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

[Cynthia12]

Good morning! So, it's 32 degrees here right now. If chicks hatch with my broody, she'll keep them warm, right?

What? At this time of year? I used to live there. I don't remember it getting that cold. I remember it was a big deal if we got a foot of snow, then the schools were trying to decide if there would be school or not..because of buses running. That was back in the 60's. Here, the buses run when we've had 4 or 5 ft. of snow. They are always ready for snow in the winter.

 

[ocap]

lockdown complete

 

[Gardeningmama]

I locked down 9 Call Duck eggs last night. One had quit the day before, I think. I eggtopsied, very cute little black & white duckling. My humidity is obscene, and I'm working on bringing it down. I should just put a smaller pan of water in but I don't want it too low. I wiped down the sides and put rice in. I have read a few times of a technique with Calls of waiting 24 hrs. after the first pip, and then putting a tiny hole in the aircell end of every egg. I am seriously contemplating it. I don't want to lose any to suffocation... This is such a headache!

 

[Penny Hen]

I am about 2 days behind most of you. Had temp fluxes and had to start late. I have still had some roller coastering temps but except for last night they have been staying between 102˚ and 91˚. Last night the temperature outside dipped into the twenties and the room got cold enough that the the incubator fell to 79˚. I think I am slightly underpowered with just one heating rod. I will have to add a second one for spring hatches. One rod in my Aquabator will probably be just fine in the warm summer but not in spring. fall or winter temps.

This is my 4th attempt to hatch. I will be happy if only one hatches though it would be better for it if two hatches. My Chestobator is going to become my brooder. It is just too old of a wooden structure to control temps and humidity at the levels needed to get good hatches. My Aquabator (fish tank) will become a straight Hatcher when I get my Dishobator (dishwasher conversion) done. Currently I am using a see-saw arrangement to turn the eggs. Heavy cardboard triangles with the egg cartons propped up on them. For my quail eggs I am using a little ice tray that I picked up at Kroger.




Although I suppose if the quails are still viable they may hatch on Easter since they were started at the same time as the chicken eggs.

 

[Cynthia12]

I woke up this morning and the Hatcher temp was at 95! The kids opened a window after I went to bed. How low did yours get? For how long? Mine was perfect at 10 pm then 95 at 7am. Are we doomed?

Nah.

 

[Cynthia12]

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

Are you sure your hydrometer is working right? Sounds like you have put a lot of water in there. Make sure you don't get ANY condensation on the windows! Not sure what you bator is, guessing you have wells..we'll go with that..fill them, then a couple of sponges..should be good. Just catching up ,,, now I'll read on and see that you have a different bator.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

 

[Cynthia12]

Ooo, I love pictures of pipped eggs! How exciting...won't be long. We will be having
ourselves a lot of baby photos!

 

[PAchickenlover]

[quote yname="PAchickenlover" url="/t/857062/the-5th-annual-byc-easter-hatch-a-long/9900#post_13283853"]
Struggling to get my humidity levels up to even 50%!! Any suggestions?

Are you sure your hydrometer is working right?  Sounds like you have put a lot of water in there.  Make sure you don't get ANY condensation on the windows!   Not sure what you bator is, guessing you have wells..we'll go with that..fill them, then a couple of sponges..should be good.  Just catching up ,,, now I'll read on and see that you have a different bator. 
[/quote]

Both of mine are home made. Incubator 1 has wells, yes. #2 does not, it is a coolerbator.

 

[Cynthia12]

One way to bump humidity is to put a humidifier in the room. It has helped me a lot.

Oh my goodness, after all of these years of hatching, and I never thought of that? Hello! lol...that is such a great idea! In the summer here, it gets pretty dry. We aren't too dry yet, so good for now, but I am so going to put one in there IF I am hatching then. Ha...I said if...