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

[Hayduke27]

Yesterday morning we chatted about the topic of elevation and the use of vent plugs. I am located at 7,700 feet, so I pulled my plugs to get as much air flowing as possible. I got the temperature stabilized again, but the humidity dropped to 20% (it's very dry here). I put one vent plug back in and added 2 more of my humidity cups (for a total of 3). This stabilized things at 99.7F and 40%.

This morning I decided to try and get the other vent plug out and stabilize the humidity. I added 2 more humidity cups (for a total of 5) and have been watching the temp carefully. The temperature I have gotten back up and stabilized, but the humidity just refuses to climb any higher than 20%. I don't have much more room for humidity cups, and am a little hesitant to fill the water reservoirs in the bottom of the incubator, as I've heard the water can be a real pain to get out if it's too much.

I know the answer to all humidity questions lies in the "watch the air cell" answer, but seeing as how I've had the humidity stable at 37-40% this entire hatch, I would think I should be trying to keep it there, even if it means filling a reservoir.

Any thoughts/advice? Thanks!!!

 

[uphilljill]

Does anyone know a good method for cleaning of very sticky chicks?

I've been trying warm water and a q-tip but it seems too slow (don't like having the chick out in the cool room too long), and it's not really doing a great job of cleaning them up.

 

[Pozees]

Hayduke27, do you have a humidifier you can put in the room with the incubator?

 

[Pozees]

uphilljill I have rinsed them under warm water, blotted as much dry as possible with a clean towel or paper towel, and put them under the heat lamp, and they fluffed up nicely.

 

[Hayduke27]

Hayduke27, do you have a humidifier you can put in the room with the incubator?

I don't have a humidifier. The eggs are in my living room, which is relatively large, and I'm not sure a humidifier would make a huge difference in there, but perhaps. Maybe I should try and locate one.

 

[Pozees]

I bought mine at Walgreens, I'm sure KMart, Target, probably even grocery stores, all carry them.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Does anyone know a good method for cleaning of very sticky chicks?

I've been trying warm water and a q-tip but it seems too slow (don't like having the chick out in the cool room too long), and it's not really doing a great job of cleaning them up.

I only ever had two, but I ran them under warm water and washed with dawn and then dried with papertowl and put into the brooder under lamp after squirting some Verterycin umbilical type on navel

 

[chiques chicks]

Can't catch up! I did candle and tossed a few. I'm so hands off it is scary.

Turned the incubator off while I candled and forgot until temp was down to 82. I suspect it will all be fine.

 

[Pozees]

The other thing you can do to humidify the room is place containers of water around the room, especially in warm spots where they will evaporate and add humidity to the air - not much, but every little bit helps. I know you have very arid conditions to manage, and another 2300 feet of elevation over me, so you will have challenges to get eggs hatched, but I am confident you will do it. This hatch may be the beginning of a long and very useful learning curve, as your elevation exceeds that of most others who hatch at home. Eggs laid at your home should outperform any from lower elevations.

 

[Hayduke27]

The other thing you can do to humidify the room is place containers of water around the room, especially in warm spots where they will evaporate and add humidity to the air - not much, but every little bit helps. I know you have very arid conditions to manage, and another 2300 feet of elevation over me, so you will have challenges to get eggs hatched, but I am confident you will do it. This hatch may be the beginning of a long and very useful learning curve, as your elevation exceeds that of most others who hatch at home. Eggs laid at your home should outperform any from lower elevations.

I have been really trying hard to do what I can to keep conditions optimal. These eggs are from my hens, so they were laid at this elevation and climate.

I candled yesterday, and of my 21 eggs, 15 are showing veins and moving right along. If I can just get them out of the eggs!!

I think I'll look for a humidifier today.