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

[Larkyn]

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!!

The fox actually came back about an hour after I posted that. x_X I'm looking into some possible solutions for what I can do about him...but for now, my flock will only be allowed out when someone can be in the backyard with them.

 

[rebeccakeesee]

Recently purchased a dozen polish bantam frizzle eggs. got an approximate march 18 hatch date! It was a far trip for the eggs so two hens will make my day. cross your fingers!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

She is adorable with her little doctor kit! Physician in training? Vet? Midwife?

I love the artful arrangement! I never think of making it pretty..

Is it bad to candle them every night?? (Cuz that is what I have been doing!)

I candled two eggs every day during my last hatch to take the pictures, and both developed and hatched without issue. The risks are 1) accidentally dropping the egg and breaking it and/or other eggs in the process and 2) having unwashed hands and getting oil or bacteria on the egg. If you wash your hands and are careful, it should be alright. And it's all in the name of science, right?

So THAT'S where he gets the easter eggs....

I love the hen looking down at him thinking, "What the heck is that rabbit doing?"

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.

Arielle, I have some wonky aircells from shipped on my current hatch. I think 8 out of 10 aircells look perfect and normal, but two have, like, a second rounded area of air cell (picture a figure-8) hanging below. So, those two have too large of an aircell. I usually use 30-35% humidity during days 1-18, but I just upped it to 40% to try and help those two. What do you think? Should I have just left it on track for the other 8 or upped it a bit to try to help those two? I'm hoping the extra 5% will help a bit and not hurt the others much, but I am not sure....

Anyhow, today is Day 3!

 

[yinepu]

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!

yes you can lower the humidity!
(especially if you have been having issues with very wet or drowning chicks)

a lot of people "dry incubate" where they do not add any water at all.. or only add water if their humidity drops into the low 20's

the main thing is figuring out what works best for you in your home with your bator.. and it can change as the seasons change too... I've been going completely dry for chicken eggs lately... but during the summer when we are in drought conditions I have to add water to raise the humidity

 

[1hotmoma]

The fox actually came back about an hour after I posted that. x_X I'm looking into some possible solutions for what I can do about him...but for now, my flock will only be allowed out when someone can be in the backyard with them.

That night I went out with my son. It was 1:30am and moved them to a caged area under my bed room window. I was listening all night. Every time I heard them move I was wide awake and up looking at them. I don't like mine being alone in the yard either.

 

[Arielle]

well you have until sat to get eggs!

Quote:

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!

What have I done!!!!!! I just added up the number of hatching eggs I ordered today and I soo oooo don't have the room in the incubator for them all. 18 olive eggers, 12 cuckoo marans, and 7 white leghorn. UGH . . . Only 1 dozen moving into hatcher for the weekend. What'a girl to do!

I can't handle this!!

 

[HEChicken]

What have I done!!!!!! I just added up the number of hatching eggs I ordered today and I soo oooo don't have the room in the incubator for them all. 18 olive eggers, 12 cuckoo marans, and 7 white leghorn. UGH . . . Only 1 dozen moving into hatcher for the weekend. What'a girl to do!

I can't handle this!!

Sounds like its either time for a new incubator....or to divert one or more of those shipments to me!!!!

 

[Arielle]

Funny, very funny!!!! Would love to share!! Not sure D would want to repack that box, she said it was rather full.

Pray the PO is nice to it.

Please po be nice to that box, please!

Night all, long day.

 

[jandrusrn]

Candle night... after survivor.... come on, I do have a little TV priority thing happening.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Wow

I totaly forgot about set day

. I havent saved one egg...

.....But....I have three days left to do it...... I had two hens go broody today...everything is going perfectly

I can stop worrying now