How To Have A Successful Hatch Rate - Little Giant Still Air Incubator 9300

[@-AtomsPhere-]

I just did my second hatch with this incubator. We got a successful 12 healthy chicks, 2 were born with splay leg which just kills me, and six died after pipping and never fully hatched. It’s a learning process for sure. This is a tough hobby when things go wrong, but a rewarding one when things go right. Hopefully every time I get better at this

[@BockBockBouquet]

Yes each hatch you will learn more and more! Congratulations on your hatch. The splay leg is correctable if you act now. I’ll link a video below. This is a tough incubator to be reliable, I recommend getting the fan kit to convert it into a forced air instead of a still air to help out with your hatch rates. Or just upgrading to a better incubator entirely someday. This one can work but takes a lot of patience and dedicated time to messing with it and is definitely not a set it and forget it situation. We left on a day trip before and came back to, too cold of eggs and lost half our hatch. This incubator is not forgiving. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6aoY3dqma6Iqqc

[@chrislecky710]

if your chicks have pipped their eggs it's time to use your ears,, repeat after me,,,,, ,a pipped egg is a hatched egg. The mother hen usually listens and intervenes if she can hear that her eggs are struggling to hatch.... and for goodness sake talk to your eggs,, your voice will give the extra motivation the chick needs to meet you... If your mum sounded like a artificial incubator you'd feel reluctant too..

[@gailfarmer187]

@@chrislecky710 I'm currently hatching for the first time two babies have hatched out of 8 so far and one is pipped and def talk to them

[@angelonious8785]

Did you try the bandaid trick for the splayed legs? I have peacocks hatch like that sometimes. Put half on one leg, half on the other with the pad between. It pull the legs together and makes them work the muscles to help them walk. I leave it on 4 or 5 days then carefully remove. It's hasnt failed me yet.

[@jackie7510]

Just started my first batch thx will watch a few times.

[@jazlynnalmeida2548]

I had 100% hatch rate all of them hatched and it also hatched the eggs my hen threw out of the nest and I didn't have an egg turner or fan this little incubator is bad ass absolutely love it!!

[@BockBockBouquet]

That’s great!! Enjoy all your babies that’s wonderful! ❤️😄🐔

[@pattyhansen7563]

Back to you again, Kelly. Saw that you got married recently - congrats!!! getting ready to start incubating eggs for this year & this video is still the TOPS for how to modify this cheap incubator. Last year I ended up having to buy a new one because the thermostat went on it or something. The heater just kept running & running & 'cooked' my poor babies. Had only used the incubator 1 other time & took very good care of it. Had several power outages, too, that threatened my hatch, but did gain success.

[@pattyhansen7563]

Back to this as a refresher! Used this video to successfully hatch a couple batches of chicks last year. Your advice helped me be very successful. came right back to ya, as a brush up course. Getting ready to do eggs, starting tonight, for someone else. they had multiple back hatchings last year, but I know it is because they were not as attentive and didn't modify their incubator. They actually were really negligent & ended up with very deformed & dead chicks. Please, folks, remember these are LIVING BEINGS and not just a science experiment. Do the best you can by them; they are babies. Don't just chalk it up to an "oh, well". Listen to Kelly - she knows what she's talking about here. Wish me luck!

[@briannad4513]

From my experience I put sponges in the troffs to keep the humidity up. Then I put a tube with a funnel so I could add water as needed without opening the lid.

[@arielmaurer20]

Thank you for the wet paper towel advice!!!

[@freddieivory625]

Great info, happy for your success!! Thanks for sharing

[@tawnikitari]

Thank you so much. I got this incu today to hatch 21 chicks. I did have the temp set to 99.5 but my thermometer inside on top of the eggs was reading 96 😒 So I watched this video of yours and adjusted the temp on the incu to a little over 100, and now my thermometer on the eggs is reading at 99. This helped me so much. I'll be saving this video to my chicken playlist lol. So thanks again!!! 🐣😊

[@dropdeadeggz3536]

Congrats on your successful hatching! They are so cute!

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you! We are loving raising these babies ❤️

[@ooohhitskaren63]

Me on a bad hair day!!!! God's little miracles. I teared up when you were candling them.

[@BockBockBouquet]

They were so sweet!

[@ashleypayne6921]

As always, great content. We are starting the breeding process here at our homestead and needed to brush up on incubating before its time. Thank you Kelly and Ricardo for the educational videos!

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks so much! How exciting and happy hatching!!!

[@juliaboyer4300]

This is a great video!

[@gailfarmer187]

Your advice of upping the temp to 103.5 really helped me out didn't even use the other thermometers and everyone has hatched good doso far on day 22 now

[@BockBockBouquet]

That’s great!

