Shhh- Top Secret!

[Chic_girl]

Alright weather- you didn't do as they predicted! We got about 2 inchs of good snow, then a bit of freezing rain- the sidewalks are kinda slick, but not much damage as far as anything else- not terrible at all.

Four thermometers seems like so much to work with! I do need to buy a little aqarium thermometer and a humidity thermometer for my incubator- I feel like it will help me with the hatch, when it comes. Side note- can eggs have too much humidity? Its day 3, and the incubator shows some condensation along the edge. Will too much humidity prevent the eggs from loosing weight like they should?

 

[topdycke]

I think the ideal humidity is supposed to be around 35% I am having to really start to put some water in because the humidity is only around 15% The humidity in the house is near 50% so it is a little frustrating. The temperature seems to have settled right at 100.2 and is just about impossible to make that fine an adjustment. I am going to read more on humidity though.

Glad you didn't get as much snow as they were saying - it was down to 24 here this morning and I heard ice pellets during the night but because we started at 72 yesterday nothing sticks. Will have another cold night. The horse gets blanketed and unblanketed. He is cranky if it is hot and cranky if it is cold.

 

[Chic_girl]

I couldn't resist candling 2 eggs last night- and I see signs of life. Little spider-webs of veins already existed by the end of day 3...
I don't know about the rest of the eggs, but I'm going to wait until day 7 to candle again.
If there are any early casualties, I will take out two eggs and put the auto-turner in until lock down. Its difficult to keep track of my turning, so I hope that all of the eggs are being turned properly, and in the right direction- Sometimes I'm dashing up to my room between classes just to turn them- oh well, its working!

Oh, but its so exciting! At least two of the eggs are developing. I know, I know, its still really early- don't count my chickens before they hatch...


And your horse sounds wonderful! My family has a Quarter horse and a Percheron-cross at home, and I miss them during the semester. Last year I took lessons at the university's barn, and helped out cleaning stalls once a week- if you think one horse is annoying to blanket, try 53!

 

[topdycke]

That is so cool that they are developing! I was surfing the site to see what I could on humidity and if the temperature is stable you could tell if you had it right by weighing the eggs every three days or so and building a linear graph to show the weight loss. If the weight was above the decline line then you added moisture if it was below then you backed off.

It does should like what you are doing is working fine - what did you do with the eggs that didn't fit? Could you do a staggered hatch thing with those if you have some that aren't working out?

I am a little torn between deciding to open it up at day three to candle and weigh so I have a baseline or to wait until day seven. This incubator isn't confidence inspiring and I should just pet the 48-egg Brinsea on second day ship.

Charley is a 16 year old off the track TB. I have had him since he was 5 and he is my first horse. We did dressage training but for the past two years I haven't been riding and he just hangs out as a pet.

 

[Chic_girl]

I wish I had a way to weigh them! Instead, I'll probably just trace the size of the air sacs on the other candling days, and keep track that way.
How does your incubator seem to be doing right now? Did you put a few in the Mini?
All I can think of for you is to find out how many others have used the same type of incubator, and learn from them- maybe they have some good advice?

I wish I had better advice!

 

[topdycke]

I need to try my hand at candling both to see what is developing and to see the air sacs and the changes there. Since they are brown eggs I think I will give it a try at the 6-7 day mark. I will use a digital kitchen scale at the same time to do the weights and chart all that. The incubator is staying within a degree one side or the other of perfect. Its just annoying as heck that it can't be nailed down on what I want. I am adding a little water and it is hanging around 22% on the humidity. I shouldn't complain from what I have seen on the posts people either have not problem or all sorts of stuff with that incubator. It isn't doing crazy spikes so I will back off the hating on it. I did order the Brinsea 20 so I have a backup plan and hope to get it fired up and able to swap at around day 10-14.

On the weather I am so tired of the gross wet yucky cold. Some people hate the sauna summers here but not me.

 

[Chic_girl]

Ha, you have to be the most devoted broody hen there could be! I think its a good idea to have a back-up incubator, and from what I've heard, you'll probably be happy having multiple types- just think of how many eggs you could have in each one! Chicken math! You are doing a fantastic job of keeping track- I have a piece of paper nearby, where I mark down the temp., the side of the egg facing up, and the direction that I turned it, just to keep track. I think it's helping....
I'll candle again on Sat, and hopefully add pictures, if my camera cooperates, we could always use more candling pictures!

 

[Ariel188]

Excited for you, how fun!

 

[Chic_girl]

Aww, thanks Ariel!

Being the incredibly ridiculous college student that I am, I decided to watch old episodes of the Magic School Bus- a wonderful show from my childhood. There is an episode where the kids learn about how chicken eggs are made, which is useful for all chicken owners to know, and made very clear for young children in this show! The characters also decide to hatch a chicken egg, (A Rhode Island Red, specifically,) and it teaches them all about development and incubation, taking a few liberties- like hatching a chick under nothing more then a desk lamp.
Anyway, I decided that I want a Magic Chicken-Bus, which acts like a super-broody hen, and magically hatches eggs in a few minutes. Where can I get one of these?




Now, before relaxing with the Magic School Bus, I worked, and finished an 18-page proposal for my Invert. Zoology Lab, and an essay for Woman's Studies, so my evening has been productive and well-spent, in my opinion!

 

[Ariel188]

Aww, thanks Ariel!

Being the incredibly ridiculous college student that I am, I decided to watch old episodes of the Magic School Bus- a wonderful show from my childhood. There is an episode where the kids learn about how chicken eggs are made, which is useful for all chicken owners to know, and made very clear for young children in this show! The characters also decide to hatch a chicken egg, (A Rhode Island Red, specifically,) and it teaches them all about development and incubation, taking a few liberties- like hatching a chick under nothing more then a desk lamp.
Anyway, I decided that I want a Magic Chicken-Bus, which acts like a super-broody hen, and magically hatches eggs in a few minutes. Where can I get one of these?




Now, before relaxing with the Magic School Bus, I worked, and finished an 18-page proposal for my Invert. Zoology Lab, and an essay for Woman's Studies, so my evening has been productive and well-spent, in my opinion!

Well your yellow incubator can be your magic bus, hahahah