Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[Phillyndilly]

@CluckNDoodle i have a magicfly that holds 24 and HB life that holds 12. They are both forced air with the auto turners

Can anyone recommend a good calibrated thermometer we got 2 probe style thermometers/ hygrometers and they are so far off it’s ridiculous I go by the metal oven thermometers we have that I tested in ice/ boiling water.. and these small hygrometers we have seem to work well

 

[jolenesdad]

I want to use it for lockdown only once I build the mini fridge incubator.

I use a Little Giant for lockdown/hatch in staggered or multi breed hatches. I can’t get it to 99.5, it’s either 99 or 100+, so I go with 99 for lockdown and it’s been wonderful. I fire it up for lockdown even if I’m not using it to have a sort of ICU space available. It’s nice to be able to have two running if you assist so you aren’t opening the incubator more than once on each and I just keep switching them back and forth if other eggs are hatching while something needs assist.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

@CluckNDoodle i have a magicfly that holds 24 and HB life that holds 12. They are both forced air with the auto turners

Ok, I don't have either of those but I do know that with the style incubator that HB life, you want to be very careful about adding too much water. It's a common complaint, dryer is better. The 24 egg Magicfly can take a little more but I haven't spoken to as many people that have used them so I don't want to give you bad advice. I would stay on the lower side of humidity and if you're watching the hatch you will be able to see if the membrane in the little pip hole start to get a little brown you can increase it slightly and go from there. The issues that come up from a dry hatch are far easier to fix than a hatch that is too wet.

 

[Jules929]

My HB came with a flat turner, which I don't like. So I use it for lockdown.

 

[FortCluck]

I have to set mine lower, 98.5, to get 99.5.

Weird how they're all different

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

For those who are looking for Marans eggs, I highly HIGHLY recommend G-Bear Farms. The Guilberts in Oklahoma. You can find tbem on FB under G-Bear farms and reach out directly. I’m sure they have a website too.

they consistently win the national egg show, but have some over-melanized lines that aren’t necessarily best for SOP breeding. I had my absolute BEST hatch from shipped eggs from them this year, and I’ve hatched a few hundred shipped eggs this year. I hatched 21 out of 24 eggs.

they’re not cheap because they’re some of the best, I think 80-100 per dozen shipped. I broke even selling off the hatch at 4 weeks and keeping 3 pullets. everyone wants those birds, you can even sell cockerels. I wanted them Gone in a hurry so I did one batch sale, but could have easily made a profit if I took more time to sell them. As it was, I sold them in ONE day.

I actually reached out to them yesterday and have eggs coming from them in the next 2 weeks. So glad to hear this feedback. I’m more concerned about egg color over SOP.

 

[julskinka]

While I run around here on D19 prepping my brooder and doing other chores, I want to just take a moment to complain about this chicken:

This is Big. She is an F3 or 4 olive egger that's part cuckoo marans and part cream legbar. I hatched her last spring. She has never started laying eggs. I marveled today how I'm literally about to hatch new babies, and last year's hatch hasn't even all started laying.

Screw you, Big. I'm gonna change your name to Sucks.

 

[julskinka]

Big brooder and feeder/waterer are all clean and ready to go! Just need to set up the Mama pad and a temporary brooder now. Oh right, and go buy chick feed.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

While I run around here on D19 prepping my brooder and doing other chores, I want to just take a moment to complain about this chicken:
View attachment 2041826
This is Big. She is an F3 or 4 olive egger that's part cuckoo marans and part cream legbar. I hatched her last spring. She has never started laying eggs. I marveled today how I'm literally about to hatch new babies, and last year's hatch hasn't even all started laying.

Screw you, Big. I'm gonna change your name to Sucks.

She's so pretty though!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Big brooder and feeder/waterer are all clean and ready to go! Just need to set up the Mama pad and a temporary brooder now. Oh right, and go buy chick feed.
View attachment 2041828

What a great brooder set up!