The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[Shellz]

Good morning everybody! Wow, had a lot of catching up to do! You folks sure have some interesting eggs to set! I've got one more batch for my LG. I will use it exclusively for the hatching part in future, but have a new Genesis coming next month.

I'll be using my own eggs here, so that leaves me with my one Cuckoo Marans rooster over SG Dorking hens, Cuckoo Marans hens, Black Star hybrid hen & her 4 daughters from RIR rooster. Got 10 eggs yesterday - all hens laid! I've got one Dorking hen that lays a tinted egg. She has no comb or wattles, so I'd really like to hatch hers. I need birds that are very cold hardy! -18 C this morning with the wind chill! Ack! Brrrr! I don't know exactly how many I'll set until the 9th. I keep changing my mind! Lol!

 

[Time-Out]

Those with auto egg turners, what do you do if you want to put a container or shot glass full of water in incubator? I tried bc even though I'm doing a dry hatch my humidity is going down to 16% ...always below 19%, their just isn't any room. Will a sponge last as long as a container? I don't want to keep having to open the bator up.

A sponge will dry up really quickly. Can you put a dish under the turner? I use sandwich-type tupperware thingies in one bator, then a tray can sit on top of them.

 

[Kismet]

I do a dry hatch, too, with an egg turner. Often, my humidity gets down to below 19%. When it gets down to 10%, I add two tablespoons of water. Then it shoots up to 43% and slowly comes down, stays in the 20's for a couple days, then back down to the teens. Then,I add two more tablespoons - if I add more than that, the humidity goes way up into the 60's.

I just candled and put into lockdown 32 eggs. Their air pockets looked good - that's what I go by, tracing the pocket with a pencil at 7, 14, and 18 days. As of this morning, six chicks had hatched - they are due today and tomorrow. I hate to be at work all day, not being able to watch!

I have always had trouble in maintaining a constant humidity (Genesis 1588). If anyone has suggestions, I am open!

 

[Shellz]

I wonder if there is a problem with the humidity reading? The component itself maybe out of whack? I heard if its the Genesis made before 2012, there were problems. They improved it in 2012.

 

[noahsmom]

A sponge will dry up really quickly. Can you put a dish under the turner? I use sandwich-type tupperware thingies in one bator, then a tray can sit on top of them.

I will try this when I get home from work today.

I do a dry hatch, too, with an egg turner. Often, my humidity gets down to below 19%. When it gets down to 10%, I add two tablespoons of water. Then it shoots up to 43% and slowly comes down, stays in the 20's for a couple days, then back down to the teens. Then,I add two more tablespoons - if I add more than that, the humidity goes way up into the 60's.

I just candled and put into lockdown 32 eggs. Their air pockets looked good - that's what I go by, tracing the pocket with a pencil at 7, 14, and 18 days. As of this morning, six chicks had hatched - they are due today and tomorrow. I hate to be at work all day, not being able to watch!

I have always had trouble in maintaining a constant humidity (Genesis 1588). If anyone has suggestions, I am open!

Good to know that it only takes that much to shoot the humidity up that far. I just hate to have to constantly open up the bator to add the water and mess the temp/humidity all up.

I wonder if there is a problem with the humidity reading? The component itself maybe out of whack? I heard if its the Genesis made before 2012, there were problems. They improved it in 2012.

I have an accurite digital thermometer/hydrometer in the bator as well, it reads the highs/lows of temp and humidity for me. The Hovabator stays around 18-20% and the Accurite goes from 16%-19% humidity. I also have just a normal thermometer in there and temp on all are pretty accurate and stay VERY close to the same. I bought mine straight from GQF so I would assume mine is the newest of the 1588's.

PS...My Silkie eggs from Nancy "Bargain" are being sent out today!!!

..Still no word from Horstman poultry with the RIR's, but I know he will as soon as he can.

 

[tadpole98]

eggs ship out tomorrow!!

 

[CherokeeFlats]

I've been hand turning eggs for 14 days now. Tonight, I'll candle and see what's viable and what needs to be removed before lock down in a couple days. I am hoping for a good hatch as I've kept temp and humidity constant, turning eggs 3 times a day. These are my EE eggs. Some are from my girls and some are from the batch I won on eBay. SO looking forward to seeing what I get them I set for the 9th under a broody. Not sure how many I'll set yet as I start collecting eggs for that today. Is it the 30th yet??? LOL

 

[noahsmom]

eggs ship out tomorrow!!

YAY!! I hope my RIR eggs go out at least by tomorrow!

 

[Shellz]

I will try this when I get home from work today.


Good to know that it only takes that much to shoot the humidity up that far. I just hate to have to constantly open up the bator to add the water and mess the temp/humidity all up.


I have an accurite digital thermometer/hydrometer in the bator as well, it reads the highs/lows of temp and humidity for me. The Hovabator stays around 18-20% and the Accurite goes from 16%-19% humidity. I also  have just a normal thermometer in there and temp on all are pretty accurate and stay VERY close to the same. I bought mine straight from GQF so I would assume mine is the newest of the 1588's.

PS...My Silkie eggs from Nancy "Bargain" are being sent out today!!!e  ..Still no word from Horstman poultry with the RIR's, but I know he will as soon as he can.

Ok, guess I'm wrong. I'll have to watch for that when I get my Genesis in April. My LG required a LOT more water to get humidity up. Good luck with your Silkie eggs & hoping those RIR eggs get to you soon!

 

[Happy Chooks]

And Happy Chooks, can I count these towards the cute chicks contest?

As long as it's within the rules, yep!

Contest Rules:
Entries welcome for all types of fowl – chickens, ducks, peafowl, geese, quail, etc.
Open to all BYC members in the U.S. and Canada (if the winner is from Canada, you might need to pay shipping)
Must be your picture, taken between October 1st, 2012 to March 29th, 2013
Baby fowl must be less than one month old
Maximum of 2 entries per member
Deadline for entry is March 29th, 2013 at midnight PST