The 8th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!!!!

[Cynthia12]

I'M SO EXCITED & I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!!!

I've never done this before and after a lot of pondering over info on incubators and pros and cons of each model my Hubby allowed me to buy our first hatchery set up!!!
We bought a tub brooder with light (still looking into a different heat source for ducklings and quail chicks), we also bought an Incuview Deluxe Kit which included the IncuBright candler and also bought an additional IncuTherm like the reviews recommended. I've been SO EXCITED that I've called the wearhouse to see when it would leave after we ordered it and then checking its progress via mail tracking almost every 5mins!!!!

At least the first few days, now I'm down to once an hour or so.

Pathetic I know and yes I know it will not arrived sooner then it will regardless of how many times I scour for updates but I can't help it! LIFE IS BEING DELIVERED!!!

Supposedly it can hold Quail eggs up to Goose eggs and Every egg in between!

This Candler is reported to see even into the darkest and thickest of egg shells!

I'm SO Excited for this new adventure!

We shall have to wait and see how everything turns out!

We will be starting it up as soon as it arrives and doing a trial run with our quail eggs before we do our First and Official Hatch-A-Long run with our duck eggs!

Sincerely,
Your Fellow Homesteader,
Glaseria

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[hereorthere]

Hello everyone! I'm twitching to set eggs so I'll join in on the fun. Have 2 mama hens that I'm hoping to entice to go broody, but if I can't....will fire up the incubator!

 

[sjturner79]

I'm sooooo upset!!  I just realized that my turner hasn't been plugged in since I started my first batch of eggs on the 7th!!! Those babies are in the hatcher now, but I'm not feeling too optimistic since they went 18 days without getting turned, unless you count when I took them out to candle them...I'm so angry at myself! And the other babies are on Day 9 now...I'm hoping they'll be ok. It'll be my first hatch of true Ameraucanas after getting my breeding pens set up at the beginning of the month.   PLEASE OH PLEASE let some of my babies make it!! And the worst part is that I'm going to have to call my friend who had reserved some of the chicks about to hatch and tell her she may not be getting as many as she would have liked...I can't believe I did that....

I don't have an automatic turner and still got 70% hatch on a set that got turners a total of 4 times over the 21 days.

 

[Sueg4332]

Quote: thank you I love all the baby pictures really hard on a hatch o halic LOL

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I actually like using the parabolic lamps, each with a 250w infra-red bulb. They work just fine if you know how to set them up and use them. The advantages over other heating methods are they they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and are easy to set up. The bulbs are also very inexpensive to replace. The main disadvantage is that they can be expensive to operate over time.

Studies have shown that the infra-red lighting actually makes chicks less aggressive toward each other, and chicks sleep just fine under the lighting. Chicks sleep a lot no matter what, especially during the first couple of weeks, and it doesn't matter if there is light present or not. I've always been amazed how chicks will synchronize their sleep and waking patterns almost immediately after a hatch. That instinctive flock behavior just kicks in all by itself. It's nothing short of amazing.

For my brooder set up, I use 100 gal. Steralite tubs from Wal-Mart ($20 each) with the lamps suspended from stands that I made from old pallets. I aim the lamps down vertically (straight down). Temp is easy to control and adjust by either raising or lowering the lamp cord that's attached to the lamp, which is at one end of the tub. (I don't use the clips that the lamps come with at all.) Chicks will find the temperature sweet spot where they are comfortable. Usually after the first four weeks (after the chicks have feathered,) they are moved to brooder pens with no additional heat source. Since I live in the South, ambient temperatures usually aren't an issue, although there are days that they get additional heat in the winter and fan-aided ventilation in the summer.

The main thing about a heat source for your chicks is to find something that works for you. You can spend a lot of money if you choose, but you don't necessarily have to in order to have a nice set up that works. Also, I have used a heating pad as a heat source in the past, and it worked great; however, for me, the parabolic lamps are cheap and easy, so I use them. I could always run down to TSC to pick up some more bulbs if I ever needed to do so, but I always keep plenty on hand, so that has never been a problem. Even if you opt for one of those super nice Brinsea units, it's good to have a parabolic lamp and infra-red bulb ready as a backup. Even a Cadillac breaks down every now and then.

