First Incubation! Yay!

[Chicken_overlord]

Hello!

This is my first time incubating eggs! Chicken ownership isn't new to me, but egg hatching is so this will (hopefully) be a fun and educational experience

I thought I'd keep a little "journal" here to track my journey and ask questions as needed. Today is day one. I have 16 Silverudd's blue hatching eggs I purchased from a local breeder (she was so nice and gave me an extra 4!) and three gorgeous eggs from my welsummer hen. The welsummer hen's eggs are a cross from our splash marans roo and were a request from my husband.

Incubation started early this morning. I carefully weighed and marked each egg. I plan on candling at days 10 and 18.

The humidity started out at 55% today as recommended by the incubator manual (Maticoopx). After doing some more research (some of the articles I read before starting didn't give any humidity level recommendations) it seems that 55% is possibly too high so I removed the water bottle, soaked up as much water as I could from the water intake, and opened the little vent all the way causing the humidity to drop to 43%. We have an ambient humidity of 41% and so I may attempt a dry hatch.

I also purchased an aquarium thermometer to double check the incubators temps only to find out those might not be super accurate so I'll run to Walmart tomorrow to see if I can find a glass oral thermometer. I did order a Govee as well, but that won't be here for a few more days.

Lots of learning already and I would love to get some suggestions. Thank you!

 

[Debbie292d]

I am glad to hear you say you ordered a Govee as those are very handy! Your temp is most important. Out of three Brinseas, only one of mine is correct so you may be making an adjustment when you get it. Hopefully it's pretty close and won't matter.

I usually do humidity 40-45%, until lockdown, then 65-70%.

Wishing you a great hatch!

Oh, and if you want to make your own page here for all your chicks and chickens, etc., we have this forum. Alot of folks have their own. I've got my silkie page too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/pictures-stories-of-my-chickens.39/

 

[Chicken_overlord]

Thank ypu so much! Hopefully, the temp isn't too off otherwise I'm worried that hatch rate will be decreased. Lesson learned!

Thank you for the forum suggestion. I spent a good chunk of last night reading about people's flocks, so fun!

 

[Chicken_overlord]

Day 2 of incubation!

I woke up early This morning to find that the humidity was at 28% so I half closed the little valve and now it's reading 30%. Of course, I don't know how accurate it's readings are and I won't until the Govee shows up on Saturday.

Not much else to report so here's my two miniature helpers:

Neither of my little helpers are unsupervised around the chickens. They frequently end up nearly tripping me or getting stepped on in their haste to help because they insist they need to be RIGHT THERE to be of assistance, you know, just in case.

My black miniature schnauzer, Blitzen loves to watch the chicks, but she knows not to touch. She leaves the chickens alone, but really enjoys the tasty "snacks" they leave behind At least she has the courtesy now to only snack when I'm not looking.

My miniature schnauzer puppy, Dobby, has been taught to leave the adult chickens alone, especially when he learned they can fight back after Wilna, my EE, gave him a couple pecks on the nose. On the other hand, he thinks the chicks look like yummy, fluttery treats so we're still training him that chicks are friends, not food...

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh my, your dogs are so cute!

LOL, that's funny about the treats!