The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[LadyCluck77]

I read and re-read SallySunshine's awesome Hatching eggs 101 page. (Last year too!)
It's perfect for anyone starting out or anyone who wants to brush up on the Zen of hatching.

This year, I will be doing it a little differently- I'll be getting shipped eggs (Yay!!!)
and I noticed that she recommends with the shipped ones letting the eggs settle in an egg carton for about 48 hours so the air cells can re-attach after shipping. Some of those air cell and scrambled photos were a little scary!
This is a dumb question, but does that 48 hours mean in room temperature- not in the incubator... I assume that's what I do? In an egg carton with holes for ventilation, and then I would just add them to the incubator the same time that I add the other eggs all together, and let them turn in the auto-turner?

If any egg-sperts out there who have experience hatching shipped eggs have any more tips, I'd be super-grateful!

 

[LPeaslee]

I read and re-read SallySunshine's awesome Hatching eggs 101 page. (Last year too!)
It's perfect for anyone starting out or anyone who wants to brush up on the Zen of hatching.

This year, I will be doing it a little differently- I'll be getting shipped eggs (Yay!!!)
and I noticed that she recommends with the shipped ones letting the eggs settle in an egg carton for about 48 hours so the air cells can re-attach after shipping. Some of those air cell and scrambled photos were a little scary!
This is a dumb question, but does that 48 hours mean in room temperature- not in the incubator... I assume that's what I do? In an egg carton with holes for ventilation, and then I would just add them to the incubator the same time that I add the other eggs all together, and let them turn in the auto-turner? 

If any egg-sperts out there who have experience hatching shipped eggs have any more tips, I'd be super-grateful! :cd

Correct, don't incubate for 48hr.
Also I hear its best to not turn the shipped eggs for the first 24hr of incubation.

But then again, I'm no expert.

 

[ronott1]

I read and re-read SallySunshine's awesome Hatching eggs 101 page. (Last year too!)
It's perfect for anyone starting out or anyone who wants to brush up on the Zen of hatching.

This year, I will be doing it a little differently- I'll be getting shipped eggs (Yay!!!)
and I noticed that she recommends with the shipped ones letting the eggs settle in an egg carton for about 48 hours so the air cells can re-attach after shipping. Some of those air cell and scrambled photos were a little scary!
This is a dumb question, but does that 48 hours mean in room temperature- not in the incubator... I assume that's what I do? In an egg carton with holes for ventilation, and then I would just add them to the incubator the same time that I add the other eggs all together, and let them turn in the auto-turner?

If any egg-sperts out there who have experience hatching shipped eggs have any more tips, I'd be super-grateful!

The best thing to do is to candle the eggs and see what condition the air cell is in prior to setting them. There is a trade off between age and shipping stress. Remember, eggs that were collected for 5 days and then shipped for two days will already have some eggs in the 7 day old range. Those eggs really need to be set with heat to incubate.

Look for bubbles in the air cell and odd shapes. Also look for detached air cells--air cells that do not stay at the top and move around. Those have lost their anchor and the best you can hope for is a 25% hatch rate with them.

If the air cells are good, set the eggs as soon as they reach room temperature and let them turn. They should be in a turner or egg cartons big end up.

If the air cells are scrambled, they go in as soon as they warm up but then stay big end straight up...not tilted...for up to two days and then start turning.

Detached air cells can go longer without turning because you are trying to get the air cell stable. They are a long shot so the risk of early death from not turning is acceptable. They should not go longer than 4 or 5 days and then turn on the turner. After 2 days check to see if the air cells are stable. If so, start turning them.

I hope this helps!

 

[birdman55]

Ok, so I am going to fire up my usual styrobator this round, but I have also decided to attempt a cooler bator build! Wish me luck!

Advice requested from those who have experience with this (I have never attempted this sort of thing, and I did read through all of Sally's incubator build pages, thank you Sally!):
I am going to use the digital set up (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Aut...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item5d362a8e76) that uses the solid state relay (I think I need the 25 is the one I need if I am following the instructions properly http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Solid-S...850?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item19f1495ae2). Would there be a benefit to using the larger relay (40?). Do I need to use the heat sink with either relay? It is only a couple of dollars, so I figured I would get it just in case (is this the right one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Aluminu...796?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item43d771982c).

What do I need to wire all this stuff together?

