Loading up the incubator

[Shnookie]

Today I am putting 41 eggs in my Hovabator. There are new Ameraucanas from Dawn Webster in BC (I'm excited to see them), Ameraucanas from my own birds and EOs from my own birds. Probably my only hatch this year, depending how many hatch. Fertility has been good in the eggs from my hens.

[WLLady]

When kind of ameraucanas?
I have a soft spot for the wheaten and blue wheaten. Always on the lookout for new blood.
Congrats on the setting!!!

[Shnookie]

Right now I have blue and black Ameraucanas (and one splash). The ones from BC are blue and black - sounds like they will be mostly black. I got Dawn's name from the Ameraucana Alliance Directory. It's a list of Ameraucana breeders who will sell eggs, chicks, or birds.

http://ameraucanaalliance.org/DnLd/Directory.pdf

[Shnookie]

First candle I removed 10 clear eggs (all appeared infertile) so I have 31 left that are all growing. Today is day 9. I am trying a couple of things different this time. I have the incubator in a different room than I used for all my other hatches. The temperature and humidity are more stable which is making things run more smoothly. Also, I am putting very little water in - only if it goes to 35% - then I add 1 cc. With no water in the tray the humidity is between 36 and 38%. I stored the eggs at 75% humidity while I was collecting them, so they were full of water and had no air cell when I put them in the incubator. The room humidity is about 50%. Air cells are developing okay so far I think.

My other hatches the air cells were not as big as they should have been on hatch day. I had the incubation humidity set about 45% and the hatch humidity at 50% for those ones. I'm not sure what humidity I will use for the hatch this time. I have to think about it. :) If all 31 hatch I'm not sure my brooder is big enough! I'm so used to getting about half of the eggs successfully hatched.

[Poultryprincess]

WOW, sounds like we should have a hatch around the same time.
Today (Wed) I am on day 9. but my eggs are bantam.
Therefore I'm figuring on a JUNE 3 hatch date.( maybe - LOL )

I had Not planned on firing up the bator this year.
BUT I just sold 4 pens of pairs & trios this month.
Feeling a tad of Seller's remorse, so decided to hatch some of their eggs.
(( Yeah I'm trying to figure out WHY I would do that???? ))

I have Not candled yet, think I will wait til day before Lockdown
GOOOOOOOOOD LUCKKKKKKKK

[Shnookie]

I took another look last night (day 11). There are three that look like they stopped developing so I am at 28 that look like they are ok. I will have more Ameraucanas than EOs. Saw some feathers and movement. Air cells are different sizes. I calculate a June 6 or 7th hatch date. I'm never really sure what to call the start of day 1. I have been using the time when the temperature and humidity stabilizes after putting the eggs in. Good luck with your hatch Poultryprincess!

[Poultryprincess]

Thanx Shnookie!
Have you ever tried "HATCHABATCH" app on your phone?
A PTO member told me about it & it's fantastic!
It gives you updates & reminders for your hatch.
When to candle, boost the humidity....any thing you need to know.
This is my 4th time using the phone app, & it's free.

I'm not expecting much with this hatch.
I hadn't collected eggs & turn them daily,
It was an After thought since I sold my 4 pens.
"Whatever" I get is a bonus!

[Shnookie]

My eggs should hatch June 3rd or 4th. Apparently I can't count. HaHa. I took out the three iffy ones last night. They were no good, so now have 28 - 9 EOs and 19 Ameraucanas. Time to set up the brooder.

[Shnookie]

28 eggs in lockdown. Day 21 starts later this afternoon. :) I decided to keep the humidity about 46%. Last year I increased it to 50-55% and I had a lot of problems with too much heat and humidity. Hopefully this will work out better.

[Poultryprincess]

I'm in Lockdown. 18 look viable...time will tell.
My humidity in my Genisis Hova Bator is @ 55
Fingers crossed for BOTH of us!!!!
( eggs from my Frizzle / showgirl were duds....sigh )