To keep this post on topic, I have a slight change in my H-A-L plans. Instead setting of a dozen lavender orpington eggs, I plan to set a dozen crele orpinginton eggs and a dozen silver-laced orpington eggs. I got a great deal from a local breeder on the silver-laced eggs, so I had to make the switch. I already have buff and chocolate orps, so if this hatch is successful, the new girls should be a nice addition to my orpington flock.

This sounds very similar to my setup. I find the very same thing, whether it's the chicks started under the clear 65 watt clear bulb, or the 175/250 infra red bulbs...or even the adults when I've forgotten a light on (it happens sometimes with the roosters) as soon as the sun goes down...the chicks are sleeping and the adults are roosting. I always think it's so cool how they just fall into sync with the light patterns...lol.
I also agree that the best way of providing heat for your chicks is what works for you.

Quote: Wriggling is a good sign! I've done a couple of hatches with no turning (except candling) and no turning older eggs and still got chicks. I think you have a decent chance of getting chicks.

 

[Cynthia12]

Hello everyone! I'm twitching to set eggs so I'll join in on the fun. Have 2 mama hens that I'm hoping to entice to go broody, but if I can't....will fire up the incubator!

 

[Glaseria]

Update: It arrived!!! We are having some difficulties though. Our house normally fluctuates between 70 and 50°F. We've set up the incubator in the spare room with a space heater that set to turn on when the room temperature is lower than 70° to try and keep it at 70°. However the temperature seems to Spike and my humidity which I don't believe I has been added water has been off the charts high! I move the space heater from underneath the incubator and that seemed to help a little but we're still within the 24 hour window to stabilize it before adding eggs. Am I missing something that I need to wash it before we plugged it in to use it? Or should I just turn off and take out our space heater? I don't want to constantly run my entire house at 70° if I can avoid it. I'll be honest I like the lower bills. Thoughts? Because this is my first time doing any of this and I don't really know what I'm doing other then hoping it magically stabilizes and the humidity sorts itself out so we can hopefully hatch some eggs!

Sincerely,
Your Fellow Homesteader,
Glaseria

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[FreedomFarm13]

Hi, @glaseria! I'm not a seasoned hatcher yet to give you a lot of technical advice. I will say that I have a space heater in my spare room where I incubate and I've never had a problem with temps. It should keep your humidity low to run a heater in there, since they dry out the air...but you said you haven't added any water? Hmm. Is it humid where you live? That might have something to do with it. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, I'm still technically a newbie, this is my first year hatching. Hope you get it stabilized!

 

[FreedomFarm13]

@Wickedchicken6, do the eggs you've had hatch this way usually take the same amount of time to hatch, or do they take longer? It's the morning of Day 21 for my babies and not a single pip yet...wondering if they'll be delayed because they weren't turned...?

 

[KYTinpusher]

Update: It arrived!!! We are having some difficulties though. Our house normally fluctuates between 70 and 50°F. We've set up the incubator in the spare room with a space heater that set to turn on when the room temperature is lower than 70° to try and keep it at 70°. However the temperature seems to Spike and my humidity which I don't believe I has been added water has been off the charts high! I move the space heater from underneath the incubator and that seemed to help a little but we're still within the 24 hour window to stabilize it before adding eggs. Am I missing something that I need to wash it before we plugged it in to use it? Or should I just turn off and take out our space heater? I don't want to constantly run my entire house at 70° if I can avoid it. I'll be honest I like the lower bills. Thoughts? Because this is my first time doing any of this and I don't really know what I'm doing other then hoping it magically stabilizes and the humidity sorts itself out so we can hopefully hatch some eggs!


Sincerely,
Your Fellow Homesteader,
Glaseria

...

Heat rises, so the hottest part of the room will be above the heater when it is on. This would account for the temperature spikes. Move the heater at least 6 feet away from the incubator and if it has a fan, do not point it directly at the incubator. Washing the incubator before you use it is good, just let in run for at least 24 hours with no added water to help it dry out. You can put a plate of dry rice in it to help absorb the excess moisture. You should get a back-up hygrometer (or 2 or 3) to check the accuracy of the digital one on the incubator. A couple of extra thermometers are a good idea, too. (ETA - I haven't had my coffee yet!) Good luck with your hatch!