The Saga Begins

[ChickenCanoe]

X2, you can get them for just a few bucks at Walmart

I'm sorry but I must push back a bit. You may be fortunate enough to get an accurate one for a few bucks at Walmart but I wouldn't count on it. Their accuracy will be all over the place. There are a select few guaranteed accurate thermometers that won't break the bank but they don't come from Walmart nor for a few bucks.

Bundling up for the night!

Just be careful you don't restrict ventilation. You can build walls around the incubator with cardboard. It won't restrict ventilation but it will retrain some warmth.

 

[Chullicken]

You never really know, I've seen much much worse setups and little fluffy's popped out. You did the research to build one, just keep on that road.~ Good luck!

 

[MGG]

I'm sorry but I must push back a bit. You may be fortunate enough to get an accurate one for a few bucks at Walmart but I wouldn't count on it. Their accuracy will be all over the place. There are a select few guaranteed accurate thermometers that won't break the bank but they don't come from Walmart nor for a few bucks.

Just be careful you don't restrict ventilation. You can build walls around the incubator with cardboard. It won't restrict ventilation but it will retrain some warmth.

I calibrated mine, I forgot to mention that sorry. I also ordered one from AvianWeb which I like a lot, but it took a while to get here.

 

[knowvagale]

@ChickenCanoe yes I'm making sure to leave the ventilation holes uncovered. I also open the incubator every few hours to turn the eggs, which provides some fresh air. Here are some candling pics from today (day 5)! I can see some nice veins and an eye in one of them

 

[knowvagale]

Day six candling pics of all four eggs, hereafter referred to as sharpie egg, graphite egg, colored pencil egg, and pen egg, in that order. (that's what I wrote the dates on them with)

View attachment 2108977

you can't see it very well in the picture, but all the eggs have pretty clear vascular structure except maybe graphite egg (second pic), which I'm not sure about. Pen egg (last pic) is doing the best, nice clear embryo that I can see moving around, and lots of veins to. Is it normal to have all eggs in slightly different stages of development? It might be because all the eggs are from different clutches and probably sat under hens for different periods of time, or just because of hot spots in my incubator.

 

[knowvagale]

The vascular structure on sharpie egg wasn't showing up in the pic very well so I cranked up the contrast a little. Should be able to see it better now.
View attachment 2109003

 

[knowvagale]

 

[knowvagale]

It's been a few weeks since my last update on this thread, and here's what happened while I was gone: three of the eggs passed away, all at different stages of development. One of them is still alive and growing, and tomorrow is the first day of lockdown. Question: how much water should I add to the tray when lockdown starts? There is currently no water in the incubator, because I live in a very humid place (the humidity here never gets below 40% this time of year). Are there any other tips you guys have for lockdown? Also: my incubator has no window, so how will I know when to remove the chick if he hatches? How crucial is it not to open the incubator during lockdown for candling ect? Will I be able to watch the hatch, or should I just wait? I'm just so nervous that something will go wrong!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not knowing your specific location and current ambient conditions I would recommend filling all the reservoirs with water. Since you can't see in, you won't know that the water has evaporated.
It is crucial not to open the incubator till it is done. There is no need for candling if they have developed up to now. Just wait. Things can go wrong but there isn't anything you could do about it anyway other than adjusting temperature if it goes haywire.

 

[CaradineCousins]

X2, you can get them for just a few bucks at Walmart

what does x2 mean?