She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[RubyNala97]

There are a few factors in that statement that should be considered one at a time.

Regarding humidity:  A forced air hatcher can hold humidity every bit as well as a still air hatcher.  The only time still air would be beneficial is when the hatcher is open, but that can be mitigated by turning off the fan/hatcher while the door or lid is open.

Regarding bacteria:  Stagnant air is more likely to result in perpetually moist  areas.  Consider bacteria as you would mildew.  What is the first area of a shower to show mildew, the far corners or the area nearest the fan?

Not mentioned is the effect of the breeze of a forced air on the membrane and hatching poult.  If the incubator humidity is too low, a fan will make it worse by accelerating the drying of membranes.  But if the humidity level is fine, a fan will help the chicks dry after hatching.

Yes, that all makes sense. I was going to type the exact response that Amy wrote. What really caught my attention was when the author used the word "never"...use a forced air incubator as a hatcher. That article is widely accessible to millions of people and I just don't believe that the information is 100% accurate.

e Those are some beauties!  I want to do some with you, so I sure hope we can work it out!! 

Yes, I told her I was hoping to be part of a call hatch-a-long in the spring. She said the girls start laying February/March. I will definitely keep you posted!

My incubator is my hatcher. I just don't do staggered hatches. Personally, I find it to be a bunch of BS. It's a matter of opinion that is thrown out there as fact. We all do it from time to time because we are so certain that what we do or think is the right way and we forget to give the opinion as a matter of opinion and not a certainty.  I feel the same way when I see the preaching of "Never open the incubator during a hatch because you will compromise all the eggs that have pipped." 

X2. Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[scflock]

Got my second Banty egg today. And I know who is laying. It's Sukoshi- the one that I thought was a boy. So now I know my roo isn't crazy, he wasn't mating boys....lol

That's 2 androgynies that can now be scored to the girl side! Yeah!

Congratulations

 

[tgcanes]

What part of day 18 does one lockdown? At the beginning or towards the end? Does it matter?

 

[tgcanes]

2 days from Day 18

 

[scflock]

What part of day 18 does one lockdown? At the beginning or towards the end? Does it matter?

Doesn't really matter

 

[WVduckchick]

What part of day 18 does one lockdown? At the beginning or towards the end? Does it matter?

Check your air cells. If they are ready, lock down early. If they could use another day at lower humidity, wait till later in the day.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Depends on your take

2 days from Day 18

Do u candle? If you do, then you can see the babies internally pipping and lock down at that time, if you dont, you can listen to them. Otherwise: like u wont be able to be home for doing those things? Then i would wait, til later because its day 21 your shooting for with chickens anyway

I threw out my duck eggs, sat was day 37, the longest the duck part in the learning center told me to give them. :'( stupid LG 93 fried them, i caught it at 106 at one time im boxing that stupid thing up, and sending it back to my friends house!

 

[WalnutHill]

Depends on your take

Do u candle? If you do, then you can see the babies internally pipping and lock down at that time, if you dont, you can listen to them. Otherwise: like u wont be able to be home for doing those things? Then i would wait, til later because its day 21 your shooting for with chickens anyway

I threw out my duck eggs, sat was day 37, the longest the duck part in the learning center told me to give them. :'( stupid LG 93 fried them, i caught it at 106 at one time

im boxing that stupid thing up, and sending it back to my friends house!

That's why I called mine the EZ-Bake. It was good at that.

 

[scflock]

Depends on your take
Do u candle? If you do, then you can see the babies internally pipping and lock down at that time, if you dont, you can listen to them. Otherwise: like u wont be able to be home for doing those things? Then i would wait, til later because its day 21 your shooting for with chickens anyway

I threw out my duck eggs, sat was day 37, the longest the duck part in the learning center told me to give them. :'( stupid LG 93 fried them, i caught it at 106 at one time im boxing that stupid thing up, and sending it back to my friends house!

You aren't the first person to have that issue with that bator

 

[WVduckchick]

You aren't the first person to have that issue with that bator

And definitely won't be the last...