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

[Math]

Here is a picture of some of the hatch. There are more in the incubator.

Oh yeah. They are backyard mix. Roosters were Buff Orpington, Copper Maran and Rhode Island Red. Hens were Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Delaware, New Hampshire Red, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Red Sex Link, and Marans.

 

[Happy Chooks]

That is hilarious! And so true, which is why we get them at night.

Too funny!

I want to enter the hatch-a-long, please put me on the list of participants.

Just got my incubator, a Brisnea mini advance, and this will be my first hatch ever.

Good luck on the hatch everyone.

Welcome! Your first ever hatch is so exciting!

This will be my first hatch and hoping you guys will be able to help me!! I have tried to hatch before but I started with harder things to hatch like ducks and turkeys. But I am going to do chicken eggs this time. Are they easier to hatch than ducks and turkeys??

I've only hatched chicken eggs.

Quote: Same here. And clean the windows so I can see through it.

Can someone comment on Brinsea Octagon 20 vs 40 incubators? I was about to buy the 40 on Amazon when I read reviews that its better to buy 2 x Octagon 20 vs an Ocatgon 40 because the lid is heavy and you have to lift it both hands and put it on the side to do anything inside the incubator and that way you lose humidity and temperature really quickly. That makes sense but what if one had a humidity pump attached? That way there would be no need to open the lid. Am I making any sense?

Any other advantages of 2 x Octagon 20 vs 1 Octagon 40?

I have the 20 and I love it. It doesn't hold many eggs, I think I can fit 24 in it. It's a super easy incubator to use and when you do open the lid, it recovers temp/humidity so quickly. (and I don't have the pump)

Is the time change on Sunday going to affect my hatch? I'm kidding, but I have noticed that my chicks usually start hatching at the same hour I start them. Very timely.

Well, you certainly have incubating nailed if they hatch like clockwork.

 

[Happy Chooks]

It's time to get those Goose eggs set!

Quote:

 

[Joshua G]

These are both pretty good!

 

[mlm Mike]

marilynn c, down-home Dave, and steve horner

Welcome to the 2015 Easter Hatch A Long!

participant list updated to post 2323

 

[Junibutt]

@Junibutt I have one Octagon 20 and one Octagon 40. The lid on the 40 is a little heavy, but mostly it's cumbersome. It does not close as cleanly as the one on my 20 and I have to squeeze it slightly to ensure that it is on tight and not letting a lot of air in and out. I think I'm going to contact Brinsea and ask about that while it's under warranty, but for the moment, I can deal with it. If the price was the same, I'd rather have two 20's instead of the one 40, but that's maybe just my preference.

I just have the basic models with auto turners (I cannot do without auto turners!). Managing the humidity hasn't been an issue for me, though I do miss the electronic temperature control that I have with my Mini Advanced. (The $$$ were a lot more for all that with either the 20 or the 40, too.) I now use my Mini Advanced as my hatcher for small groups. My Jubilee eggs do not store well, so I set them as they are laid, so they hatch out of sequence with my bigger hatches of lavender Orps. My Mini is perfect for lockdown for the Jubilees, and I'll use the 20 for lockdown for larger groups like my lavenders. The 40 will be for "normal" incubation conditions. This way I can set eggs however I wish, whenever I wish, and always have a place for them.

I got a deal on my Octagon 40--I bought it through Rakuten.com, and by applying for their credit card, I saved $60 instantly, so it only cost me $340, shipped free, with the turner. It actually was sold and shipped by Brinsea. I paid about $250-260 for my 20 with the turner from Amazon.com in December. The bottom price was in November, and it has kept kept creeping up every month because of demand (something to remember for future reference).

Thanks for your input. however I already ordered the Octagon 40 last night. Since it has the humidity pump as well, I hope not to have to open it except for candling/lock down and taking out chicks. Any recommendations as to what humidity levels should be set for the Brinseas? @HappyChooks since most of the eggs I am setting are Barnevelders and Welsummers, some will be Cream Legbar & Legbar hybrids any recommended humidity levels?

 

[ronott1]

Thanks for your input. however I already ordered the Octagon 40 last night. Since it has the humidity pump as well, I hope not to have to open it except for candling/lock down and taking out chicks. Any recommendations as to what humidity levels should be set for the Brinseas? @HappyChooks since most of the eggs I am setting are Barnevelders and Welsummers, some will be Cream Legbar & Legbar hybrids any recommended humidity levels?

35 to 40% for those. You can go a bit lower.

Hatch at 65 to 70%.

 

[Junibutt]

35 to 40% for those. You can go a bit lower.

Hatch at 65 to 70%.

Thanks!

 

[fireman0298]

Pleas add me to the HAL. I will be hatching black australorps. I will post how many when I set them.

 

[Cynthia12]

Here is a picture of some of the hatch. There are more in the incubator.

Little fluffy cuties. Thanks for sharing. I just love the little things.