"Springing in the Chicks" 2016 April Hatch-a-Long Hosted by Mike & Sally

[hereorthere]

Thanks again for the warm welcome Sally! My fingers were twitching so bad to set eggs.....especially since spring has come so early out here.

So question- if using distilled water for humidity purposes, does one need to throw in copper pennies too? Just opened up a new bottle the other day to partially fill up the water well, but wondering about the bacterial content in that jug and how quickly it grows/ or allows water bacteria to take over. This is my 1st attempt at correcting my mistakes from last year, so I've read Sally's Hatching 101 guide a gazillion times- hoping to be more successful this time around.

 

[Coreenelane]

I would think that distilled water when bought would be safe without boiling, otherwise just boil a quart and put in a clean steril bottle.

 

[Honora]

Thanks to whoever was asking about the vent plugs cause I had mine out but now I will put them back in. I am in California so humidity is quite low here.

Just set the eggs last night, hope I get at least half to hatch! Just in case any of my bantam eggs develop, bantams hatch earlier, right? Mine would be half bantam Orp & half lf Orp.

 

[hereorthere]

I would think that distilled water when bought would be safe without boiling, otherwise just boil a quart and put in a clean steril bottle.

Yes, makes sense.

So did anyone one ever disprove the myth of pointy eggs hatched out as roos? Was it this thread or Sally's old one of Hatching with Friends? Seriously can't keep up sometimes with her threads......she's like a queen bee! A buzzing w/ activity!

Have a Wellie who's layed some 64-68gm eggs- wowza! And they're not double yolkers either! But they're all so pointy!! Well there's 3 in there, so I have a 50/50 chance. Will see in 20 more days then.

 

[Susieq2015]

Yes, makes sense.  

So did anyone one ever disprove the myth of pointy eggs hatched out as roos?  Was it this thread or Sally's old one of Hatching with Friends? Seriously can't keep up sometimes with her threads......she's like a queen bee!  A buzzing w/ activity! 

Have a Wellie who's layed some 64-68gm eggs- wowza!  And they're not double yolkers either!  But they're all so pointy!!  Well there's 3 in there, so I have a 50/50 chance.  Will see in 20 more days then.

I wonder about this too. My first hatch from my free range flock in January yielded 11 roos & 4 pullets. Then as I was reading more I started selecting more rounded eggs for hatching, these are too young to be sure yet but I'm already thinking I see more girls. Time will tell.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hey Sally!

.

Please count me in for the hatch!
As soon as the Easter Hal is done, I will be setting to join you all here.

And thanks mike for catching my error on the Easter Hal !

Quote: Congrats!!!! ohhhhh good news!!! Come on out big goosers!!!

any tips for me for the geese in my bator? @firedragon1982

Ok, I am new and ready to learn. My incubator made by grandson and class mate will be free to set more eggs around April 10th. Right now eggs are being incubated for a science project that both boys are working on. The second clutch is in a large dog crate in the class mates garage. The hen was given 6 eggs from other chickens and showed signs of broodiness before the science project started. The next day she laid an egg and pushed out 3 of the original eggs. Next day she laid another and is sitting on them. Hope to learn a lot and incubate more eggs. Grandkids showing chickens in 4-H and selling eggs. Hens are paying for the feed and I want to breed and sell chickens. Candled some Sultun eggs today and so far so good. Trying to separate silkis and Sultuns so I don't have any cross breading. I think my silkis are starting to lay but not sure. I am finding very light cream small eggs but I thought I read somewhere that they laid peewee size eggs. Once I get them separated I'll know for sure. I find these forums so educational.

Welcome!!! @Coreenelane

This is all awesome!!! Do you have some images of your broodies and I would LOVE to see what the GS did with that bator build!!
I see you have links given already from mike and the others! Anything specific you need to ask feel free to!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubating-w-friends-helpful-notes-links-informational-post-links

ummmm okay so I ended up going ahead and setting some eggs tonight. SO I set 8 welsummer crosses and 2 EE

Good morning! I have a quick question. Is there a way to help hold the humidity level for a longer period of time(more than a few hours) ? Im having trouble. This is only our 2nd try. The first time I had to keep opening the bator to refil the water channels,not Durning lockdown though. Anyway one one egg did pip on day 22 but never hatched and I'm guessing the others drowned because of poor knowledge on our part(I'm guessing?!?). This time I have a humidifier in the room and a sponge on a plate beneath a vent hole which allows for adding water with a dropper. I'm staying 35-55%. Thats good right? It is a farm innovators pro 4200 model. Oh in my intro post I didnt even mention the eggs. We have 7 oegb eggs and 6 standard size barnyard mix game eggs. Still fairly new to everything so please feel free to give pointers. I was going to try "dry" and NOT worry about the level but my brain can not. On a good note all of the 20 other baby chicks we have are growing up so lovely! I guess you could say beside the Phoenix and OEGB we have a bunch of muts lol. We have a bunch of mixes and the "EE's"(kind of muts too i guess) But it's okay we love them all

TIPS n TRICKS to raising humidity in incubators post #42512
@heatherledet adding that I agree and ask what mike does below!

My turn has come up with the silkie breeder as well, my husband agreed to let me get a dozen eggs, should arrive Mon or Tues. Guess I'll need to add another couple of rails to my turner...

I just go a pair of silkied seramas, so that means I will be setting silkied serama eggs.

Quote: x2

 

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[Sally Sunshine]

This is why I couldnt process these dang cornish bantams........

 

[Chaos18]

This is why I couldnt process these dang cornish bantams........

Cause they look like pretty dinosaurs?

 

[lindalouly]

I'm really behind on the thread... Sorry guys. I have been struggling really badly with headaches lately and it's been tough to be online. I think I killed all my eggs for Easter Hal. Coolerbator is coming along. Got the glass on and holes drilled. Waiting on a fan to come in the mail and time that I can concentrate.