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

[ronott1]

I haven't yet as the last batch that also didn't develop (and now I know why), just finished a few days ago. So I had just assumed that the problem was with shipped eggs. I wonder how many times the USPS gets blamed when in reality it was the incubator causing the problem.

The lesson to be learned here: The cheap comes out expensive. I was just so tempted by the low cost of the Brinsea incubators.

Oh and lesson number two: If using a cheap incubator for this hatch-a-long, check the temp every 15 minutes.

That is a very good point!

Many will spend a lot of money on eggs but not much on the incubator, candler, thermometer or hygromenter.

I have heard good things about Dickey incubators.

 

[austinbndr28]

I haven't yet as the last batch that also didn't develop (and now I know why), just finished a few days ago. So I had just assumed that the problem was with shipped eggs. I wonder how many times the USPS gets blamed when in reality it was the incubator causing the problem.

The lesson to be learned here: The cheap comes out expensive. I was just so tempted by the low cost of the Brinsea incubators.

Oh and lesson number two: If using a cheap incubator for this hatch-a-long, check the temp every 15 minutes.

I am using cheap Little Giant styrofoam incubators and have for last 3 years and I keep them in the basement and they both have held steady temps. at 99.5 degrees and they never have dropped or spiked temperatures on it's own I've had very successful hatches with them hand turned or with a turner.

 

[sasimpson77]

I finally have my final count

I set 275 BYM for a friend on 03/27
6 silver laced Wyandottes on 3/29/14
8 gold Laced Wyandottes on 3/29/14
4 RIR (thrown in with the Wyandottes) 3/29/14
12 Lavender Orps on 3/29/14
2 kansas blues on 3/29/14
12 Rodebars (I think) on 3/29/14
4 mystery eggs on 3/29/14
12 english blue and black orps on 3-30-14
34 BBS Orps on 3-30-14
10 Black Copper Marans on 3/29/14
2 BYM (included to fill carton with the marans) on 3/29/14

For a grand total of 381 eggs set total


Now that is a lot of eggs lol Crazy thing is I still have more room in the incubators lol now when it comes to hatching I might have a little more of a struggle but I picked up something really cool today at a yard sale that I think will help with hatching

 

[JackieandChicks]

I have that same one as a hatcher and two forced air as incubators -- I've noticed that the forced air ones can vary as much as two degrees without moving the nob and without room temperature rising, it seems to be a bit worse in the still air I have. I lost several expensive egg hatches before I broke down and got a temperature/humidity recorder to sort out the issue. I ended up setting it to stay most of the time at 98.5 degrees in the forced air incubators, knowing it will go up as high as 100.5 periodically. Before I turned it down to that I would have eggs killed by spikes. I've had more kills by the still air than the forced air, so I keep it lower aiming at 96 degrees at egg level, which seems to work for hatching.

Take it with a grain of salt, that just happens to be what works well in mine in case it helps you. If you can manage to get one, any temperature/humidity recorder is a godsend. It made it so much easier to pinpoint issues and test fixes - like how opening the closet door about two inches while I'm gone at work can prevent daytime temperature spikes in my incubators.

Okay, now you've got me thinking. This was the first 50 degree day in Michigan. Bet the room just got that little bit warmer. I'm going to keep the door open tomorrow when I go to work (one more 50 degree day) - the rest of the week is back to 40's.

 

[Penny Hen]

I set 10 lemon cuckoo Orpington eggs yesterday! I'm hoping for better results than my last batch which was lost due to power outage! It looks like spring finally came to Tennessee

Hurray!!!! Spring!!!! Say supermom, will you be at the Dickson Poultry show in April?

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Quote: I like the hovabators because they are cheap, but seem to be reliable. Been using mine for years without issue. I do need to invest in something better than those cheap walmart thermometer/hygrometer.

I've heard similar good things about Dickey's. If I can't find a used cabinet bator I think I will probably order from them.

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

Dangerous question. Do you mean for a reasonable person or are you considering stacking eggs?

Um...both

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I finally have my final count

I set 275 BYM for a friend on 03/27
6 silver laced Wyandottes on 3/29/14
8 gold Laced Wyandottes on 3/29/14
4 RIR (thrown in with the Wyandottes) 3/29/14
12 Lavender Orps on 3/29/14
2 kansas blues on 3/29/14
12 Rodebars (I think) on 3/29/14
4 mystery eggs on 3/29/14
12 english blue and black orps on 3-30-14
34 BBS Orps on 3-30-14
10 Black Copper Marans on 3/29/14
2 BYM (included to fill carton with the marans) on 3/29/14

For a grand total of 381 eggs set total


Now that is a lot of eggs lol Crazy thing is I still have more room in the incubators lol now when it comes to hatching I might have a little more of a struggle but I picked up something really cool today at a yard sale that I think will help with hatching

wow that's a lot of eggs! What do you have for incubators?

 

[DCchicken]

I am using cheap Little Giant styrofoam incubators and have for last 3 years and I keep them in the basement and they both have held steady temps. at 99.5 degrees and they never have dropped or spiked temperatures on it's own I've had very successful hatches with them hand turned or with a turner.

I don't have any problems with the Genesis sitting next to it. In fact, eggs are beginning to hatch in the Genesis right now.

Hello fellow Marylander. Are you getting the same snow that we are getting in Upper Marlboro?

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Ok, so I have my own temperature dilemma, and it is NOT with my thermometer, which I have double checked with a medical thermometer. I have an older LG Styrobator WITH Fan and I am using the auto turner. It is the older style turner with all the little plastic individual egg holders that snap into metal turning rails on the turner. Anyway, I have my thermometer (which is a digital indoor/outdoor with probe) rigged up so the probe end has 5 threads tied to it and running out the 4 corners of the top of the styrobator and one out the middle front. This way I can gently pull the threads from the outside and move the probe around to test different areas of the incubator without opening it!

SO, my problem is that now that my 49 eggs are set and up to temp, I am STILL getting large differences in temp from the front to the back corners of the 'bator. For example, I tested it again this afternoon, and on TOP of the eggs, in the Front left corner of the 'bator (with "back" being where the plugs go out and the turner motor is located), the temp registered 101.8º F, but at the same time (or within a minute or two as I moved the probe back) the BACK left corner, again on TOP of the eggs, registered at 98.6ºF!!! If I rest the probe in the middle of the left side, it shows 99.5ºF, again on top of the eggs. This is supposed to be a circulating air incubator, I hear the fan running, WHY are the temps so different???

Will this be ok for the eggs? I plan to switch all the eggs to opposite locations in the 'bator when I candle at day 7, but should I do that again sooner, like on day 3 or 4, and then again on day 7, and so on?