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

[Ravynscroft]

Gold Duck Wing...I want wheatens but those will have to wait.

I have Wheatens... and a single GDW roo, for now... not sure if we'll keep him and get more or not yet... my Wheatens are molting right now, but this pic was from right when they started, lol...

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

I have Wheatens... and a single GDW roo, for now... not sure if we'll keep him and get more or not yet... my Wheatens are molting right now, but this pic was from right when they started, lol...

Even with the molting, that's some nice coloring.

Morning, chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Omg, I see his beak, he's starting to pip a little more

This is amazing!! I'm easily amused, can you tell? Lol

Easily amused is good. Keeps life from being boring.

It NEVER gets old. It's truly the miracle of life, 21 or so days from breakfast material to cheeping, living being.

Really, it just depends on the cooking temperature.

Well I am a meddler...I don't do complete lockdown. This is because the GQF 1500 incubator I am using likes to drop humidity and my chicks are getting shrink wrapped and out of 100 eggs we only were able to hatch 35. So I pull chicks right away and put them under the lamp unless they struggle. Most have perked right up and are dry and walking around in an hour. However most of the eggs lost were shipped so lower hatch was expected. My bantams do the best hatching. I have only lost 3 eggs of my buff Cochins and 0 of my friends lavender Cochins...she got 11/11 on our very very first hatch. None of those but 2 needed intervention...the first time I thought I had killed the poor chick because it hatched bloody, but it is doing just fine. I have had several I didn't catch the first hatch that died while unzipping because the membrane dried. So in short I loose sleep while hatch is going on to make sure my incubator isn't killing my babies. On the flip side at day 22 if I don't see pips I candle. If there is confirmed movement I put it back in til day 25. On day 25 I dispose of eggs and do not candle I figure they should be out by then if they are coming out. I like rare breeds so shipped eggs is the only way I can get some of then started. I am a total greenhorn...3 months started to be exact. I bought my bantams and Sussex from a kid that needed to sell his stock quick because he was leaving for college. He payed 200$ for the Coronations ...I got them 2 pens, and my bantams, plus feed, waterers, nest, ect...for 200$ so I decided to make the investment and fell in love...but I borrowed the incubator to see if I liked it!!! So far not impressed. Thinking about buying a small 48 egg one...but I don't know what to get and get good hatches without having to mettle much...( I'll still probably Mettle some). I just hate to loose that many again. I've got nearly a hundred in there again due to hatch starting late next week and ending in mid October...( yes I bought more eggs...I couldn't resist.) I lost 2 full breeds out if 9 last hatch. I've got 9 going in this time in various stages..3 of them are not repeat breeds...but the ones I had low hatch I did try over. I got 3/12 Leghorns and 2/8 lavender orpingtons so I had to try those again. I hope I do better this time...out of all that did hatch and make out...I've only lost 3 after incubator removal. They just never strived from the start.

I agree with the following posts regarding this topic. Staggered hatches, and humidity too low at the end are probably affecting your success. You'd be better with a couple of smaller bators, given your hatching style. They can be made very inexpensively. With the right thermostat, I'd bet a batch of chicks that a good home made bator would = an octagon in accuracy and hatch rate. Perhaps that's a subject for a new spring thread.

a skunk is good to have around but not to close . I know my nose works when they are around though .

I like skunks. But I don't have a dog.

You all have way too much fun, for those meddlers, at least put a paper towel between your mouth and the incubator. Drooling while incubating may turn chicks into ducklings. (Well it sounded funny in my head) Good night all.

Or it may raise the humidity too high.

 

[WalnutHill]

​

well trial and error...I'm using water pan and wet cloths when I see pips to boost humidity after I started loosing so many...it stays around 50% and rises back up quickly if I have to open the bator...I add more on hatch to raise to about 65% now so that I won't get shrink wrapped chicks but I have to constantly monitor during hatch because the fan dries the sponges and cloths to quick. I also have to make sure the pan is full at all times...I don't like this bator. So I'm thinking about trying a little Giant Nova bator. Have not decided yet but that GQF is expensive and the kid only used it 3 months so he told me to rent it from him first before I shell out 650$ he paid 875$ for it.

There is no GQF that costs $875. The most expensive model costs $720 direct from GQF. But don't buy a Little Giant if you want to improve your hatches. This is the best time of the year to watch Craigslist for used incubators, including cabinet incubators and Hova Bators.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

I wonder how one of these would do:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/bfs/5183103451.html

Thelco 31488 Lab Incubator

 

[RubyNala97]

Look who finally decided to pay rent. Our Golden Cuckoo Marans. I hope they get a bit darker.

Very nice! You're so lucky to be getting eggs! I can't wait!! Lol.

Yeah..... I am so looking forward to spring!!!! I can totally see this beauty running with my chickens in the back yard!!

Wood ducks are beautiful but I've spoken to a couple different animal Rehabers that do wood ducks and they told me that they are really hard to hatch and raise because they are highly stressed animals. And they've lost a lot to stress. I've never done my own research on them but I have asked about them because I think they are gorgeous and I would LOVE to hatch them!! Just wanted to pass that along for you to look into.

