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New to Incubating
http://australianpoultryforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=54043		 Page 2 of 4
Author:  Chicka-Dee [ Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Drekkus wrote:
I've read its not a good idea to cover the vent holes. Something about reducing the air flow being bad.Really!,I've found it really helps with stabilising the humidity or bringing it up quickly from opening the lid. It's funny how we can get such conflicting information isn't it. Just goes to show what might be good for one might not be good for the other. I have a vent at the back which must be the overflow for the channels so I haven't blocked that off (yet)
As for filling the channels , I put a tube in the side and used a syringe but again its hard to see just how much water you have put in. I did try removing some of the egg trays and it did help but even then I still needed to shine a light down to see. yep, I need to shine a light down through the clear hole as well, but I can't see very well either. I will have to post a pic of my technical apparatus that I use to put the water inIn the end I just fill it through the front cover I made. you will have to post a pic of your incubator and show me you moderations, sounds like you have been very ingeniousI still have the very centre egg tray out ( reduces it from 56 eggs to 48) Mine is only the 48 modeland I still need to shine a light. I am toying with the idea of a clear plastic cut out right at the bottom that sounds like a big job & scary if it doesn't work. Would you stuff the incubator if it doesn't work?so I can see the water level ;)


Cheers
Chicka-Dee
Author:  chooklover101 [ Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Ahhhh! I don't think I could have a incubator. Maybe I'll stick with the natural ones for a while. I'm very techamogically challenged :oops:
Oh well. Tell me how it goes Chickie Dee!
Chooklover
Author:  Chicka-Dee [ Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
chooklover101 wrote:
Ahhhh! I don't think I could have a incubator. Maybe I'll stick with the natural ones for a while. I'm very techamogically challenged :oops:
Oh well. Tell me how it goes Chickie Dee!
Chooklover
You too huh :lol:
I like my natural one too :-D She's doing a great job [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

Even though she had 12 eggs under her at the beginning and only hatched out 3 I think that was more Clydes doing or lack of doing should I say!

Will def let you know how I go.

I did more candling of the eggs that were in there and took a heap out, which def makes me think that Clyde just hasn't mastered his craft as well as I thought he had, as I'm now down to 12 eggs.

I've taken 14 out in total now & there is till a few I'm dubious about.

I might do some more candling today.

There's even one egg I think might be rotten, but I'm not 100% sure.

How can you tell if an egg has gone rotten? Should it omit a smell? There is def a smell in the incubator, which doesn't smell good, but I don't know if it is from all the eggs or if its from one. I picked up the egg in question & candled it & it was dark inside but I wasn't sure if that was chick or not & I tried smelling it but couldn't tell if the smell was from the incubator or the eggs was the culprit.

Opinions?..

Attachments:
File comment: This is my technical apparatus for adding water. Two McDonalds straws and a mini funnel lol
Technical Apparatus.jpg
Technical Apparatus.jpg [ 63.7 KiB | Viewed 3589 times ]
Author:  Chicka-Dee [ Tue Oct 29, 2013 7:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Well, last night I switched off the incubator :cry:

2 of the eggs had gone rotten & were stinking out the incubator so I felt it best to just stop this lot and maybe start all over again with a fresh lot that are maybe 2 or 3 days old max.

The eggs that I put in were nearly 2 weeks old so that was probably a major factor of their viability as I have read a lot of people saying to only use eggs with a max age of 7 days.

Very sad that my first attempt went down the drain (or should I say out into the paddock), but there really was no use in continuing.

th_Noooo.gif
Author:  PoultryDan [ Wed Oct 30, 2013 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
What a shame Chicka-Dee, sorry to hear the first batch didn't go so well. At least the bad eggs didn't explode!

The first batch can be fiddly with trying to keep it stable with adjusting the vents and getting humidity right. Was a good solution you came up with to fill the channels without opening the incubator i_like1

Second batch should go much better now you have it stable and fresher eggs would definitely improve your hatch rates.

gluck.gif with the second batch Chicka-Dee
Author:  Chicka-Dee [ Fri Nov 01, 2013 6:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Yeah I know it was a shame bit you're right hopefully fresher eggs will wield better results.

I'm not sure if I am going to use my eggs or if I will use a breeders eggs conf665

Still thinking about it. :idea:
Author:  Drekkus [ Fri Nov 01, 2013 6:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Chicka-Dee wrote:
Yeah I know it was a shame bit you're right hopefully fresher eggs will wield better results.

I'm not sure if I am going to use my eggs or if I will use a breeders eggs conf665

Still thinking about it. :idea:


If it means paying for some eggs then I'd stick with your own until you're satisfied that you have the incubator worked out. Of course it depends on how much you would be spending on eggs and if your own are actually fertile.
Author:  Chicka-Dee [ Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
Drekkus wrote:
If it means paying for some eggs then I'd stick with your own until you're satisfied that you have the incubator worked out. Of course it depends on how much you would be spending on eggs and if your own are actually fertile.
I know right! Being that there's two sides to that coin.....1) maybe Clydes not doing his job properly & the majority aren't getting fertilised & 2) maybe buying eggs off a breeder will wield me better results, but if I stuff up the incubation again, I ruin the eggs and blow my dough conf665

It's such a dilemma, but I'm going to do something this weekend for sure, as I want to set them so they hatch on a weekend rather than during the week.

Watch this space........ :-D
Author:  chooklover101 [ Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
So sorry to hear that Chickie Dee :(
I would continue trying with my eggs before I buy from a breeder

I am very excited for the fact that I found one of my Lav Pekins sitting on eggs!
She was sitting on 6, I put two extra ones that were laid a day or two later under her, so out of 8 eggs,4 are definitely fertile , 3 infertile, 1 unsure. If you see a vein, but no baby,would a baby be there?
The babies are either pure Lavender Pekin, or half Lavender Pekin and half Silkie
Author:  PoultryDan [ Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New to Incubating
I would put through a few test batches first, with free eggs. When you know everything is set right then pop in some quality eggs ;)

Can you get free fertile eggs from anywhere else? Maybe you could do this to rule out any fertility issues..

chooklover101 wrote:
If you see a vein, but no baby,would a baby be there?


The eggs I've candled which were hard to visualise but had veins turned out to be viable, veins are a very good sign :-D
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