The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[JoyfulPromise]

102 is not the end of the world. THe hen runs at 102.

THe LG is not stable thruout -- it has pockets of warmer and cooler, and the closer to the coil the warmer, and on the mesh the cooler. All about averages. This is why you need to learn your own equipment. New doesnot equate accurate, as in correct.

I just ran a test hatch to check out all my thermometers. With eggs laid on the sides and thermometer on top, the temps ran from 100-106, on the other side of the incubator the temps ran a little lower. THat is the importance of moving the eggs all around the incubator to have a narrow range in hatching time.

I was scared to death I had cooked the eggs!! They hatched about a day late! WTH? Two pipped on day 21,most hatched on day 22, and a few on day 23. THis tells me that my temps are a little low, despite what the glass fish tank thermometers say. Or I can't read them very well! lol

Thanks Arielle! My LG has a fan addition, so isn't that supposed to make the temp more stable throughout? I am also using the automatic turner, which limits the number of thermometers I can add, since I am pretty much filling up the spaces in the turner with eggs. I think I have figured out a plan though.

I am intrigued at how my digital keeps going back to exactly 99.5ºF! The little dollar store see-thru thermo I mentioned was keeping pretty much right with it. SO I tried to calibrate the little see-thru thermo with the ice water method. I don't know if I let the ice melt too long, cause it was a little more than the recommended 5 min, but the little thermo stopped at 33-34ºF! That would indicate it is running a little high! Much different than I expected!!! So, I concluded that the new plastic thermo/hygro is WAYYYY OFF, since it is holding steady at almost 104ºF!

I also re-tried the medical thermometer by actually lifting one of the plastic viewing windows and quickly placing it on the turner to take the temperature. The digital only dropped 1 point of a degree in doing this. The medical thermometer stopped at 100.3!!! YAY!! Much better!!!

SOOOO, my plan right now is to trust the digital thermometer, and also put the little see-thru thermo in "surfing" on top of the eggs for a second opinion. I am planning on doing a dry hatch, since so many on here recommend it, so I am not too worried about that. I may end up having to hatch in egg cartons simply because of space - too many eggs to lay down in the LG, unless I can borrow another LG or similar as a second hatcher. And of course I will PRAY for a good hatch, because God is the ONE who is really in control of all LIFE and how many chicks hatch.

 

[fireflyhatchery]

Just got my last set of swap eggs with a total of 37 chicken eggs of bantam and LF mixed and pure along with my own set of 32 quail eggs all ready to set now.

 

[lericson]

Candled a sampling of my duck eggs tonight that were set on Saturday! They are looking good, its been exciting so far.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Can't be much different than moving them at lockdown from the incubator to the hatcher. THe less stress the better, but it is what it is!

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Hi all,
Tomorrow I have to work UGH !! That 4 letter word ! Will it stll be OK to participate if the eggs don't get set 'til around 4pm ??

 

[Kimbroe1981]

~Happy Chooks~

I'm totally gonna do that with my eggs. My turner if full, but I still have 3 eggs left.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Fan certainly helps but temp still varies in different locations around the LG.

Chookschick lays her fish tank thermometers on the metal between the eggs.

The height in the LG matters; the closer to the coils the warmer, so if you go from sides to cartons , just know the average temp is going up slightly. Just an FYI.

Last summer I measured temps at half the height of the egg, on side or in carton. I realized this method had it's issues based on the size of the egg-- exlg different than mediums. Of course eggs laid on the side are less variable than in cartons.

THis year I decided to track at the highest point of the egg to the lowest and see what that nets, using the average. I really was hoping if the average was closer to 102 they would hatch early-- no such thing! lol

Oh God gives us plenty to be responsible for and we have choices.

LIke which temp to incubate at.
Have fun. KEep records. You'll do just fine!!.

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Fan certainly helps but temp still varies in different locations around the LG.

Chookschick lays her fish tank thermometers on the metal between the eggs.

The height in the LG matters; the closer to the coils the warmer, so if you go from sides to cartons , just know the average temp is going up slightly. Just an FYI.

Last summer I measured temps at half the height of the egg, on side or in carton. I realized this method had it's issues based on the size of the egg-- exlg different than mediums. Of course eggs laid on the side are less variable than in cartons.

THis year I decided to track at the highest point of the egg to the lowest and see what that nets, using the average. I really was hoping if the average was closer to 102 they would hatch early-- no such thing! lol

Oh God gives us plenty to be responsible for and we have choices.

LIke which temp to incubate at.
Have fun. KEep records. You'll do just fine!!.

The eggs will be upright in the auto turner for most of the hatch, so it shouldn't be any change to be in a carton.

Hmm,now that you keep mentioning 102º I am wondering if I shouldn't try and RAISE the temp a smidge...

Cause if that little see-thru thermo runs a teeny bit high, then it might actually be lower than 99º!!!! Decisions, decisions...

If I put a thermometer between the eggs in the middle it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to see or read because the LG only has two small windows on either side of the middle. Perhaps she has a Hovabator or something with those big open windows on top?

 

[Smithyard Farm]

My eggs are here my eggs are here!! light sussex, bbs marans, silver sussex and my own black silkie crosses...

Also - update on my broody - she is still sitting on eggs.. i am going to give her a few i have in the incubator... barnyard mutts that should be very cute.. however, who knows what they will look lke... Hubby is building her a sep pen now. hopefully she stays broody when we move her...

is every one set for tomorrow? supposed to set at noon, right?

 

[Razadia]

PS. I use the RH just to know the ball park. In my house it can fluctuate a lot depends on the ambient RH. I dry hatch , which means I don't add water into the well unless I think the moisture level is too low. ON the last hatch RH was running at 19%-- way lower than normal, so I added water then let it dry out for a day, By day 18 the air cells were too small. I delayed lockdown until the cells were the correct size. Thank goodness they hatched late!

I dry hatch too, but I don't add any water till lockdown. The humidity is way too high year round here to add water till then.

Multi didn't work and then my page froze

I had gone back to check what I was posting to and then closed it down before the freeze. Then I had to refresh! ughggg


Got a few little quail hatched out this morning. I sure wish chickens hatched that fast. 123, they're out!

OK I have a question for those with cabinet bators. Is there any way at all to stack?? I don't see how it's possible, but I know there are some died hard hatchers that can figure anything out.

OK, while waiting for that answer, like it's gonna be answered, LOL, I think I'm going to go auction some eggs. I've actually run out of space in the bators with just MY eggs! You can hear turners in every room! But I hate to waste any of these eggs. The projects we can eat, but I'm to sensitive to waste the others.

I hate it when that happens. My mom plays a lot of facebook games and they kill flash player every time. I'm constantly fixing the laptop.

I want quail. Dad want's quail. Problem is, we can't find any!

Candled a sampling of my duck eggs tonight that were set on Saturday! They are looking good, its been exciting so far.

I wish my duck eggs looked that good. I think I have several blood rings and only one I KNOW is developing.