The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[Happy Chooks]

Don't forget - when your hatch is done, post in this thread how many chicks you hatched!

If nothing hatched (though we hope not), please post that as well.​

 

[cindynkidsd]

So nervous, candled day 18 early this morning. Took out 6 out of 33. Please, oh please, somebody hatch! This is my first time and I'm about crazy. Locking down when I get home after lunch. Aaaaaggggghhhhhh!

 

[chickenlisa]

I put the day 18 eggs into my other incubator for Lockdown last night at 10:30 or so...after getting it finally up to 99.5-100 degrees (other incubator top didn't work, I switched them, it worked...long story...I posted about it last night) and I just checked them now while adding some water through the air vent hole...HOLY CRIKEY!!!

2 of the Speckled Sussex Ebay shipped eggs have big pips already!

This is early day 19...I have to wonder if they came already being sat on for a day or two...or if my 100 incubator with the fan got them cooking and ready a little sooner.
I have to leave- I can not watch...I'm going to get my Easter dinner ingredients. This will drive me crazy...I thought I had a few days still.

 

[JDchicks]

24 into lockdown

 

[PAchickenlover]

Struggling to get my humidity levels up to even 50%!! Any suggestions?

lots of sponges; I have a cabinet bator with water trays on top; I use cheap celluloid sponges from the dollar store and stand them up on end, will get mine up to about 50% if I put all 36 of them in

I took an old sock that was getting holes in it, tied a piece of yarn to it, put the whole sock in the water then pulled it out some and secured it on the outside. So far incubator #1 is at 47% and incubator #2 is at 56%. I have more room to pull the sock out further in #2 hence the higher humidity I think... Have to figure out something else for #1....

 

[mlm Mike]

Don't forget - when your hatch is done, post in this thread how many chicks you hatched!

If nothing hatched (though we hope not), please post that as well.​

Also, if you can,please include the species and breed information.

 

[ronott1]

This just makes me even more anxious and excited!!! They are SO stinkin' cute!! EEEEEEK! Why do you have egg cartons on the side of the Brinsea? Is it so chicks can't squeeze over there?

Yes, the egg cartons keep them from getting stuck on the side. They will die there sometimes.

 

[Hayduke27]

I was just pondering the lock-down process, and a question came to mind. Does a broody hen somehow increase the humidity level underneath her during the end of a hatch, or is their humidity just whatever the outside humidity level is?

 

[sillycmoy]

So I officially put 38 out of 43 eggs in lockdown. I'm not sure on about 5-6 eggs, as I can't see in them, only going off the air sacks and that they don't smell. This is my 2nd hatch, and its so much bigger then my first hatch, so I'm hoping at least 30 chicks pop out. YIKES 38 is still a lot.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I put the day 18 eggs into my other incubator for Lockdown last night at 10:30 or so...after getting it finally up to 99.5-100 degrees (other incubator top didn't work, I switched them, it worked...long story...I posted about it last night) and I just checked them now while adding some water through the air vent hole...HOLY CRIKEY!!!

2 of the Speckled Sussex Ebay shipped eggs have big pips already!

This is early day 19...I have to wonder if they came already being sat on for a day or two...or if my 100 incubator with the fan got them cooking and ready a little sooner.
I have to leave- I can not watch...I'm going to get my Easter dinner ingredients. This will drive me crazy...I thought I had a few days still.

If your temps are on the high side, they will hatch earlier.

I was just pondering the lock-down process, and a question came to mind. Does a broody hen somehow increase the humidity level underneath her during the end of a hatch, or is their humidity just whatever the outside humidity level is?

Yes, the broody regulates humidity by plucking her breast and skin to egg contact. If you feel under a broody near hatch, you will feel it.