[@isaacbrascoupe]

Thanks for the tips and refresher course 🎉 I getting some eggs to put in my incubator in a month, but I will get it out for a test run!!! 😁

[@jamiejohnson8176]

Thanks your video helps alote. My first time hatching im preping all i can

[@SiothaVest]

And thankyou for explaining the steps. Some of us hear the terms... and it gets overwhelming... but we are not thrilled with our turkeys hatching style our first year.

[@terriblejustawful2825]

Awww your chicks are so cute! Great job!! I wanted to mention that the plugs are supposed to stay closed until lock down when they need to be opened to allow the elevated carbon dioxide to exit the incubator that's released during hatching. Clearly, this didn't effect your great results although you were able to give them extra love and attention while working from home that others might not be able to give. Either way, excellent job and another great video with solid content! 👏 👏👏

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@tawnikitari]

So you don't remove the plugs until lockdown?

[@gregandreason1093]

One plug is to be removed during the 18 days. Read the literature

[@justabuddy382]

Amazing , so Beautiful 🥰.. Thank You for the lesson.

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@christielynnga]

they are so cute! congrats!

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks so much we love them!!

[@juliamaconeghy9388]

i very much enjoyed your video. today is day 21 for my chicks no pipping yet hoping I wake up to a few of them hatching. this is the 2nd time using my little giant that I bought just 1 year ago. i have a success hatch my 1st time using. cant wait for our new ones to arrive. you are so right do not trust the temp and humity on the little giant is it very off. I also have bout my own tools for more accurate reading..

[@davidwarren3825]

Where'd you across Actually put the wet paper towels? Outside the incubator or inside on day 18? Thanks

[@SiothaVest]

Cute channel. I'm trying broody hens... but man there's some error rates there too

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you! Yes, I have found you have to carefully watch a hen until she proves herself a good broody. We have some silkies that are great at brooding and have a 100% hatch rate and are also great mothers. But not all hens make great broodies, and not all good mothers. You have to watch them. We also move mom and babies to a grow out pen inside the coop with very fine fencing that the babies can’t fit through. To protect them against predators & the rest of the flock if they tried to kill them. She’s able to safely raise them stress free in there

[@Amber-79]

@@BockBockBouquet silkies seem to be the best with brooding, imo, too. The others seem hit or miss to me. I just want to say, You do a great job explaining everything and making sure you hit the bullet points, knowing some people go in having just watched your one video, not being educated on hatching and can easily kill a baby not knowing the important stuff. Those incubators with the water wells, the babies have drowned in once out so I would never recommend those, if you ever see any you are asked to review. The paper towel trick is a great idea rather than having water wells in them.

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@Amber-79 thanks so much! I try to help people the best I can ❤️ I know there are a lot of pitfalls to this incubator and want to try to help others know why it can be unsuccessful if you’re not helicopter parenting over it lol

[@onwednesdayswewearpink2761]

Oh MY GAWWWD!!! SO CUTE !!! I am crying at the cuteness 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@BockBockBouquet]

Love the babies!! ❤️❤️

[@markskinner2642]

Would this be the same process using a Farm innovator still aor incubator?

[@sarahgonzales5564]

I just bought this incubator for my 8 year old to try.. thank you so much for your video. We are going to take all your advice!

[@BockBockBouquet]

That is going to be very exciting and educational for your child. Hope it’s a great experience for your family! ❤️

[@SiothaVest]

30 eggs! Wow.

[@brendaboles3875]

Great video😊

[@georgemull8644]

If you would drop your temp. To 97 to 99.9 and your humitiy to 50 or 55 you will get a even a better hatch rate.

[@TyroneMooreland]

So if my incubator temperature is 97 52 humidity I'm ok

[@kevincostner9970]

When you put the wet paper towels around the edge, was that on the outside? 0:57 I tried to find a quicker way to contact you.

[@BockBockBouquet]

Inside the incubator anywhere, I did prefer to do the outside. Just as much as you need to get the humidity reading to be raised to where you like. Add a little at a time

[@jasongardiner3054]

Hi have you ever incubatored eggs from the fridge I had 5 rare breed eggs in fridge for a week and put them in incubator

[@BockBockBouquet]

Did you put them straight? Best if you let them come to room temperature first on the counter slowly. The chances aren’t good but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

[@kellygreen9805]

What is the external thermometer you use???

[@KhalidMalik-db8hr]

Very nice

[@allthingzacnh1210]

Congrats

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you!

