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

[nate1the1great1]

I would like to participate. My 10 year old daughter and I are looking forward to following this thread! We will hatch Barred Plymouth Rock.

 

[nate1the1great1]

We will be joining in with Mama Sultans Mavis and Creampuff! Cupcake, our beautiful rooster, will be so proud to announce his first heirs :yiipchick :yiipchick We will need some guidance, as this is our first attempt at hatching Sultans, and will be purchasing all new incubation equipment, so will be appreciating all tips we get. Happy Easter! Teri (MavisMama) & Gary Casagranda Sturgeon Bay, WI

 

[Happy Chooks]

If I make a thread about the eggs I am hatching do I have to keep my eggs secret or only on here?

You can say what you are hatching, just not how many eggs you are setting.

 

[beckyb1971]

I'm going to hatch silkie eggs.

 

[MavisMama]

I'd love to hear people's opinions on the best small incubator (I'm planning on setting 6-12 eggs). I've read so many reviews and I appreciate how important maintaining the temperature, humidity level and O2 concentration is, as well as appropriate turning of the eggs. I have a friend who has done lots of home hatching who says manual turning is better than automatic turning, as she has improved hatch rate with hand turning vs higher mortality rate with the automated turner. I would just think not opening the incubator to hand-turn the eggs would be better -
Help!
thanks
MavisMama (Teri)

 

[Cynthia12]

I'd love to hear people's opinions on the best small incubator (I'm planning on setting 6-12 eggs). I've read so many reviews and I appreciate how important maintaining the temperature, humidity level and O2 concentration is, as well as appropriate turning of the eggs. I have a friend who has done lots of home hatching who says manual turning is better than automatic turning, as she has improved hatch rate with hand turning vs higher mortality rate with the automated turner. I would just think not opening the incubator to hand-turn the eggs would be better -
Help!
thanks
MavisMama (Teri)

You will get opinions on this one. It seems to me, that it tends to be different for folks. I think the area you are in makes a difference. I personally really like the still incubator and hand turning. Have done the air, with the turner for times I knew I wouldn't be able to hand turn on a reg. basis. I have seen the difference..for me..it was better with the still.
Others will chime in on how it worked for them.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

You will get opinions on this one. It seems to me, that it tends to be different for folks. I think the area you are in makes a difference. I personally really like the still incubator and hand turning. Have done the air, with the turner for times I knew I wouldn't be able to hand turn on a reg. basis. I have seen the difference..for me..it was better with the still.
Others will chime in on how it worked for them.

Yup, I'm just the opposite. I like my forced air and egg turner...lol. Though I have to admit I have not tried hand turning. Last hatch was 13/16 so I felt pretty good. lol

 

[MavisMama]

Thanks, Cynthia
We're up in the cold, cold north - will keep the incubator inside but want to be sure we have adequate humidity control, since it's more dry while the furnace is running in the house. There are elaborate incubators with automatic external humidifiers ($$$) but is it just as adequate to use a sponge or pan of water & a monitor? I also read about maintaining 20% oxygen concentration - yikes stripes...

 

[ronott1]

I'd love to hear people's opinions on the best small incubator (I'm planning on setting 6-12 eggs). I've read so many reviews and I appreciate how important maintaining the temperature, humidity level and O2 concentration is, as well as appropriate turning of the eggs. I have a friend who has done lots of home hatching who says manual turning is better than automatic turning, as she has improved hatch rate with hand turning vs higher mortality rate with the automated turner. I would just think not opening the incubator to hand-turn the eggs would be better -
Help!
thanks
MavisMama (Teri)

You are talking about a mini incubator.

Brinsea makes a very popular mini incubator.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I'd love to hear people's opinions on the best small incubator (I'm planning on setting 6-12 eggs). I've read so many reviews and I appreciate how important maintaining the temperature, humidity level and O2 concentration is, as well as appropriate turning of the eggs. I have a friend who has done lots of home hatching who says manual turning is better than automatic turning, as she has improved hatch rate with hand turning vs higher mortality rate with the automated turner. I would just think not opening the incubator to hand-turn the eggs would be better -
Help!
thanks
MavisMama (Teri)

For me, life gets in the way of hand turning. Because of an irregular schedule, hand turning was not as good as the auto turner FOR me. Others that use an auto turner also allow their eggs to cool down for an hour or so once they are 8 days old and before lockdown starts. That is supposed to help the hatch rate too. I have not tried the cool down yet as seeing started eggs out of the incubator for more than a few minutes would be a stress trigger for me.