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

[Math]

That was the top of the bottom level of eggs. There are 9 stacked on top. I fiddled with it all day and finally made a BIG adjustment, got the temp to 99, and slowly brought it back to 101-102. I don't know how hot the eggs were; every time I saw a 103+ reading I cracked the lid. And I was checking pretty often.

Yeah, okay. You know the temperature at the embryo level of the eggs is where the temperature is important. Right? So, I run the temperature at the top of the eggs at 104 F to achieve about 99.5 to about 100 F at embryo level. This is in my incubator. I am not saying this will work for you. But you can consider this information.

 

[Junibutt]

Weight Tracking Experts!

I weighed all the eggs individually when I candled them yesterday on Day 7. Weight losses ranged from 1.8% to 3.5% What should be the normal weight loss by Day 7?

Humidity is ranging between 30-45%.

 

[paris_r]

I'm not sure of your situation but one chick cannot survive alone. I did this and all my adult hens killed my lonesome baby, if you can I'd sick some more eggs in

ahh, unless you raise that chick all by yourself. that is what i did with my TuffyButt, he was in a 10 gallon tank next to my bed and i took him darn near everywhere with me, by the time he was 3 months old i had his sister who her mother abandoned so then they had each other for company. as for the incubator--you can use water filled objects to act as a heat buffer-i dont know your set up (auto turner?) but ice packs also work as heat buffers-since it is the heat retention properties of water they make use of, you could also use baggies or jam jars filled with water. i put my eggs in the 14 th and puled my clears and blood rings today--hey it makes more room for more eggs ya know!

 

[Cynthia12]

If it's not to late to be added, add me. I set some barred rock eggs on the 14th. Just happened to work out that I set them on the right day! I also set some Rhode Island Red eggs the next Thursday I think. They are suppose to hatch on the 9th. This is my first time hatching eggs in an incubator. Also I have a hen sitting on some eggs and I think they may hatch around the 4th as well! Good luck to all!

 

[Cynthia12]

 

[kbarnes]

OK here's my rundown for day 15 for ducks.....

Out of 4 mallards 2 quit and 2 are happy healthy and developing fine.
Out of 10 pekin all 8 in the bator were non fertile, 2 under broody were doing great until one just disappeared. 1 left under broody and doing great.

Day 10 for chicks....
11 CCLs were clear or bloodringed, 10 doing great. All 8 shipped did not make it.
Out of 28 EEs I think my roo doesn't like one of my girls... Only have 12 that were fertile but all 12 are doing great.
My 5 barnevelder/Brahma crosses are doing great.
The 8 barnyard mix under my broody only 4 were fertile and they are doing great.

 

[NikkiCole5]

ahh, unless you raise that chick all by yourself. that is what i did with my TuffyButt, he was in a 10 gallon tank next to my bed and i took him darn near everywhere with me, by the time he was 3 months old i had his sister who her mother abandoned so then they had each other for company. as for the incubator--you can use water filled objects to act as a heat buffer-i dont know your set up (auto turner?) but ice packs also work as heat buffers-since it is the heat retention properties of water they make use of, you could also use baggies or jam jars filled with water. i put my eggs in the 14 th and puled my clears and blood rings today--hey it makes more room for more eggs ya know!

I raised my lonesome girl myself just like you did, but as soon as she got put outside with the others she was killed, I tried separating her from the others but all she wanted was me to bring her back inside, I wish I was lucky enough that she got a buddy but I wasn't, it was really depressing because I loved that girl. She would sit on my shoulder and follow me, she was precious. I'm glad yours survived though! I just wanted to share my experience, this batch I have three chicks and two ducklings so I'm hoping they can defend themselves from my others this time

 

[bantambury]

I candled again last night to ensure if i had clears. I pulled 6 more clears. I have 19 dancing eggs in the bator, 3 that i think quit but i kept in, abd i cant really see through my OE eggs so i haven't candle them or counted them in my total.

Ill probably candle the quitters again tuesday night so i could see if i can pull them. My surgery is wednesday so im not sure how well id be able ro get around after

 

[gevshiba]

Here's one too...5 eggs peeled easily! Have to try this!

I tried this with one egg at a time in a glass mug. It was messy, but worked great. My eggs were in a pan of water, so I stopped adding water to the mug and just shook the wet egg. That worked fine, too. I think putting the eggs in a large jar with a screw on lid might work best. I don't think you need that much water or to shake them that much, either. I only had one that stuck a little, but by the end, I was rushing to get done and I think that's why.

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Weight Tracking Experts!
I weighed all the eggs individually when I candled them yesterday on Day 7. Weight losses ranged from 1.8% to 3.5%  What should be the normal weight loss by Day 7?

Humidity is ranging between 30-45%. 

The weight loss goal for chickens by lockdown is around 13%, but the individual weight losses will vary. I look at the trend, as eggs who may be a little slow to drop weight at first can catch up. Mine drop between 2% and 4% each week. Based on their rate of moisture loss, I should expect them to be right around 12 - 14% by lockdown. My lowest first quarter number was 1.84%, while the highest was 4.57%. By the next quarter, they were 4.6% and 8.0%, and neither represented the second quarter low or high (which were 4.5% and 8.1%, respectively). I look at averages. My first quarter average loss was 2.58%. My second quarter was 5.58%. On that trajectory, by the 4th quarter I should be at 12% average loss, which is slightly low, so I am running my humidity about 5% lower than I did for the first half of incubation. Weights are great if you don't quite trust what your hygrometer tells you, and can give you a basic guideline for humidity adjustment during incubation. Every egg is different, some are more porous and some really hold onto moisture. Don't worry too much about individual eggs, and follow the group as a whole. You'll do fine!!