Taken the plunge!

[milly2306]

well, incubator ready and eggs bought! i have gone for cream crested leghorns which are auto sexing so i should know which is which after 1st day. i bought 12 so here's hoping i manage to rear a few!!!
xxxmillyxxx

[Snadger]

well, incubator ready and eggs bought! i have gone for cream crested leghorns which are auto sexing so i should know which is which after 1st day. i bought 12 so here's hoping i manage to rear a few!!!
xxxmillyxxx

Nice one milly, let us know how you get on!

[milly2306]

hi folks
eggs due today, can't wait. i am going to be very disappointed if none hatch. will post pics of progress over the 21 days of incubation. worked out that i am off work on day they are due to hatch so will most likely sit by the incubator all day waiting for the big event!
xxxmillyxxx

[vicky]

I will be really interested in hearing how you get on, ready for the questions....What incubator have you got and where from? Where did you get your eggs? I'd love to see photos of your set up and when do you candle the eggs? Have you any idea of what the ratio of males/females is supposed to be?
Thanks, Vicky

[milly2306]

hi
i went on an american website and found out how to make my own incubator using a polystyrene veg box with lid, an old photo frame and a 25watt bulb! it cost the grand total of �3.81 and my OH set it up for me. we had to cut vent holes in it but have managed to stabilise the temp to 37.7 degrees which is what it should be. i got my eggs from ebay, reading his feedback he seems to have had about 90% success rate with the eggs he sold and he is DEFRA registered. not sure about the candling time but on the american website it says you don't have to do that but you have to turn the eggs 4 times per day. If after 25 days any eggs haven't hatched then you need to throw them away and try again. i will be happy if i manage to get 2 chicks from the 12 eggs. i'm not sure of the ratio of hens to cockerels but i will post results when (or if) my happy event occurs. I will post pic of home-made incubator over the weekend and also some of the eggs.
xxxmillyxxx

[Hilary B]

It used to be possible to buy a heater (with thermostat) which would convert a polystyrene (or other insulated) box into a good incubator. I used one a couple of times and got about 60% hatching rate with turkeys, a bit more with chickens. You need to get the humidity right as well as the temperature, and turning eggs is better done an odd number of times per day so that the 'long interval' overnight is not always on the same side. If you want to check eggs for fertility by 'candling' best time is about 8-10 days, which is the first time you ought to see development. I would put a kn own infertile egg (from the supermarket) in the incubator at the same time, so that you know what an infertile one looks like when you candle. For a simple DIY candler, you need a bright torch, a kitchen-towel-roll middle (the torch needs to fit into one end) and work in a poorly lit room. No description can be adequate of how to go about it. Get a book with pictures/diagrams (Seymour has his uses).

[milly2306]

thanks Hilary B i will try your candling method and also turning an odd number of times. this is sooooooooooooooooo exciting
xxxmillyxxx

[milly2306]

first pics

hi
here are a couple of pics of homemade incubator with the eggs. i'm happy to report that the temperature and humidity readings are staying stable so i must be in with a chance. will post more pics after first candling
xxxmillyxxx