[@joseluislatino8426]

So much good information, excellent vedio

[@llasmanicortez7156]

Thanks for the info 😁

[@aj-co8sq]

Wonderful 👍

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks 😁

[@rosalindagonzalez1341]

What about I have to step out to go to Dr appointment or grocery shopping. Can I turn it after a few hour ,since I have no turner yet

[@jbid9999]

Thanks

[@BockBockBouquet]

Welcome!

[@retribution41]

Is there a updated video or have you moved on to different incubators because I am fixing to hatch my first, with including the egg turner and air, and I have ran my incubator for three days, “in a controlled environment,” my humidity is staying 58 to 60 temperature 99.2 to 99.8

[@BockBockBouquet]

Yes we have been using the nurture right 360 nowadays

[@LSV.Delight]

Your great!!!! So much detail..i wish that otter people would be as detailed as you . Looking for thermometer

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you! I linked the thermometers we use in the description, the corded one I used in this video. Recently I stopped using it and have been using the govee which is wireless and it has been working well for us

[@LSV.Delight]

@@BockBockBouquet 😁♥️🌿 Thank you!!!

[@LSV.Delight]

Lol.. i didn't press the part of the tab that says read more.. 😂 i see if now thanks

[@nicelydone9776]

Put down rope-cord, I have fish stringer rope at hatching for them to rest on, plus it keeps the hatched chicks from kicking the unhatched.

[@bluraymex23]

Ty for posting this video .I'm trying to hatch bearded dragon eggs .wish me luck I now have the knowledge to do so.

[@BockBockBouquet]

My father is always hatching bearded dragons and leopard geckos 🦎 how fun! I love reptiles too.

[@Telekinesis.gurl.]

Where do I place the wet paper towel? I just need to know that I think do I use room temperature? Where do I put the wet paper towel??

[@dennisstuckey8420]

thanks for the information, it was very helpful.....

[@BockBockBouquet]

Glad we can help! Happy hatching!

[@His_sheep_hear_Him]

Thankyou best explanation that I can find!!

[@BockBockBouquet]

Glad we can be of help

[@sarahbrooks7414]

Could you like the thermometer with the humidity gauge?

[@BockBockBouquet]

I put everything in the description :)

[@nataliehessler6463]

Thanks for info. Got my incubator with no instructions inside.

[@debrajones5525]

Can you post the humidity levels that it should be at for the 21 days it seems like your saying a higher level for "lockdown" but in the beginning its not as necessary so can you post humidity levels. Also you take out both red plugs during the 3 day lockdown phase?

[@BockBockBouquet]

For week one I had the humidity around 60% from filling the water troughs, always use warm/hot water. Second week I let the humidity drop and didn’t refill the troughs, humidity went to the teens to 30% ish. This can help air cells develop and get larger. 3rd week I filled the troughs back up and got some paper towels soaked with hot water and placed them inside around the perimeter. I placed some kind of in the troughs to wick it to stay moist. This brought my humidity to in the 90’s%. Yes I removed both red plugs for hatch, I had only one removed for incubation. If my humidity would rise too high almost 100% I would remove paper towels or hatched eggs from babies already had hatched as the open eggs and baby chicks added to the humidity

[@markmarkmark1821]

Seen another vlog On it the man said it is not how deep the water troughs are it's down to the surface area So he wets small sponges and has them sticking out it the water bath to increase the surface area And if the humidity drops too low He uses a water sorry on the sides of the incubator avoiding the eggs which will raise the humidity quickly But only lasts about twelve hours Some people in high humidity climates don't add any water for the first two weeks till lock down and that works well as well

[@paulalee2345]

This video was so helpful Thank you 😊

[@BockBockBouquet]

Glad we can be of help! 😊

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Cute little buttons

[@BockBockBouquet]

They're the sweetest

[@hubertcater5061]

If your not able to find a different humidity thermometer and you only have the one on the incubator could you recommend wat that one should be at for the bottom humidity to be at a good percentage

[@BockBockBouquet]

We have great luck with dry hatching. Running a low humidity the first 18 days and then bumping the humidity higher at hatch. We just fill the troughs all the way at hatch and add wet paper towels. But not too much moisture that condensation forms on the viewing window. If you really want to know what humidity you need you can weigh your eggs. Google the information and as eggs develop they should lose a certain amount of weight. Higher humidity makes the moisture loss inside the egg lower and less weight lost. Lower humidity helps the air cells develop more

[@CieraEplin]

So the temperature should be 100 even and the humidity should be 40-50% until day 18 for lock down then the humidity should be 60-70% and temp stay the same right or am I not understanding sorry new to this!?

