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

[chickadoodles]

Dude if you want a few eggs let me know.

 

[JoyfulPromise]

That is tough. I have similar issues with my incubator. I trust my digital thermometer that is egg level over the built it one. Unfortunately, I still have to keep that thermometer happy as well because. That is where placement comes in. Don't place the sensor right under the heat source, or underneath the egg turner. Temps will get to high and could cause problems. Just play around with it for a bit to see where you need to place the heat and humidity sensor.

I have a Little Giant still air incubator also. I had to get pretty creative with my sets. First, I can't have a full set because of hot and cold spots. Second, I use a special arrangement that I found works great for all the eggs to develop in sync.
This arrangement along with precise sensor placement gets me the best results. The open 9x9 space at the top gets to hot for proper development. The third step is placement of the temperature and humidity sensor. I chose to place the sensor on the dark brown maran eggs. I also use a secondary digital thermometer/hygrometer that is placed in the bottom corner opposite the built in sensor. Periodically, I will move the digital thermometer into the 9x9 space to check that it isn't getting too hot under the heat source. It can be a pain, but it works for now. I am hoping to get a fan attachment soon so these hot and cold spots are no more.

I have a Little Giant Forced air incubator and I STILL get hot and cool spots!

I have decided to just rotate the location of the eggs each time I turn them (I hand turn), and hope that they all average at a good temperature. It seemed to work last year because I had a pretty good hatch - 31 out of 38 that went to lockdown,

and the ones I pulled out earlier were mostly clears.

 

[mlm Mike]

Agreed131 and Skitt-Chicks

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long.

The participant list is up to date to post 4100

 

[AsterRetirement]

Hello Everyone
We are a Retirement Community in Wisconsin. with around 60 full time residents that love to hatch baby chicks every Easter.

This year we have set 29 eggs. to hatch on Easter Morning or so..........

 

[chicken pickin]

Hello Everyone
We are a Retirement Community in Wisconsin. with around 60 full time residents that love to hatch baby chicks every Easter.

This year we have set 29 eggs. to hatch on Easter Morning or so..........

I think this is just fantastic!!! Such a nice thing for them to look forward to on Easter morning, who doesn't love baby chicks!

 

[ronott1]

Hello Everyone
We are a Retirement Community in Wisconsin. with around 60 full time residents that love to hatch baby chicks every Easter.

This year we have set 29 eggs. to hatch on Easter Morning or so..........

Does the home have a flock of chickens too?

 

[bamadude]

Yeah, we got that in the accident, lol...

Just finished our breeder pens, so should have nice group of pures and projects going, when you get your bator hit me up if you want any eggs... gonna have at least Sulmtalers, CCL's,

Dude if you want a few eggs let me know.

true Ameraucanas, and OEGB's at least...

Awesome

 

[JerseyHen]

Thank you for posting this. I just bought the same one two days ago and paid the $110.00. I will be returning it and buying 2 of these at this price.
I was using the genesis hova bators 1588 for the last few years but forgot to clean them right away last year and the screws rusted and don't want to risk not getting them clean enough.
So I went to my Fleet Farm (not Farm &Fleet)also here in Wi and picked up this one for the HAL. I have to say so far I like it. I did have to use another thermometer to check temp so raised up to 100.5
I had paid $170 For Hovabators 3 yrs ago and I'd say they are comparable but my hoveabator did not have lcd digital display. I will be a lot more careful with these.lol Oh and two negatives. It does not have a clear plastic tray in the bottom. Water goes directly on Styrofoam bottom. Yuk. Bought distilled water. Hope that helps. And the instructions SUCK. Doesn't even tell you where to start to put the water for incubation vs hatching.One big plus is it has a light outer plastic covering. I hated all of the fingernail indents mine got from opening it. Plus as a bonus it was suppose to come with an egg candler but some didn't so the sign at the store said to call the toll free number on the box. Good deal.Thats A $13 EXTRA BONUS.3

so far so good with the new F I Pro Series 4250
Set it @100.5 additional thermometers are reading 99.5 99 and 100.
Turns out I did get Mine on sale for $94.50 @ Fleet Farm. If I order another one for $79.99 plus tax and shipping it will come out to the same price. Might go get another one. I have eggs coming next week and I'm having wishful thinking that all of my shipped eggs are going to make it ! LOL So I wont have room.

Glad you got a good deal on it too. I saw it posted online for up to $180 with the average somewhere around $120, so I figured it was a decent deal. I am curious about the quality of the thing though. I love the idea of the plastic shell, my hovabator is also covered in nail marks. You would think they would mold a handle in there somewhere. I am forever doing the one handed, shoulder wedging with an egg in my other hand move on that thing. I might just put a drawer pull through the styrofoam and liquid nail it in place. PM me if you discover any tricks with the new one. I am thinking I will use a sponge in a really shallow dish to keep the humidity up instead of putting the water in the bottom of the incubator. I will put it under the egg tray if there is room and on top if there is not.

 

[calientepocket]

:/My temp seems to be "stuck" at 98.6. Is that going to affect the incubation process? It raises a few points now and then, but seems to stay at 37 Celsius most often. The thermometer is also at the top of the bator, and not egg level :/

Temp dropped to 96.5 during the night. Really worried since it is only Day One.
I put a towel over the top of the incubator this morning, hoping that will hold in some heat. And it isn't too late for my poor eggs

 

[chickadoodles]

Hello Everyone
We are a Retirement Community in Wisconsin. with around 60 full time residents that love to hatch baby chicks every Easter.

This year we have set 29 eggs. to hatch on Easter Morning or so..........

That is wonderful everyone loves chicks!