The Poultry Keeper

The Ladies · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Kent

Hi,
I am due to hatch my first lot of bantam eggs (x 11) from the incubator in the next 48 hours.
So far no movement....
I am thinking that it has all gone wrong.
With the awful weather the incubator temperature dropped to 30 one day. (it is in my garage that it usually fairly constant). With the aid of an extra bubble wrap coat we are at about 35 now, still a bit on the cold side I realize.
My next problem is if they hatch I have an infra red bulb for heat, it is a white light though and I have just read that too much light will effect the chicks. Any ideas? I can borrow a brooder light if no easy solution.
I have chick crumb and feeder and a small water/ feeder for use if and when we hatch. Do I need anything else?
How long after the hatch due date should I leave the eggs in the incubator?

Any words of wisdom?

NannyP · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject:

You may be lucky...but you're still too cool, and that will either have stopped their development, or retarded it somewhat.

Have you candled your eggs to see if there is life?

I would leave for at least 25 days are the due date.

Heat lamp red or white will be fine. Chick crumb, warmth, water, draught free and safe from predators.

Bon chance.

The Ladies · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Kent

Thanks NannyP.
I candled a couple, but don't really know what I am looking for. My local Egg + Chicken oracle has been away but I will get her to have a look/ candle on her return.

Yes I have taken the view that I will leave them a few extra days, I have nothing else waiting to go into the incubator yet so no harm leaving the eggs in there.

It will be a shame if nothing comes of the 11 eggs. I had planned this hatching whilst my children were on their school holidays, but this is all part of the learning experience!

CP · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

I wouldn't bother candling so close to the hatch as you will upset the temp/humidity if you open the incubator.
What incubator do you have & have you used it before?

As NannyP says, it's best to wait until day 25 to be sure nothing else will hatch.

I would probably candle after that & maybe crack them open as well, to see what stage they did or didn't develop to. But that may be something you're not comfortable doing as it's not very nice!

We've always used ordinary white light bulbs in our brooder & never had problems with rearing the chicks. Wink

The Ladies · Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Kent

HUGE disappointment....But lessons learned

My OH looked at the incubator this morning and told me the thermometer was reading 25 c. !!!! It is day 24 and had assumed that nothing was going to hatch.
I had a look and it still felt very warm. Being day 24 I took the view that I could open the incubator and look in, the eggs were really hot.
I then put another domestic thermometer in the incubator to do a comparison. Old thermometer and only does Fahrenheit but over 120f. OMG

After various tests realized the thermometer in the incubator was well and truly out.

I have had a day of guilt thinking that I had roasted chicks but tonight plucked up courage to candle them. They all felt extremely light and when candled they only had a very slight shadow like the yolk had all dried out before it had formed. This has made me feel slightly better in that I think the thermometer has never been accurate or broke early on. And all this time I had been turning the thermometer on the incubator up.

Disappointed with this result, partly because I wanted to hatch in the holidays and the whole family so excited about some new additions to our 12 rescued layers.

Am I getting a bit late in the season to start another batch?
I am not going to use my borrowed incubator again, (it was a Brinsea Octagon 10), not that I blame my incubator in the slightest, I should have done more thorough checks before and during the incubation period.

I have learned loads through the last 21 days. And I have found The poultry keepers forum!!

Does anyone recommend a small inexpensive incubator? I guess I would like one to hold about 8 hens /10-12 bantams eggs. Desperate to try again ASAP.

NannyP · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject:

Oh bum....what a shame....and thank goodness that nothing had really developed.

I personally am collecting eggs to incubate, so I don't think it is ever too late..but others may differ.

Can't help you with small incubator ideas, hopefully someone else will.

Bon chance.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Manchester

the cheapest (and best in my opinion) incubator is the hovabator, it holds quite a lot of eggs but is still very good with a smaller number in there.

crazywelshchuck · Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 95

Hi
I would recommend a maino incubator they come in all sizes and are a very good quality incubator at a very resonable Price try banbury cross on a search engine.