Well I am a meddler...I don't do complete lockdown. This is because the GQF 1500 incubator I am using likes to drop humidity and my chicks are getting shrink wrapped and out of 100 eggs we only were able to hatch 35. So I pull chicks right away and put them under the lamp unless they struggle. Most have perked right up and are dry and walking around in an hour. However most of the eggs lost were shipped so lower hatch was expected. My bantams do the best hatching. I have only lost 3 eggs of my buff Cochins and 0 of my friends lavender Cochins...she got 11/11 on our very very first hatch. None of those but 2 needed intervention...the first time I thought I had killed the poor chick because it hatched bloody, but it is doing just fine. I have had several I didn't catch the first hatch that died while unzipping because the membrane dried. So in short I loose sleep while hatch is going on to make sure my incubator isn't killing my babies. On the flip side at day 22 if I don't see pips I candle. If there is confirmed movement I put it back in til day 25. On day 25 I dispose of eggs and do not candle I figure they should be out by then if they are coming out. I like rare breeds so shipped eggs is the only way I can get some of then started. I am a total greenhorn...3 months started to be exact. I bought my bantams and Sussex from a kid that needed to sell his stock quick because he was leaving for college. He payed 200$ for the Coronations ...I got them 2 pens, and my bantams, plus feed, waterers, nest, ect...for 200$ so I decided to make the investment and fell in love...but I borrowed the incubator to see if I liked it!!! So far not impressed. Thinking about buying a small 48 egg one...but I don't know what to get and get good hatches without having to mettle much...( I'll still probably Mettle some). I just hate to loose that many again. I've got nearly a hundred in there again due to hatch starting late next week and ending in mid October...( yes I bought more eggs...I couldn't resist.) I lost 2 full breeds out if 9 last hatch. I've got 9 going in this time in various stages..3 of them are not repeat breeds...but the ones I had low hatch I did try over. I got 3/12 Leghorns and 2/8 lavender orpingtons so I had to try those again. I hope I do better this time...out of all that did hatch and make out...I've only lost 3 after incubator removal. They just never strived from the start.

Can you share how you work with shipped eggs and what you've found that does work for shipped, specifically?

Until i read your story, i had no idea the peas imprinted like that either, geese are also very impresionable like this from what ive read!

So! I candled and weighed for the final time! I know its really early, at day 24, but i have four internal pips! I did the numbers, and the percents are lower** than what i was expecting (higher today within two days 1 gram of weight loss!) But i witnessed the Draw down in 11 of them, and i see what you mean about shrinkwrapping! I wouldve been very concerned if you hadnt shared your experience with me! Thank you Everyone, my duckys are gonna Hatch!!! :yiipchick

Yay!!! That is such good news!!! I'm so happy!! After worrying that air cells are to small it's a relief to see how much they draw down anyway!, right? Lol. I'm so happy for you!!

well trial and error...I'm using water pan and wet cloths when I see pips to boost humidity after I started loosing so many...it stays around 50% and rises back up quickly if I have to open the bator...I add more on hatch to raise to about 65% now so that I won't get shrink wrapped chicks but I have to constantly monitor during hatch because the fan dries the sponges and cloths to quick. I also have to make sure the pan is full at all times...I don't like this bator. So I'm thinking about trying a little Giant Nova bator. Have not decided yet but that GQF is expensive and the kid only used it 3 months so he told me to rent it from him first before I shell out 650$ he paid 875$ for it.

If you plan on hatching for awhile then a brinsea is a good investment. I love it! It will make your life so much easier and have lots of peace of mind!

 

[RubyNala97]

I have one egg due to hatch tomorrow. It's alive but it's shaped like a "U" in the egg. And there is a U-shaped space right in the middle, under the air cell. It looks like I can see him moving his feet in and out of that space. That's not normal for a day 19/20 egg, right? I'm thinking that he can't possible be in the right position. I stopped turning this egg on day 16, to give it more undisturbed time to get in position, since it is a damaged shipped egg. The air cell is starting to draw down. I really shouldn't hold out much hope. Then I have 2 eggs due to hatch Friday that are alive. Most of the egg is dark except for a small space under the air cell that has veins.

 

[georgiayankee]

I have Wheatens... and a single GDW roo, for now... not sure if we'll keep him and get more or not yet... my Wheatens are molting right now, but this pic was from right when they started, lol...

They are so pretty to me. I think so far the only chickens that I really don't like is Turkens...if they didnt look so much like loomy buzzard waiting to feast on me I might could like them....those would have to be a grow on me chicken..lol

 

[georgiayankee]

I have one egg due to hatch tomorrow. It's alive but it's shaped like a "U" in the egg. And there is a U-shaped space right in the middle, under the air cell. It looks like I can see him moving his feet in and out of that space. That's not normal for a day 19/20 egg, right? I'm thinking that he can't possible be in the right position. I stopped turning this egg on day 16, to give it more undisturbed time to get in position, since it is a damaged shipped egg. The air cell is starting to draw down. I really shouldn't hold out much hope. Then I have 2 eggs due to hatch Friday that are alive. Most of the egg is dark except for a small space under the air cell that has veins.

I had a few of my shipped eggs that looked like that hatch. They did seem to struggle though. Don't give up on them...but you might have to help the one. What kind are they??

 

[mixedUPturk]

I have one egg due to hatch tomorrow. It's alive but it's shaped like a "U" in the egg. And there is a U-shaped space right in the middle, under the air cell. It looks like I can see him moving his feet in and out of that space. That's not normal for a day 19/20 egg, right? I'm thinking that he can't possible be in the right position. I stopped turning this egg on day 16, to give it more undisturbed time to get in position, since it is a damaged shipped egg. The air cell is starting to draw down. I really shouldn't hold out much hope. Then I have 2 eggs due to hatch Friday that are alive. Most of the egg is dark except for a small space under the air cell that has veins.

Awe! Good luck! Somehow u get the Worst egg luck, dont gamble please!