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

[chickiebaby1]

Haha mine is that exact incubator too!

I have this same one too. I had to set the digital at 103 to get it to actually stay at 99-100 at the top of the eggs. I use one of the thermometers that she has inside the bator and that is the one I rely on most. I have used it for several other bators and it is the most consistent the built in ones just seem way off to me.

 

[coop410silkies]

I added one more SS egg to my Hovabator (there is one empty space, now), and my total today is 70.

. On the other hand, this morning I found that my temperature sensor probe had fallen to the bottom of the Hatcherbator and the temperature had risen to 102 - 104*. This is Day 21 of my test. What a TEST! We'll see. Might learn something, you never know. Ah, "the best laid plans of mice and men ............."

 

[Kaylish]

Holy Toledo! 600 posts behind!!!!

That'll teach me to stay away for a day.

Hope everyone had a awesome weekend!

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Help me decide please!!!

My Brinsea is all full 49 eggs
PI-24 incubator tray is all full as well-25 eggs
But now my brain is saying, there is room on both sides of the tray for more eggs. So what if they can't rotate for first 3-5 days, I can manually rotate them and put them in the tray once a few clears have been eliminated.

So shall I go for it? Put more eggs in? or let it go? I have about 55 minutes. 

I am waiting for your votes.

Let me vote first-

Put more eggs in- Yes!!! 

SET ALL THE EGGS!!!!! My Brinsea is full, so I double layered my coolerbator. I turn half the bottom eggs, move the top eggs across to the turned side, turning them as I go, then I turn the other half of the bottom layer. Expecting a dozen more eggs in soon, so it will take a little more finesse to rotate the top layer, but it's totally doable. I say load them in!!!

 

[LadyCluck77]

I don't have an exact number for humidity in a dry hatch, but right now my air is about 20% humidity. When I added just a tiny bit of water to the incubator, it went to 60% humidity. That seemed really high, so I didn't add any more- but this morning it is back down to 20%.
I have ordered another hygrometer from Amazon that should be in tomorrow- is 20% way too low even for dry hatch?
Should I use a damp sponge instead maybe?

 

[ronott1]

I don't have an exact number for humidity in a dry hatch, but right now my air is about 20% humidity. When I added just a tiny bit of water to the incubator, it went to 60% humidity. That seemed really high, so I didn't add any more- but this morning it is back down to 20%.
I have ordered another hygrometer from Amazon that should be in tomorrow- is 20% way too low even for dry hatch?
Should I use a damp sponge instead maybe?

When it gets to 20% add some water.

At 20% you run the risk of having hatch problems--curled toes, slipped hocks, spradle leg and etc. The chicks may also get stuck to the shell.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I don't have an exact number for humidity in a dry hatch, but right now my air is about 20% humidity. When I added just a tiny bit of water to the incubator, it went to 60% humidity. That seemed really high, so I didn't add any more- but this morning it is back down to 20%.
I have ordered another hygrometer from Amazon that should be in tomorrow- is 20% way too low even for dry hatch?
Should I use a damp sponge instead maybe?

I try to keep mine at least 25%. The fall hatch I ran completely dry and it stayed above that, This hatch I have to have a bit of water to keep it at that. I just monitor my air cells to tell me if I need to increase the humidity.

 

[Happy Chooks]

The "Guess How Many Will Hatch" contest is going to be guessing on everything, right? From Emu to quail? Everything that has been set.....

Yep. Once we get all of the totals, we will say how many were set, how many of those will hatch?

Quote: Agreed. Depending on your incubator, it can take a full day to get back up to temperature.

Help me decide please!!!

My Brinsea is all full 49 eggs
PI-24 incubator tray is all full as well-25 eggs
But now my brain is saying, there is room on both sides of the tray for more eggs. So what if they can't rotate for first 3-5 days, I can manually rotate them and put them in the tray once a few clears have been eliminated.

So shall I go for it? Put more eggs in? or let it go? I have about 55 minutes.

I am waiting for your votes.

Let me vote first-

Put more eggs in- Yes!!!

Sounds totally logical to me.

 

[Amyloumomof2]

Help me remember that I have eggs in the incubator at home. We just got a shipment of chicks at the store I work at and they are sooo tempting!!!

 

[ginbart]

Pullet eggs hatch pretty good if with rooster and fertile... Better than nothing....

I really wanted the welsummers I was going to buy, but we will see what happens with mine. The girls across the road were excited to hear I put 3 of their eggs in the bator. lol