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

[Aprildeesunshin]

I like my still air incubator also. It was a challenge at first, so I had to work out some things to get it functioning for me.

What are the "things" you needed to work out? I thought I had mine under control, but after last night with the good thermometer the temp went down again. I tried to cover the holes to keep heat in, but it kept the humidity in. Now I am nervous with my hova still air. I don't know if it is the room. I did have it in our main living area and we heat with a wood stove. We let the stove go out over night to conserve wood since no one is in the main living area to sleep and it gets closed off. I moved the bater to a room where the heat doesn't fluxuate as much...a bedroom. It is still cold here in New Hampshire with 3 feet of snow where I am. The temp is up to the max to keep it at the needed temp for the eggs. I can't make it go any higher. Yet, it failed to keep it warm enough inside the bator. I loose most of my eggs over night, especially ready to hatch ones. Before I go to bed they are alive and when I wake up they are dead. I have now placed a small electric heater in the room in hopes to keep the room warmer at a steady temp instead. What other things might I need to do?

 

[draye]

So what's up with folks not turning in their set counts? Have they forgotten that they wanted in?

 

[Tuhmu]

So my hatch may have been thrown off, we'll see I guess. One of my cats decided to jump off of the counter, right onto the glass part of my coolerbator, breaking through. She got a nasty cut for her efforts....managed to break three eggs. (egg guts splattered all over a few of the others) I was also gone most of the day so I don't know how long it was just loosing all of its air.

 

[draye]

So my hatch may have been thrown off, we'll see I guess. One of my cats decided to jump off of the counter, right onto the glass part of my coolerbator, breaking through. She got a nasty cut for her efforts....managed to break three eggs. (egg guts splattered all over a few of the others)  I was also gone most of the day so I don't know how long it was just loosing all of its air.

Exactly why all cats stay outside. Can't stand the critters climbing and jumping up and down on everything.

Need a boot to the rear of a cat icon. Haha.

 

[KYTinpusher]

Question: can week old chicks stay in an outbuilding with their EcoGlow if the night time temps are in the 30s? Or should I bring them in overnight?

I wouldn't. I know I tried my EcoGlow outside in my greenhouse coop one spring. It was inside a rubbermaid container with a cut-out to help hold in the heat. I think my chicks were a few weeks old. I don't think I lost any and can't remember the exact issue, but I decided it was a bad idea. If I remember right, the EcoGlow is only designed to raise the temp about 15 to 20 degrees above ambient room temp.

 

[chicken pickin]

So my hatch may have been thrown off, we'll see I guess. One of my cats decided to jump off of the counter, right onto the glass part of my coolerbator, breaking through. She got a nasty cut for her efforts....managed to break three eggs. (egg guts splattered all over a few of the others) I was also gone most of the day so I don't know how long it was just loosing all of its air.

Oh boy that's not good. I hope the kitties cut isn't too serious.

I wish you luck getting your incubator all patched up and hope your eggs make it. Keep us posted on how things go.

 

[chickwhispers]

Here is a (not very good) picture of the one more developed silkie egg. Any ideas about what day? 16, 17, 18? or longer. I'll try to get a better picture later. I don't want to keep messing with it. But the humidity and egg turner probably should be set for day 18 soon I think or put out with broody. Any thoughts?

 

[ronott1]

Here is a (not very good) picture of the one more developed silkie egg. Any ideas about what day? 16, 17, 18? or longer. I'll try to get a better picture later. I don't want to keep messing with it. But the humidity and egg turner probably should be set for day 18 soon I think or put out with broody. Any thoughts?

Do you see veins if you candle from the top?

 

[Happy Chooks]

So I set 42 and pulled 11 clear eggs last night and that leaves me with 31 eggs. So my rooster is doing his job! Not the best I've had but he's not infertile, which was my fear. Here's a picture of one of his F1 olive egger babies. Squirmy bean.

Great picture!

Quote: Some incubators, like my Hovabator 1602N have red plugs in the lid.

So I have a couple of questions.

1) If I set my eggs on the 12, is it too early to toss clears and/or quitters?

2) I only have one live egg. I am afraid that if I toss the rest, it will cause the temperature in the incubator to become more unstable. Should I at least keep the clears in there?

Thanks for any and all input.

If you are absolutely positive they are dead, then you can remove them. If at all questionable, leave them in.

Quote: I have a Hovabator still air. They are subject to temperature swings, even to outside temperatures. If we are warm and get a cold spell, I have to adjust it. Same if we are cold, then it warms up. Moving it to the bedroom is a good idea, and will help keep it more steady.

So what's up with folks not turning in their set counts? Have they forgotten that they wanted in?

This happens every year. We (meaning Mike) sent out PM's to everyone asking for their set numbers. We'll be recording them for a day or two longer, then cutting it off.

Quote: I'm assuming the outbuilding is large, so I agree, I wouldn't do it.

I have done it, but I brood in a very small coop that I know holds in heat well.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Last Chance to get your egg numbers recorded!
We need them ASAP to close off the contest and get the next one going.

Post in this thread how many eggs you set within the +/- 2 days of the set dates in the first post.
If you did not set any eggs, please post that as well.​