[@ivetteargandona9783]

Do I have to fill up the water all the way up

[@BockBockBouquet]

No but it will dry up faster and have to refill more often. Humidity raises from surface area of water, not how much they are filled. So just test with a hygrometer to check your humidity level and see how many troughs to fill. Humidity doesn’t need to be higher till lockdown, about 65-75% to hatch

[@ivetteargandona9783]

Thanks

[@cherylcorbin-gillespie5656]

Is the humidity right? On the styrofoam thermostat?

[@BockBockBouquet]

No it was off as well, I only trusted my external digital thermometer/hydrometer

[@mslavens]

I have the egg turner in my little giant incubator. Should I remove it prior to lock down?

[@BockBockBouquet]

I do just so they don’t stumble around on it or hurt their feet in any way. Just in case

[@ahmadhassan-tt7so]

Unfortunately it is bone well thank you so much for reply keep smiling always be happy

[@BockBockBouquet]

Hope he will be okay!

[@ahmadhassan-tt7so]

@@BockBockBouquet in sha ALLAH

[@builtontherockhomestead9390]

Great video. Cute chicks.

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you! We are having so much fun raising them

[@corapencheff8111]

Very informative thank you

[@adamsfamilygarden5222]

Thank So Much for the Video so Much wonderful information ❤ Getting ready to hatch some Chicken Eggs maybe some Duck Eggs, and I’ve never done this before? So Nervous, My two little Girls are Excited ❤❤❤❤ Any Tips?? Cute Chicks at the End 🥰🥰

[@kellygreen9805]

I have guniea hens anyone have suggestion on setting

[@sallyhourt3123]

We just got an older version of this incubator given to us. We hatched 5 batches in our Excalibur dehydrator before! Best rate was 16 of 18. However in winter I find the humidity is too low and we had shrink wrapped eggs. Only got 16 of 25. Sad. My question is, how do you keep the temperature up and humidity up when you open the incubator so often? Mine don't have the plugs either, just holes. I wish I had a manual lol

[@hearcamir7810]

Gr8 vid‼️👏👏👏🐓

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thank you!

[@DiMiTri-ys7ei]

You're so pretty Kelly❤...oh and the chicks too.. Thanks for the video I'm using this right now! To get it at 99 degrees what was the thermometer reading on the lil giant? Stoked on the warm papertowl tech to get that humidity up I'm taking notes here lol

[@BockBockBouquet]

Thanks for watching to get the temperature to stay a constant 99.9F I had to adjust the little giant incubators thermometer constantly lol mostly during the warm days here I had it set to 103.5. There were times I had it running at 106F. At our coldest night I had it at almost 109F 😳 but that’s just what the incubator said, my other 2 thermometers would read 99.9. I just had to adjust the incubator’s as to go off of what my external thermometers would say. When it got colder I raised the temps so high because the heater on the incubator couldn’t keep up with the environmental temps, if that makes sense. If you have any other questions we’re happy to answer

[@charlotteaaron7021]

couldn't you use the vent with a long straw to add some water??? I am just today getting my incubator ready for my dozen eggs.. hopefully fertile :). we'll see on Oct 15th :)

[@patrickmakombola8356]

How do you increase humidity when it drops down

[@BockBockBouquet]

Increase the surface area of the water, if filling the troughs doesn’t bring it to the level you want, add a wet sponges or paper towels

[@Appalachiangirl]

Got a question ❓ I got black and white polish standard chickens and hatched off eggs some was black and white and then I had some that was snow white is that normal?

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

I do dry hatch for until u see them Crack shell so I add gallon water I have a dickies cabinet incubator so hold lot eggs

[@BockBockBouquet]

We have been doing more dry hatches now too! I think the air cell develops better

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

@@BockBockBouquet 10 4 does lot better so don't have to be adding water all time

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Ok

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Ok have great day

[@nefertitithequeen8640]

How many times did you add wet paper towel

[@BockBockBouquet]

Just once at lockdown, use a hygrometer to see the humidity and try to reach 60-65%

[@jasminetaylor1165]

Did you add your eggs same day that you bought the Incubator?

[@BockBockBouquet]

We let them rest in an egg carton pointy side down for 24 hours before adding to the incubator because these eggs were shipped to us. I can’t remember if we bought the incubator the night before or the same day. But we turned it on and ran if for a few to several hours before putting the eggs in. I had ordered the thermometers the night before to arrive next day shipping. I didn’t put the eggs in until I was certain I had the proper temperature maintained by checking the external thermometers I had ordered

[@tinacreel2995]

Show me how to turn eggs

[@buckeyemoosehunter]

I’m curious as to why to remove the second red plug or any for that matter? The incubator has tiny holes around perimeter of top and bottom.

