The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[ronott1]

Quote: It is interesting to read different information regarding hatching. I have read clinical studies that said the temperature at the end of hatch can go down with each day, ending at 95 degrees at hatch. One study had them hatching better at 97.5. There was a post yesterday that said hatcheries have to cool down large hatches or they would get too hot from the heat they generate.

The home stead chart that I use says to hatch at a degree lower than incubating. I have been hatching at 98.5 lately and they have had no intestinal problems.

 

[ronott1]

Do EE usually have a low hatch rate?

EEs usually hatch great for me. Hybrid vigor and all that...

 

[CayuseRanch]

It sure is.  Did you clean the bator glass?

And yes, I will admit that I listened for the cheeping.  Nothing yet though.  I also like to peer in with my flashlight.

Ohh yes sometimes if I angle the flashlight just right I can get them to wiggle or can even make out aircells.

 

[CayuseRanch]

It is interesting to read different information regarding hatching. I have read clinical studies that said the temperature at the end of hatch can go down with each day, ending at 95 degrees at hatch. One study had them hatching better at 97.5. There was a post yesterday that said hatcheries have to cool down large hatches or they would get too hot from the heat they generate.

The home stead chart that I use says to hatch at a degree lower than incubating. I have been hatching at 98.5 lately and they have had no intestinal problems.

Funny you say that Ron, I was going to post the same thing. I read the same or similar article last year with the 97.5. While I don't lower my temps, I dont fiddle with anything in the final days unless it drops below 98. Also 98.6 is the bottom viable temp for incubation. So even that should be a safe number.

 

[Cynthia12]

Funny you say that Ron, I was going to post the same thing. I read the same or similar article last year with the 97.5. While I don't lower my temps, I dont fiddle with anything in the final days unless it drops below 98. Also 98.6 is the bottom viable temp for incubation. So even that should be a safe number.

I've been keeping mine around 97 during lock down. So far so good.

Ok, so, how many people are sitting on their hands like good boys and girls? Ey? Not too much going on right now but watching the humidity. Although, I think I heard that someone had an early baby. I like to think at this point..day after tomorrow..I should see pips!

Nooo snow! Noooo rain~! Sunshine!! Cleaned out coops, and tomorrow we are going to hit the runs. Yaay, whew, we have been wanting to do this. Now it's dry enough to do it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Okay, now I've got it! That's a relief to know. The first pic is a prize winner, BTW. Guess you can't enter the cutest chick contest??

It's not a prize winner, it's my picture. Sally and I have been using our pictures and/or pictures from other members (with permission) for examples on the contests.

Me, I was wondering what you did the lone egg for..guess it's to know that breed and band it..I think that's what you said? Is that the strawberry container? Anyway, must tell you...love your little roo crowing. How cute is that? I had one crow at about two weeks old..but 4 days? Going to be a big deal in that yard!

I ended up not needing the strawberry container because I had more quitters than I thought I'd have. So I only have 1 that I want to band, and it's just in a gladware container.

The cockerel crowing was at ONE day old. His father started at 4 days old. It was very cute.

Happy Chooks please don't get offended, but this is simply not true. Had I not researched I would have never known this info...... paste from a clinical study, and yes I read a lot lol

The small intestine enlarged their absorption surface area by 5 fold during last 6 days of incubation, enterocyte number increases. Goblet cells which produce acidic mucin appears and the tissue develop quickly abilities of digestion and absorption. Changes in incubation conditions (temperature/ oxygen/ ventilation) affect these physiological processes and lead to changes in the intestine development and in the quality of hatchlings.

I'm not offended at all.

I don't adjust the thermostat in my incubator after removing the turner. It decreases the temperature by a degree or so because the eggs are lower. It's a still air incubator (so temp 101.5) and it's hovering right now between 99.5 and 100.5. I Haven't had any issues with my chicks - they are hardy and do well. Just my experience.

Now lower temps before lockdown or the early stages of incubation, and yes, you will have issues.

 

[myfivegirls]

Okay, I need some help with humidity. I've been using the Gensis 1588 dig hydrometer for the whole hatch and it's stayed between 20%-30%.
So, for lockdown, I added water to the two trays in the bottom. Waited an hour or more and it only said 45-50% humidity.
So, I added the sponge in a small glass jar of water. It raised the humidity (according to the guage on the incubator) to 52%. So, I stuck another digital hydrometer in the incubator, and it jumped from 46% RH to 88%, and has lowered to 76% now at the egg height! But, I don't know how accurate the dig therm/hydrometer is, except for when I did a "dry run" before setting the eggs. Then, it was only 1 -2 % off. So, I don't know which hydrometer to believe! I'm almost thinking they're both off, since it's most likely higher than 50%, but not 76%.
But, now we have to leave and won't be back for a few hrs. So, I don't really know what to do!

 

[Cynthia12]

Okay, I need some help with humidity. I've been using the Gensis 1588 dig hydrometer for the whole hatch and it's stayed between 20%-30%.
So, for lockdown, I added water to the two trays in the bottom. Waited an hour or more and it only said 45-50% humidity.
So, I added the sponge in a small glass jar of water. It raised the humidity (according to the guage on the incubator) to 52%. So, I stuck another digital hydrometer in the incubator, and it jumped from 46% RH to 88%, and has lowered to 76% now at the egg height! But, I don't know how accurate the dig therm/hydrometer is, except for when I did a "dry run" before setting the eggs. Then, it was only 1 -2 % off. So, I don't know which hydrometer to believe! I'm almost thinking they're both off, since it's most likely higher than 50%, but not 76%.
But, now we have to leave and won't be back for a few hrs. So, I don't really know what to do!

Don't by that gage on that incubator! Not good at all! If you don't have a different therm/hydrometer to use, just fill the wells, and put one sponge in. That should do the trick. I have one, and that thing on there is not right. They are waaay off!

 

[misskeeter]

The whole gang at home... 30 total set. 18 into lockdown. 14 hatched. Two still in the "sick chick box"

 

[misskeeter]