The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Cynthia12]

March is here!

 

[RedIII]

Haaaalp!! I need to set my eggs very soon, and I'd like to do so tonight, but the only thermometer I have for my incubator is the little one that came with it (I have a Farm Innovators - one of the cheap ones from the feed store that's styrofoam with no turner) I have a better thermometer-hygrometer ordered, but I have no idea when it will get here. Do you think I'd be okay to set the eggs and get them started? I really don't want to mess up this clutch. But the longer I wait to set these eggs, the older they'll get. The oldest egg is already 9 days.




And on a different note: lericson, Happy Birthday!

 

[noahsmom]

I was reading up, and it seems I can let eggs sit for a week? I'll get eggs tomorrow, then again on Tuesday. Originally, I was going to set them on Wednesday, but now I wonder if I could push that to Saturday?

If not, can I be a part of this if I'm setting Wednesday? I'm setting 48 eggs.. 2 dozen buff orphingtons, and 2 dozen assorted from a bunch of varieties. I'm picking them out tomorrow.

I personally wouldn't wait a week if I didn't have to, I would set them on your planned day of Wednesday. I agree with mlmddh, give them the best chance of hatching! Good Luck!

 

[chicken pickin]

Haaaalp!! I need to set my eggs very soon, and I'd like to do so tonight, but the only thermometer I have for my incubator is the little one that came with it (I have a Farm Innovators - one of the cheap ones from the feed store that's styrofoam with no turner) I have a better thermometer-hygrometer ordered, but I have no idea when it will get here. Do you think I'd be okay to set the eggs and get them started? I really don't want to mess up this clutch. But the longer I wait to set these eggs, the older they'll get. The oldest egg is already 9 days.




And on a different note: lericson, Happy Birthday!

I dont have much experience with the farm innovator though I have that one along with 2 of the hovabator 1588s. I dont really like the Farm innovators incubator. The dial is a little touchy and the temp and humidity are off. It took me 2 days to get it good enough before setting eggs in it (only used for 4 days while I was waiting for my second hovabator) Im gonna return the farm innovator this weekend. I bought a thermometor hydrometer from walmart(not sure its completely accurite either lol) and put it in the incubator. Im sure that incubator works great once you get the hang of it. But I would put a good trusted thermometer in it before setting. just my 2cents

 

[cochins1088]

Haaaalp!! I need to set my eggs very soon, and I'd like to do so tonight, but the only thermometer I have for my incubator is the little one that came with it (I have a Farm Innovators - one of the cheap ones from the feed store that's styrofoam with no turner) I have a better thermometer-hygrometer ordered, but I have no idea when it will get here. Do you think I'd be okay to set the eggs and get them started? I really don't want to mess up this clutch. But the longer I wait to set these eggs, the older they'll get. The oldest egg is already 9 days.




And on a different note: lericson, Happy Birthday!

You can calibrate the thermometer so that you know it's accurate. I usually put 100 degree water into a pot along with the thermometer that you want to calibrate. Use a child's thermometer (one to check for a fever) to make sure that the water is truley 100 degrees. The medical thermometers have to be accurate. If the thermometer matches the medical thermometer, it's accurate. If it's a degree higher, just remember to subtract a degree when checking it.

Other poeple calibrate with ice water, but I don't feel that it's as accurate because it's not calibrated at the temperature at which the incubator will be running. Good Luck!

Oh, and I usually use 3 medical thermometers to ensure correct water temperature.

 

[misskeeter]

Thanks!

Yes, you can be part of the hatch a long. If it were me I would just set them early, and give them the best chance at hatching.

Awesome! Okay then, count me in! Ill be hatching 4 dozen. Setting Tuesday or Wednesday! Yay!

 

[coldupnorth]

Quote: My only styrofoam incubator is a farm innovator. Mine does have a turner with it, but the temp on top is totally inaccurate but I calibrate a thermometer to go in there. It works best in a room where there is little temp variations. Once I adjust the temp to where it needs to be, I don't like touching the knob because it can be finicky.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Today I got my first incubator (its my birthday)! So excited to start hatching eggs. I have it all setup and getting it to the right temperature. I have all my ducky eggs collected up and ready to go in (except for the ones I will get tomorrow). Can't wait to set my first set of eggs tomorrow at noon!

Happy BIRTHDAY!! awesome gift!!

Look what I picked up today! Woot woot! I

craigslist!







Gotta get them cleaned up and set up for the Easter hatch!

Haaaalp!! I need to set my eggs very soon, and I'd like to do so tonight, but the only thermometer I have for my incubator is the little one that came with it (I have a Farm Innovators - one of the cheap ones from the feed store that's styrofoam with no turner) I have a better thermometer-hygrometer ordered, but I have no idea when it will get here. Do you think I'd be okay to set the eggs and get them started? I really don't want to mess up this clutch. But the longer I wait to set these eggs, the older they'll get. The oldest egg is already 9 days.




And on a different note: lericson, Happy Birthday!

I would find one as well, do you have any thermometers at all besides that one? my styro runs 8 degrees higher! NEVER trust the one that comes with those cheapos!!

 

[cochins1088]

I would find one as well, do you have any thermometers at all besides that one? my styro runs 8 degrees higher! NEVER trust the one that comes with those cheapos!!

I wouldn't trust them either, but for my first hatch, I didn't know any better and I used it anyways. I ended up with a 90% hatch rate and the majority hatched right on day 21 so the cheap little thermometer happened to be very accurate.

If you calibrate it, you'll be able to use it.

 

[RedIII]

Thank you, all! Perhaps I will experiment with the thermometer tonight and early tomorrow morning before setting eggs, then. I think we have a medical therm. that I can use to help calibrate the extra little one that came with the bator.