the country at share a love for chickens as you and I do. I love it here and you will too!!

Good luck with finishing your coop and then getting or hatching chicks. Keep us updated. BYC is loaded with answers to all your questions. So many topics and threads to learn from.

 

[chickenlickin8]

Good morning Justine,
I love the photo of all your fluffy babies - what a successful hatch - you go girl!
The lowest temp reading yesterday was 84deg. and that wasn't for terribly long. Today is supposed to be hatch day - I have a feeling that I will be bator sitting all day...
i found an interesting thread on BYC after the power came back on yesterday. "I'm incubating, what do i do if the power goes out?" It is sponsored by Brinsea and is very interesting... Worth a look for any of us that are expecting more bad weather.
I need to find my happy place and think positive thoughts - not typically a drama queen... this hatching thing has got me all wonky

Good morning Melinda! Are you guys buried in snow up there? I hope, hope, hope you still have some pips today and hatch a few. I know what you mean...hatching is emotional!

Keep us posted and sending positive vibes through the net!

 

[chickenlickin8]

I've had two more pip, other eggs still wobbling around. Tomorrow is actually day 21,so hopefully we'll have more action then!

Any new hatchlings this morning? It's hatch day for you and Melinda (Gallina)! YAY! Good luck!!! I know you both will be bator watching today

My chicks need to be cleaned today...already! Plus the bator. Fun Sunday chores! I see wing feathers emerging on the chicks...growing fast at 2 days old!

 

[crazyhen]

When I went hunting for a bator I checked with lots of people who were older hatchers and they said if I wasn't going to hatch more than two dozen eggs at a time there was none better than the genises 1588 with the fan and electronic controls. It comes preset at 100. degrees. It is Styrofoam and requires some gentle handling to prevent damage. It holds the heat well. It has a large viewing area on top. I have tested the temp and humidity often with other thermometer and humidity checkers it is pretty close. My eggs usually hatch pretty close on time. I do not hatch in a barn or really cold area. I usually hatch in an area that is 68 degrees or better that is out of drafts. I also bought the turner that went with the hatcher, that way I do not have to keep opening and closing it. When I add water it is warmed distilled water. That way there is less chance of adding bacteria and of cooling the hatcher down.I hope this helps a bit. I will be setting more eggs next week. Yeah!!! the worry, and madness can resume. Now who can I push , ups, give my extra chicks too,

Gloria Jean

 

[mlmills79]

Up to five babies, today is officially my hatch day. up late last night and several times throughout the night watching some hatch! My four year old thinks it is the coolest thing ever! He is trying to convince me to keep at least one, we plan on selling them. We already have 19 hens and one rooster, not sure I want to mess with trying to raise one chick!

 

[Gallina Sarda]

yeah, we got some snow! That's Jordan's Suzuki and hubby's Bravada buried in a drift. When we started Jordan's little aero today we found that the entire area under the hood was packed full of snow!!! Never seen it blowing around so much in my 22 years in Maine - luckily we didn't have to go anywhere! Just kept by the wood stove and fretted over egglets!

I think I saw an egg move this morning - but could've been my imagination as nothing else has happened. Still hoping.
lol, just figured out that if I use my computer I have access to all the neat emoticons as everyone else,

 

[chickenlickin8]

When I went hunting for a bator I checked with lots of people who were older hatchers and they said if I wasn't going to hatch more than two dozen eggs at a time there was none better than the genises 1588 with the fan and electronic controls. It comes preset at 100. degrees. It is Styrofoam and requires some gentle handling to prevent damage. It holds the heat well. It has a large viewing area on top. I have tested the temp and humidity often with other thermometer and humidity checkers it is pretty close. My eggs usually hatch pretty close on time. I do not hatch in a barn or really cold area. I usually hatch in an area that is 68 degrees or better that is out of drafts. I also bought the turner that went with the hatcher, that way I do not have to keep opening and closing it. When I add water it is warmed distilled water. That way there is less chance of adding bacteria and of cooling the hatcher down.I hope this helps a bit. I will be setting more eggs next week. Yeah!!! the worry, and madness can resume. Now who can I push , ups, give my extra chicks too,

Gloria Jean

Funny lady...no more chicks for me..Thank you! I will be looking for home for at least half of mine. What's your address?

Up to five babies, today is officially my hatch day. up late last night and several times throughout the night watching some hatch! My four year old thinks it is the coolest thing ever! He is trying to convince me to keep at least one, we plan on selling them. We already have 19 hens and one rooster, not sure I want to mess with trying to raise one chick!

5 babies....YAY! I know what you mean....I will be selling over half of mine usually craiglist. They sell fast on there. Of course, I interview (interrogate) who takes them to make sure they understand how to care for chicks and grown chickens.

yeah, we got some snow! That's Jordan's Suzuki and hubby's Bravada buried in a drift. When we started Jordan's little aero today we found that the entire area under the hood was packed full of snow!!! Never seen it blowing around so much in my 22 years in Maine - luckily we didn't have to go anywhere! Just kept by the wood stove and fretted over egglets!

I think I saw an egg move this morning - but could've been my imagination as nothing else has happened. Still hoping.

lol, just figured out that if I use my computer I have access to all the neat emoticons as everyone else,

WOW, look at all that snow! I would hate to shovel that. We've been in FL 10 yrs now from WA State and my hubby doesn't want to shovel snow anymore. I do miss real change of season though and wood burning fireplace. We go on vacations in fall and winter sometimes to enjoy it! I love the mountains! Hope that was an egg wobble!

Back to Sunday chores......

 

[fishermans wife]

Having fun with 3 of the silkie babies this morning