The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Rollerman]

On the Seramas in the above post. Thats not a real good pic but they wouldn't sit still!lol. The little hen is laying every other day. They are as cute as can be. Would make great inside or outside pets. I am asking $40 for the pair on craigslist but for anyone on this thread I will take $35.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Sam, I do the dry incubation method after a number of wretched hatches. I keep humidity at 30-40% for the first 18 days. At lockdown I adjust it up to around 65%. Once they start hatching the humidity goes up just by the humidity released by the chicks. My hatches have been a lot more successful when I lowered my overall humidities. For a while I was having trouble with chicks drowning in the shell.

Try using a small maglight to candle. The one I use is 6-7" long and can be adjusted down to a narrow beam. I point the narrow beam at the air cell end and kind of cup my hand around the end of the flashlight to direct the light even more. It works great for everything except the darker eggs (like welsummer and marans) and some of my blue eggs. Plus it is really easy to use and is portable so I can take it out to the pens to candle.

 

[matlock585]

Quote:
Citygirl-
Do you think I have enough time if I keep the humidity lower from now till Wednesday? I'll target 65% for lockdown, which will be better for me, because at 70% I had quite a bit of condensation on the viewing window. In the mid to lower sixties it wasn't so bad.
thanks again,
Sam

 

[Tracyree]

Hi all. Just checking in. Following your posts closely Sam, can't wait to see how your hatch goes!

My four are getting feisty! Had to cover the brooder bin with our oven racks tonight and HAVE to upgrade the brooder tomorrow. They seem to need more space and taller walls.

Coop is coming along. Should be done next week!

 

[matlock585]

Now I'm gettin' myself all worked up...

Think I might suck some of the water out of the bowl and drop the humidity to target 20% for the weekend while I'll be here to watch 'em. You made me get scared citygirl!

Ya'll know I'll keep you posted. LOL
I'm off to insert straw and suck out yucky old food colored incubator water... oh the joys of parenthood, right?

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Tracy- isn't it funny how fast they learn to fly and get zippy?

Sam- How are adding the humidity to your bator? I use a plastic sippy cup bottom full of water. To up the humidity I put a second glass of water in there. It makes it really easy to control the total humiity AND the glasses of water act like a heat sink to stabilize the overall temperature. You have five days before Wednesday. I think I would let the humidity drop a little if you can do it easily.
There is a trick to learning how your incubator works in your home. I know the dry method works really well for me here. It might work differently for you in your home (depending on the temp and humidity in the house). You may need to do a series of test runs in the bator before you get it completely figured out. If you can, keep a journal of daily temps and humidities and household conditions.

Can't wait to see how it goes!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Freaking out is not allowed in hatching, Sam!

Just kidding! We all freak out with hatching. It's part of the game. You will be fine. If they hatch, they hatch. If they don't, you figure out how to adjust things for next time and give it another go. It is just part of the learning curve.

Take deep breaths. In... out...

 

[matlock585]

Well that was pretty gross, but I just attacked it "fear factor" style. It's over now (so glad there wasn't anyone awake to take pictures! ), and the the humidity dropped 2% soon as I did it. I hope I can save these babies. I don't want to make it to lockdown and drown them when they try to hatch.
If I wasn't going in to be the new office mgr. Monday, I'd consider taking the week off to monitor the incubator!

On the side as an edit: I thought about taking it to my Mom's, but she's already watching my 7 and 8 year old boys, decided it might be too much for her to worry about.

 

[EconMan]

Hey guys and gals! This week has been super busy with a youth football camp so I haven't been able to get online as much as I would like.

The eggs are doing great. I think the only one that quit on me was the Cochin egg. No veins, just a sort of dark mass. Looks nothing like the rest. I haven't really candled them all after the 7-10 day candling, just the Cochin because I wasn't sure it was growing like it should.

About a week out from hatching though. I will probably miss the hatch but will be back within 24-36 hours of hatching. I work Bonnaroo every year so the wife is going to look in on the hen and babies while I'm gone. I have to finish the grow out pen for the hen and chicks early next week before I leave!

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

 

[cpegram]

Good Morning all and good luck on those hatches.... I am on day 20 with some Wheaten Ameraucanas and some barnyard mixes...one of the Wheatens has pipped before i left for work this morning

I don't really worry about humidity much the first 18 days somewhere around 30% then on lock down I keep it between 50-60 % my last hatch on shipped eggs 8/8 black Ameraucana 12/14 cuckoo maran....crossing my fingers on this one... mine usually will have one early bird the rest hatch on day 21 and 22......another scortcher today everyone stay cool!!!