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

[CluckNDoodle]

Haha no truer statement! We will find out tomorrow. And it seriously could have only been pipped for an hour or less so hopefully it’s all good. I have it up at 60% now.

I think you'll be just fine! It hasn't been pipped very long. Your air cells look really good by the way.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Well, 40 hatched so far...2 eggs to go. One has external pip already. Had to take the chicks out because they were showing signs of stress. Little happy campers this morning!
If those 2 eggs hatch, did hear peeping, it's 100% hatch!!

Definitely keep us updated on how you like the sand for them! Do you use a kitty scoop to clean it or what?

 

[Phillyndilly]

Mine are in lockdown D18. The humidity had been 25-30% throughout. The weight loss is an average of 11.5%. The humidity is 30% right now. I don't plan to increase it at this time, only maintain it.

Oh wow ok what is the reason you aren’t turning it up? Have you had more success with this method?

I know I've asked you this already but I can't remember which incubators you're using. I set my humidity at 65% for hatch in my Nurture Right 360s and IncuView but 55% is a good percentage for styrofoam some even have luck with a little lower.

Haha no worries I can’t ever remember what I’ve posted I have a Large magic fly and also a Janoel 12. They are both plastic I am hatching in the small one the humidity is always all over the place I have to work really hard to keep it up it’s been between 50 and 70. Saturday and Sunday I was home so I was doing a little bit of experimenting I’m assuming it’s going to stay closer to the 50% mark on I have the humidity at about 65 before I left but I know it’s going to dip down by the time I get home.

I ran my incubators (Brinsea Mini II and Magicfly Janoel 12) around 50% during lock down, although it was extremely difficult to keep the humidity steady at that level in the Janoel. Once I had external pips in the Janoel I stopped fiddling with it. It has dipped as low as around 30% and 6/8 eggs in there have hatched (D20-D21). When the eggs hatch they create some of their own humidity.

Havent had as much luck with the Brinsea at that humidity level, only 2/6 eggs in there have hatched (so far? Maybe? ).

Yes the janoel 12 is the same one I’m hatching and you are so right the humidity has been such a struggle for me this whole time. I’ve been pretty successful I keeping it at 50 it’s when I try to go higher than that that it really just starts going off and then back down to 50 pretty quickly but if you’ve had success I won’t worry about it being at that percentage

Is it weird that I got so excited when I saw no-skid shelf liner that color coordinated with my incubators and now I don't want to use the "ugly" colors that don't match anymore?
I guess I can use the tan in the Brinsea since it's yellow. lol

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This is so cool do you put this in during lockdown only?

Although I do really want a good success rate I know this probably won’t be the best since its my first time I’m really taking notes of all the mistakes I’ve made I have a huge list already I do have about 36 or more eggs waiting so after this hatch I’ll get right back into it and hopefully I’ll see a good success rate once I fix some of my mistakes. I’m also beginning to see a pretty distinct difference between my silkie eggs versus Seabright so that’s a good thing as well. When I first put them in the incubator I had no idea which was which but I’ve started observing more who lays what and where.

 

[abpatchy]

Definitely keep us updated on how you like the sand for them! Do you use a kitty scoop to clean it or what?

will do!! So far I like it very much... but only the next days will tell once they get really messy.
Not sure yet... I might just use an old spoon and spoon it out... not sure if their poop is big enough for a kitty scoop? I'll see...
Update on the chicks... 41 out of 42 made it. One was weak and I opened the egg... it hadn't broken the shell yet. I thought of culling it but then wanted to give it a chance. It did not make it. When I checked on it 20 minutes later it was gone. I guess it was the best way for the little guy.
No crooked toes... not spraddled legs... just love my incubator! It was sooo worth the money!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Oh wow ok what is the reason you aren’t turning it up? Have you had more success with this method?

Haha no worries I can’t ever remember what I’ve posted I have a Large magic fly and also a Janoel 12. They are both plastic I am hatching in the small one the humidity is always all over the place I have to work really hard to keep it up it’s been between 50 and 70. Saturday and Sunday I was home so I was doing a little bit of experimenting I’m assuming it’s going to stay closer to the 50% mark on I have the humidity at about 65 before I left but I know it’s going to dip down by the time I get home.

