Thanks to some new broodys that quit part way through their job, I have several hatch dates, and only one incubator.
The first broody was laying in the favorite nest box, so other hens kept laying in the nest when she got up to eat. And she kept stealing eggs from the other nest box. She started sitting 6/3, abandoned it on the 10th, at which point I moved them into the incubator. So there is about a 1 week variance between oldest and youngest chick. I have 4 that look the right size for lockdown to begin (today, based on 6/3 date), 8 that are a little behind, and 4 more that are even further behind.
THEN... I also have another 7 from another broody that abandoned her nest. They aren't due to hatch until 7/4, so only a week developed now.
Tell me if I have this correct, in how I just moved everything around...
Egg turner still in, most rails removed. (I have a 3mo old, 3yo, and 6yo, turning every couple hours is a gamble!) Paper towels laid out over base of turner where rails removed, 12 oldest eggs laid out. All are at least 14 days. Youngest 4 eggs from first group in front rail of turner. 1 week old eggs in back rail of turner. Does this sound ok?
Now, what about humidity? The 4 oldest eggs are looking right about 18 days, the other 8 somewhere between 14 and 18. But then there are the other 11 eggs that appear 14 days or less... I've been doing dry hatch, running slightly over 30% right now. Incubator is a Farm Innovators forced air.
And to think I was so happy when the last chicks hatched, so glad to be done with the incubator!
The first broody was laying in the favorite nest box, so other hens kept laying in the nest when she got up to eat. And she kept stealing eggs from the other nest box. She started sitting 6/3, abandoned it on the 10th, at which point I moved them into the incubator. So there is about a 1 week variance between oldest and youngest chick. I have 4 that look the right size for lockdown to begin (today, based on 6/3 date), 8 that are a little behind, and 4 more that are even further behind.
THEN... I also have another 7 from another broody that abandoned her nest. They aren't due to hatch until 7/4, so only a week developed now.
Tell me if I have this correct, in how I just moved everything around...
Egg turner still in, most rails removed. (I have a 3mo old, 3yo, and 6yo, turning every couple hours is a gamble!) Paper towels laid out over base of turner where rails removed, 12 oldest eggs laid out. All are at least 14 days. Youngest 4 eggs from first group in front rail of turner. 1 week old eggs in back rail of turner. Does this sound ok?
Now, what about humidity? The 4 oldest eggs are looking right about 18 days, the other 8 somewhere between 14 and 18. But then there are the other 11 eggs that appear 14 days or less... I've been doing dry hatch, running slightly over 30% right now. Incubator is a Farm Innovators forced air.
And to think I was so happy when the last chicks hatched, so glad to be done with the incubator!
