Breaking a Broody Hen

[Ben Framed]

lol  By the time this discussion is over, we might all be chick hatching experts!   

[Kathyp]

By the time this discussion is over, we might all be chick hatching experts

To your question, the dry membrane issue should not happen with the newer incubators.  I suggest you get a cheap temp/humidity digital device to put in the incubator and brooder.  I got a really good one a couple of years ago and I don't think I paid even 10 dollars on Amazon.  It has lasted through chick poop in the brooder so I am happy to have gotten it   

[Michael Bush]

I have a queen incubator that has one of those nice digital controllers in it.  I'm not sure how well the box would do for chicken eggs though...  The Monkey Ward one has an incandescent light bulb (now illegal) for it's heat source.  It was not as stable temperature wise as the queen incubator is.  Maybe I should look it over.  I might be able to detatch the controler and put it in the chicken incubator.  It's about time to hatch some chicks  Maybe next month but at least by April.

[Ben Framed]

By the time this discussion is over, we might all be chick hatching experts

To your question, the dry membrane issue should not happen with the newer incubators.  I suggest you get a cheap temp/humidity digital device to put in the incubator and brooder.  I got a really good one a couple of years ago and I don't think I paid even 10 dollars on Amazon.  It has lasted through chick poop in the brooder so I am happy to have gotten it   

Thanks Kathy. Do you off hand know where the humidity level in hatching chicks needs to be?

Phillip

[Kathyp]

I don't remember.  It should be in the incubator info, or you can find it online.  Maybe 15th knows without looking it up.

The humidity is important all the way through, but especially as they hatch.  If the membrane dries out, they get stuck. 

Michael, if you do chicks, try a warming plate for your brooder.  I used one last year instead of a light and it was way better + I didn't have the fire risk.

[The15thMember]

I don't, but I looked it up.    Our incubator recommends 45-55% for setting, and 55-65% for hatching.  You want it to be humid for hatching, but you don't want condensation, as that will make it hard for the chicks to dry.

[Ben Framed]

A bit of bad luck. On the second day at egg turning time the incubator was kaputt, and the eggs were cold... Bummer, I guess sometimes a broody hen would be in order. 

[Occam]

A bit of bad luck. On the second day at egg turning time the incubator was kaputt, and the eggs were cold... Bummer, I guess sometimes a broody hen would be in order. 

Sorry to hear that, hope it goes better next time

[Ben Framed]

Thanks Occam. Last night I did a little investigating and found a couple videos showing how to make an incubator using a hot water thermostat. I might go this route. The one that fiddled out was a bought one form Tractor Supply which had didgital readout. I used it for hatching queen cells prior.

Phillip

[gww]

I used a foam one and did not measure humidity.  I did keep a thermometer in it and did pour a little water in the bottom of it on just guess and tried to be religious on egg turning.   With good temp control and turning, little water some times, it worked out.  My dog knew first when they started hatching and acted like a new mom and hung around the incubator and they are good friends to this day.
I am pretty sure my direction said to put a little water and if in a pretty constant temp area to open the little vents.  This was ten years ago and from my memory and so I hope it helps more the hurts.  Don't make it to hard, just use a little common sense and there is some latitude cause real chicken mamas are not perfect either.  They get up every day for a while.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks gww. I like the idea of having the dog in on it for obvious reasons.

I am strongly leaning toward building a home made incubator, kind of like a fellow built in one of the videos. I will post the video a little later in case someone here might be interested . 

Phillip

[Ben Framed]

Thanks gww. I like the idea of having the dog in on it for obvious reasons.

I am strongly leaning toward building a home made incubator, kind of like a fellow built in one of the videos. I will post the video a little later in case someone here might be interested . 

Phillip

https://youtu.be/3D4gU4FnU94?si=SXVYbSkqeH0cX30w