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Jennifer, I know the first time hatching can be really stressful. Not only stress from waiting but also from trying to find the exact info you need for setting the Bator temps and what not. When I was first starting out, I found the same thing that you are running into, a wall of mixed advice and info. What I am finding is that a lot of people hatch in the same bators with the same eggs having the same hatch rate but coming from different set up numbers, or vice versa same numbers and different hatch rate. All the info I was finding was not helping me and it took me 3 hatches to find what temp and humidity worked for me and my MB (what I call my incubator). I really wish I could give you a helping hand, but you just kinda have to find what works for you. I have had chicks hatch as late as day 25, so I always leave my unhatched eggs in for an extra week just incase. I wish you lots of luck! Keep up posted on how it goes.
Hi guys!!
WOW!! it's tough reading through 200 and some posts! LOL!
I want to
all the newbies here,
Lots to catch up on!! Tamara! You hatching fool!! LOL! you go girl!! and good luck!
Love the pictures of the peeps! I wish I could be that good! I hate my camera! Just can't telephoto enough!!
And I love the quilts, we have such talented people on this thread!!!
Thanks for the garlic info, I have been meaning to plant some a few years in a row and I keep forgetting to plant it! Got a note on my white board!
Luck to all who are hatching,
Jen S, please don't be offended by what Mikeyb said, he's a great guy and was just funning you!
I have only been hatching chicks for a little over a year, and I understand you frustrations. Here's the thing, the information you get are usually guide lines, because there are SO MANY factors that influence hatching and hatch rates. I don't know what kind of incubator your using, but, the big thing is to try to go by manufactures directions to start, and also, your invironment plays a HUGE roll in how you regulate temp and humidity. How warm or cold the place is where the incubator sits, any drafts, humidity levels in that place ect. And how you handled the eggs before putting them in the bator, it is all relivant I have read TONS of stuff, on line, I have many books, and I have learned a lot from people here, in fact I would say, I have taken more information from people here, and been pretty succesful.
Here's one for you, I have a Brinsea Octo 20, great bator, haven't had too many problems, but it's rather small. I got like 25 eggs of various breeds, couldn't fit them in my brinsea so I went and got a cheap version of the LG. Now, mind you, I have hatched 4 succesfull hatches previous to this in my brinsea, with very little problems. Anyway, I did everything I could, used two thermometers, a hygometer, I mean I had it going on, at the end of the hatch, out of ALL those eggs, only 6 hatched!!!
I was sick to my stomach!! I opened many of the eggs to find out what happened and depending on where the egg sat, I found chicks in different stages of development! So..long story short, sometimes you can be doing everything right and something happens, and it sucks! I feel your angst, and know everyone here is behind you and hoping you have a great hatch!!
Hang in there! Try not to open the bator very much, if you can! I was so excited and worried I asked on of our dear BYCers if I could call her, and she said yes and talked me through my first hatch!!
