The NEW Crazy 24hr AUCTION thread

[Cynthia12]

I agree that is probably what happened with the fully developed ones, but I had another 9 that stopped around day 7 or so from what I could tell at eggtopsy. I have lowered the humidity to 30% in the incubator now and will try with that.

 

[bugglesmommy]

Kaybee, I have 7 BCM's from one of ayeupchucks auction and 5 are pullets! I did start with 16 eggs, but with posted eggs I count my blessings and not my losses. I am taking a break from shipped in this heat but I keep coming back just to check anyways! There are some great breeders and shippers on here.

 

[chirpingcricket]

i think they're drowning. I keep my humidity at 20-35 first 18 and bump it up to 60-65 for lockdown. Everyone has a different opinion about it but in my experience I have had dramatically better hatches with dry hatch method.

I agree...Chirp

 

[Arielle]

For all the folks new to incubating --

YEars ago I was terrified to hatch eggs-- so many many stories of drown chicks. When I figured out the key is to dry the eggs correctly at the right pace, I started incubating eggs. Two methods to track: candle the eggs or use the weighing method to determine water loss. I keep a diagram near my incubator for candling. As I remember eggs needs to decrease weight by 13-15% by lockdown.

Many diagrams on the internet: air cells on 7th, 14th and 18th day of incubation.

 

[kaybee123]

For all the folks new to incubating --

YEars ago I was terrified to hatch eggs-- so many many stories of drown chicks. When I figured out the key is to dry the eggs correctly at the right pace, I started incubating eggs. Two methods to track:  candle the eggs or use the weighing method to determine water loss. I keep a diagram near my incubator for candling. As I remember eggs needs to decrease weight by 13-15% by lockdown.

Many diagrams on the internet:  air cells on 7th, 14th and 18th day of incubation. 

So if it is decreasing too fast or slow, what do you need to do? Here in FL my humidity stays between 35-55% without any water at all. Should I look at a dehumidifier when the humid it stays around 45 and higher during days 1-18?

 

[jnjmanning]

Farm Innovator 2200, with two thermometer/ hygrometers inside. 50% humidity til day 18, then between 65% and 70%. Use an automated turner. Cleaned all the parts before use and stabilized for 48 hours before use. Temp stayed btwn 99 and 101 (had one spike to 106, one drop due to power out which is what got the lav orps I think). I have been beating myself up over this and don't know what I did wrong

I agree humidity way to high for the 1st 18 days. I dry incubate, I add no water first 18 days and my humidity stays 29-31%. Then on 19 I add water and up humidity to 60%, once the eggs start hatching it will raise on its own, sometimes to 70%. Last hatch of shipped eggs I hatched 11 out of 12, eggs shipped from GA to MO and 1 day late!

 

[jnjmanning]

So if it is decreasing too fast or slow, what do you need to do? Here in FL my humidity stays between 35-55% without any water at all. Should I look at a dehumidifier when the humid it stays around 45 and higher during days 1-18?

Dehumidify and watch air cells like a hawk. I mark on days 7 14 and 18

 

[kaybee123]

Dehumidify and watch air cells like a hawk. I mark on days 7 14 and 18

On shipped eggs, when do you start turning them. I usually wait until day 5 to start turning them but I still seem to end up with wonky air cells even with letting eggs rest before going into the bator. I incubate and hatch in paper egg cartons.

 

[Nuttyfrom6kids]

Shipped eggs are always a gamble. Right after my parents and husband died I spent over $4500 in shipped eggs the first year. I needed to find something to be alive. I could sure use that grief money now. I had some decent hatches and some horrible hatches. Heck I have horrible hatches even now with my own eggs. My broodies are keeping my in chicks this year. I have as of yesterday 3 tiny Mottled Japs in with mom and dad who are strutting around like no one else out there ever hatched a chick. I have co broodies that hatched 3 out early, so one SPPR, one Silkied AM and one Black Sumatra. I have another broody that had a hidden nest, so I suck a few eggs in with her and she has some of her own eggs under her too, but I used one of those long grippers to put the extra eggs in with her and I got down a little while ago to see if she had done anything and a chick was standing in front of her staring at me. Only problem is I can't get to it. I should have thought that move through, before adding those eggs!

Thing is, the PO has a lot to do with it. They don't care what's written on the boxes. I don't write on some and write on others and most times the blank boxes travel better. You never know. With any hatch, if you think about the fact that one chicks hatches, it's successful. There's life. Took me a while to figure that one out. I had always had great hatches before and if I got half of a shipment to hatch, that was an awesome hatch. I've gotten eggs from all the top breeders and when I get one to hatch, that's a victory! I may have had to start with just a couple of birds from each one here and there, but now I have my own and from great stock. That's hard to do unless you order chicks, worry about them dying in route, Eggs are usually cheaper but may be harder to have success with, but when you do, it's like you've done it for yourself. I don't even want to think of what I would have spent if I had had birds shipped. I did go in on a shipment with several people and one other BYCer when I ordered my Blue AMs from rockinpaints. We kind of had an overload of little roos though. They were cute, just lacking in the ability to pump out some eggs. LOL She has nice birds though.

Lots of us have projects. I also had Silver from Pips&Peeps. I have a roo grow out. He was gorgeous and I had wanted to get more, but for some reason, my grand daughter and I could walk outside without a problem, but he attacked my youngest son and daughter every single time. Never a reason, but he did and I cried like a baby when I sold him. I'd like to see those Silver Blues grown out. Bet they're beautiful and geee, some of my favorite lines! LOL You need to post lots of pics of some of those. My Chocolate Bantam AMs are still considered a project. Doesn't stop me from hatching them out or selling eggs. Chocolate became popular and everyone started their projects. That's how you get something different and that no one else has. My birds came from a great breeder and next season I should have some that hatch out only chocolates, so happy with what I have and I love that I got them after they had been worked on for so long. Matter of fact I'm keeping everything I hatch out from that project this year. I do sell some of their eggs every once in a while, but I figure since their bantams I can always find the room for them. LOL

For anyone who is looking to breed or just wants some really nice quality birds, shipped eggs are still the cheapest way to get what you're looking for. Might take you a few times to get a hatch right, but when you do, it makes you feel really good about helping them find life. That 21 days may be hard on us, but I've been watching my broodies a lot and those hens let nothing bother them. Wish I was that patient!

I will post some other photos of some of the older ones I have hatched out of the silver blues as soon as I can get some one to hold them for me they run every time I try to take a picture of them but. they are beautiful. I am watching the next time you put up those Chocolate Bantam AMs I will be bidding I want some of them to put in the bator.

 

[jnjmanning]

On shipped eggs, when do you start turning them. I usually wait until day 5 to start turning them but I still seem to end up with wonky air cells even with letting eggs rest before going into the bator. I incubate and hatch in paper egg cartons.

That all depends on how air cells are on arrival. If the air cells are damaged, I dont turn and check every other day. Then start turning on day 5.