With any luck I will have something that can hold several times what I am using currently. I can't wait to fill it!!!

you can see everything including step by step and what you need to buy for materials...with alot of pics on my forum below
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/940456/building-paradise-for-the-birds
skip to pages 17,22,23,25,28,29,31,32,and 44...this should answer all your questions...even how to wire and what to expect with the stc1000 as there are many different types...110ac unit, 220 ac unit, 12volt dc unit, and 24 dc unit...so depending on what you get you have to wire differently...if you need help just pm me



edited to add that you dont need a relay

 

[TJChickens]

Correct, don't incubate for 48hr.
Also I hear its best to not turn the shipped eggs for the first 24hr of incubation.

But then again, I'm no expert.

I read and re-read SallySunshine's awesome Hatching eggs 101 page. (Last year too!)
It's perfect for anyone starting out or anyone who wants to brush up on the Zen of hatching.

This year, I will be doing it a little differently- I'll be getting shipped eggs (Yay!!!)
and I noticed that she recommends with the shipped ones letting the eggs settle in an egg carton for about 48 hours so the air cells can re-attach after shipping. Some of those air cell and scrambled photos were a little scary!
This is a dumb question, but does that 48 hours mean in room temperature- not in the incubator... I assume that's what I do? In an egg carton with holes for ventilation, and then I would just add them to the incubator the same time that I add the other eggs all together, and let them turn in the auto-turner?

If any egg-sperts out there who have experience hatching shipped eggs have any more tips, I'd be super-grateful!

I think it's important to first candle the eggs when they arrive, then you know what you're dealing with. Not all eggs will have damaged cells. It is also important to let all eggs settle and relax after being shipped. I hate to wait 48 hours, because the eggs are getting older rapidly. Also, where I live, there's always a chance that the shipped eggs may have become warm during the last leg of their journey. So, what I usually do, is, candle and outline the air cell with pencil, and put them in the incubator perfectly upright. Assuming they are at least room temperature.... I leave the turner off for a couple days, then I start gently turning any with good looking cells, (just rocking back and forth a little... ) If any have jiggly cells, I don't turn them until the development of the veins holds the cell in place. Usually at about a week. Then I either leave them in an egg carton in the incubator and turn them all by hand three times a day, or if they look really decent, I may lay them down and use the automatic turner. The turners that hold them upright are okay as well, but I feel that sometimes there is an awful lot of vibration going on with these. I have never had luck with a broody hatching eggs that had loose air cells. Candling is the key to knowing how to treat the eggs... This is what has worked pretty good for me, but I don't always do the right thing

Also, eggs that start out with dicey air cells are not always the best at hatching either. Sometimes I have to help them. And it's no fault of genetics, just shipping!

 

[adfields0609]

There is hope yet for my participation. One of my girls has decided to go broody today I guess with all the snow and being cooped up she has decided to make the best of it and be a mommy.

 

[Nomibear]

T

The best thing to do is to candle the eggs and see what condition the air cell is in prior to setting them. There is a trade off between age and shipping stress. Remember, eggs that were collected for 5 days and then shipped for two days will already have some eggs in the 7 day old range. Those eggs really need to be set with heat to incubate.

Look for bubbles in the air cell and odd shapes. Also look for detached air cells--air cells that do not stay at the top and move around. Those have lost their anchor and the best you can hope for is a 25% hatch rate with them.

If the air cells are good, set the eggs as soon as they reach room temperature and let them turn. They should be in a turner or egg cartons big end up.

If the air cells are scrambled, they go in as soon as they warm up but then stay big end straight up...not tilted...for up to two days and then start turning.

Detached air cells can go longer without turning because you are trying to get the air cell stable. They are a long shot so the risk of early death from not turning is acceptable. They should not go longer than 4 or 5 days and then turn on the turner. After 2 days check to see if the air cells are stable. If so, start turning them.

I hope this helps!

It does! Thank you. I just set some eggs with loose air cells. One had the totally detached air cell.
Your post was perfect timing.

 

[JerseyHen]

you can see everything including step by step and what you need to buy for materials...with alot of pics on my forum below
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/940456/building-paradise-for-the-birds
skip to pages 17,22,23,25,28,29,31,32,and 44...this should answer all your questions...even how to wire and what to expect with the stc1000 as there are many different types...110ac unit, 220 ac unit, 12volt dc unit, and 24 dc unit...so depending on what you get you have to wire differently...if you need help just pm me



edited to add that you dont need a relay

 

[acemario]

I just got some speckled Sussex eggs shipped to me. The eggs are very porous and I can't make out the air cell on many. I plan to let them rest for a day or two.

But, the only incubator I have is my broody. Is this bad?

 

[birdman55]

no problem jerseyhen...that is what byc is for right...to learn and help bird lovers out