THE MOTHER'S DAY HATCH-A-LONG!!!! The last day to join in and set eggs with us is April 28th.

[mrheinz77]

I know where you can get some of those blue eggs from a BBS flock.

 

[yinepu]

I just checked..
I have 9 different hatch dates coming up (turkeys, geese, chickens, emu)..
plus two more for the eggs that haven't arrived yet (muscovy and geese) split between 4 bators..
plus a broody turkey on eggs,
a shipment of freedom rangers and turkey poults due to be shipped to me in the beginning of May..

plus right now I have 4 brooders running with chicks (quail, turkey poults and chickens)


my husband thinks I have lost my mind..... i think he may be right

 

[Arielle]

Hi all - yup, you don't see a calibration mark because there isn't one (and I certainly should not admit that I worked in a Hospital Lab

). My friend whom I borrowed the 'bator from never mentioned calibrating the thermom - perhaps because he hasn't had issues with it in the past, or perhaps because he calibrated it and didn't have a need to mark it...don't know. But I do appreciate the gentle reminder to make sure it's reading correctly!

The temp has been off a half a degree, but I think that issue is ironed out. And I read a truly thought provoking article (from an old post on BYC) on humidity. Scratches head...

Yes, the bantam Leghorn bantam Barred Rock cross is so astonishingly friggin cute! And when my boss guy sees more of these little gherkins running around...oh, wait...don't count your chickens before they've hatched!

I have incubated a few hatches, summer, fall, now spring; chicken eggs and turkey eggs. I'm not a master but I have learned a few things. THe appropriate growth of the air cell is the most important factor. It must be a pretty specific size by lockdown. You can influence this by managing the RH and the ventilation. Worrels article points out that different incubators need different RH, but the increasing size of the air cell is the constant. SOrry if I am repeating --the diagrams of air cell development are important to have on hand while candling. THe other method is to weigh the eggs. 11-14% weight loss. Hope this all makes sense.

Pretty girl on eggs.

 

[Larkyn]

I know where you can get some of those blue eggs from a BBS flock.

Don't tempt me! D: At least..not till after my current attempt hatches out!

 

[wolftracks]

I know where you can get some of those blue eggs from a BBS flock.

I've been fighting myself over your BBS and you Wellies. BTW where are your Wellies from?

 

[java girl 2]

well you have until sat to get eggs!

I'm seriously tempted to go buy some eggs right now. D: must...resist...

 

[java girl 2]

well I got my BLACK JAVA EGGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 dozen eggs?!?!?!

+ I have eggs hatching on may 2, not java eggs and I am waiting to see if I get JAVA CHICKS from a guy in VT with eggs as well! they are to hatch the same day as the one in my incubator! OH BOY, WHAT DID I GET MYSELF IN TOO?!?!?!?!?!

WELL TO BE HONEST................ I have not had good hatchs this year,

so I'm hoping this time it will go better!

 

[BantamBabesFarm]

What is the humidity % That is generally used? Can I lower it after having it at 55% for a week... or will that hurt the eggs? I have been reading about lower humidity around 40-47% instead of 55% and that being better for the air cell and if its higher it makes the chick too big for the egg. ( Which my family is having that exact issue! One pip and then they cant move or hatch... this happens at 55% humidity for them. I dont want mine to be this way! )

So can someone tell me if its okay to turn it down after a week at 55%? What is the best percentage to use! Ahhh this is hard!

 

[mrheinz77]

Quote:
I've been fighting myself over your BBS and you Wellies. BTW where are your Wellies from?

Most of my stock is from Trish Dusil. Flocks from Trish include: BBS Cochin, Cuckoo Marans, GLP, Ameraucanas, RIR, and Wellies. Trish told me her Wellies are mostly KC lines. She shows from most of these pens. My Icelandics are from Notafarm. My LF Langshans are from Cindy Rasmussen. The Bantam Langshans are from Brett Kriefel and the Iowa Blues are from kariwm. I have other up and coming breeds too, some I just need to get pens built for. My goal is to be able to offer SQ stock. Many of my breeds are SQ already, but I will keep them that way or improve where I can. I'm putting my Biology degree to use since I'm not teaching bio (I am teaching Chem, Physics, and Physical Science).

 

[1hotmoma]

Larkyn, I completely understand. I saw a red fox in the upper pin in my yard the other night. Thank goodness my husbands home for the next 2 nights. I hope we can get him. I want my babies left alone!!