Lower humidity hatches work out better in most styrofoam incubators but I've heard of everything from no water, to a few drips of water, to not being able to get the humidity up on the Janoel 12 so I think it's going to depend on your incubator and location on that one.

Yes the janoel 12 is the same one I’m hatching and you are so right the humidity has been such a struggle for me this whole time. I’ve been pretty successful I keeping it at 50 it’s when I try to go higher than that that it really just starts going off and then back down to 50 pretty quickly but if you’ve had success I won’t worry about it being at that percentage

I think you're on the right track with around 50, it's a good starting point since you don't know what to expect from your incubator yet. You will be able to tell if your hatch is too dry and can adjust it later if so. It's usually easier to help in a hatch that is too dry vs a hatch that is too wet.

This is so cool do you put this in during lockdown only?

Although I do really want a good success rate I know this probably won’t be the best since its my first time I’m really taking notes of all the mistakes I’ve made I have a huge list already I do have about 36 or more eggs waiting so after this hatch I’ll get right back into it and hopefully I’ll see a good success rate once I fix some of my mistakes. I’m also beginning to see a pretty distinct difference between my silkie eggs versus Seabright so that’s a good thing as well. When I first put them in the incubator I had no idea which was which but I’ve started observing more who lays what and where.

Yes! The no-skid shelf liner is perfect for lockdown. It helps to prevent splay leg, giving the chick's little wobbly feet and legs something to hold on to and makes clean up easier.

 

[ASteelman]

Hello everyone! Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I just drove a couple hours south to get 2 dozen Ameraucana eggs and am on my way home. I’m going to set them once my Gypsy Hen eggs hatch tomorrow/Tuesday.
Also...I got my first egg from my new Splash Ameraucana Hen yesterday. I cracked it open and it’s fertilized!!!! I’m so excited. Going to start saving her eggs and maybe I’ll have babies from my own chickens for the very first time soon!!!

Do you have a pic of your splash AM?? Those are my favorite, hoping to get one from my bluexblue pairing.

 

[Jules929]

Oh wow ok what is the reason you aren’t turning it up? Have you had more success with this method?

I will probably start increasing the humidity today, day 19. Since weighing my eggs throughout the incubation showed an average 11.5% weight loss at Day 18, which is in the 11-13% target range, I knew they are in good shape. I will increase it to 50% over the next day or so. Once I have an external pip, I will be more concerned about getting the humidity up to 50% to avoid shrink wrapped chicks.

My Styrofoam incubators have proven to hold humidity well as long as I don't open them. But in past hatches I have learned that I prefer to inceease the humidity slowly to prevent over shooting the target of 50-55%. It's easier to increase slowly than to remove water after too much has been added.

I live in Florida, and right now the relative humidity has increased to 90%. The humidity in the room has already increased 10% (to 40%) overnight, and the incubator % has increased by 2% without adding water.

Take notes, measure how much water you add and how it affects the humidity in your incubator. It will help you with future hatches.

Good luck!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I will probably start increasing the humidity today, day 19. Since weighing my eggs throughout the incubation showed an average 11.5% at Day 18, which is in the 11-13% target range, I knew they are in good shape. I will increase it to 50% over the next day or so. Once I have an external pip, I will be more concerned about getting the humidity up to 50% to avoid shrink wrapped chicks.

My Styrofoam incubators have proven to hold humidity well as long as I don't open them. But in past hatches I have learned that I prefer to inceease the humidity slowly to prevent over shooting the target of 50-55%. It's easier to increase slowly than to remove water after too much has been added.

I live in Florida, and right now the relative humidity has increased to 90%. The humidity in the room has already increased 10% (to 40%) overnight, and the incubator % has increased by 2% without adding water.

Take notes, measure how much water you add and how it affects the humidity in your incubator. It will help you with future hatches.

Good luck!

Very good advice!

 

[ASteelman]

I candled my blueXblue Ameraucana eggs last night on day 11, and 5/7 are developing nicely! Hoping to have similar luck with my olive BC1s which I'll candle tomorrow night - they're a couple of days behind.

 

[Jules929]

Very good advice!

Thank you! If the humidity in the room keeps going up I won't have to worry so much about opening the incubator, right?