[@BockBockBouquet]

These holes are very tiny, maybe too tiny. As the embryo develops it’s oxygen needs increase and it starts giving off more carbon dioxide. Removing the plugs will help aid in more oxygenation especially during hatch. We haven’t noticed any issues while removing these plugs, not to worry, it doesn’t drop the temp or humidity too much

[@revkapahlevi3640]

i like ur vid

[@danielcabrera5780]

Aww what is the name of the chicken

[@BockBockBouquet]

These are Frizzle Tolbunt Polish 😊

[@razzyhass3541]

I am from Indonesia... I watch your video and see a great success. I am working on pheasant eggs for the second time right now. The first was pretty bad of 25 eggs only 11 hatched. I set humidity 60%, temperature 37.3-38 C, spinning every 2 hours. Right now I have 20 eggs on day 7th. Any suggestion? Thank you.

[@BockBockBouquet]

Hello! There are many factors that can affect hatch. Out of 25 and you got 11, did they start developing in the beginning or could be infertile or damaged in shipping. We also prefer to run our humidity lower the guest could weeks to grow bigger air cell. And raise humidity for hatch

[@jerrymaestas4942]

What state do you live in?? Just curious. Seems like a more dry state??

[@BockBockBouquet]

The desert of Southern California, yes it’s very very dry here

[@jerrymaestas4942]

@@BockBockBouquet okay ya. Same here in New Mexico lol. Thank you for your reply. 😁

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@jerrymaestas4942 yes I should have mentioned in video, humidity matters much more to us as it’s harder to achieve lol

[@jerrymaestas4942]

@@BockBockBouquet okay. No the video was great. It is good you left room for questions. That allows you to interact with your viewers and further your channel. That's what KZbin wants lol.

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@jerrymaestas4942 thank you! 😄

[@christinabaker3210]

I tried to hatch over 40 mixed breeds and only 2 hatched and only 1 lived. Maybe i need a better incubator and not get blackouts with electricity

[@Christy-js8nh]

Yeah you should stop playing with life

[@kaila6286]

But if you doing still air shouldn’t the temperature be higher than what you use for forced? That’s what I have been reading anyways (I go by C not F so 39 for still and 36.5-37.5 for forced f not c)

[@BockBockBouquet]

Yes technically. I had my thermometers at the same level the eggs were at (placed on top) so I was getting a reading that the eggs were getting. So I base my correct temperature on my two external thermometers I purchased separately. The thermometer built into the incubator is just so incredibly inaccurate. You have to keep making adjustments based off what your reliable calibrated thermometers read. Mine would say 99.5F and the incubator thermometer would range from 103.5-108F at times. This incubator just takes a lot of fiddling with. It’s definitely not a plug and play autopilot kind of model. Having forced air and buying the fan kit will improve this incubators functionality for sure. Also the egg turner do you do not have to do that, but after all that added cost for the extra upgrades, you might as well just buy a better incubator like the nurture right 360

[@bigrickshaberdashery2759]

Ok, hand turning is really a pain in the butt but can be done but forced air is essential IMHO. Good practice to let them dry out in the incubator before moving and easier to set a temp. I'm personally not a Little Giant fan,

[@BockBockBouquet]

Everything you just said is very true lol. But if needed this can do the job. We haven’t invested in a better incubator because we always had broodys hatch barnyard mix chicks on our farm. As we are getting more addicted to incubating ourselves, and are hatching more to sell locally as breeders….the more I do want to invest in a better incubator lol

[@koeltefontein]

I only turned them 2x a day. Ï got good results

[@user-in3mg1sg1w]

How many hatches have you done now in this incubator? I have the still air Hovabator which is about 25 dollars more expensive, same simple design. The Hovabator is cheap and not as bad as it could be. I'm purchasing 3 more incubators and the savings is 75 bucks if I go with this one. Problem is I've read reviews that say its only good for one hatch. Has that been your experience?

[@BockBockBouquet]

I’ve done many hatches in this. I’ve never used the hovabator, but have heard better reviews for it than this little giant. To be honest this little giant still air is very finicky and takes so much monitoring to be sure the temperature stays consistent. We have been using the nurture right 360 this year so far and it’s more of a plug and play on autopilot kind of incubator so for now I’ve retired this little giant

[@MrHound556]

Okay so umm, I have eggs in the incubator right now and I have eggs that are supposed to hatch at different times!, Aghh I'm so worried and Idk how to do lockdown if their supposed to hatch at different times, Do you know?

[@BockBockBouquet]

As long as you keep the humidity high with wet paper towels I would feel safe opening the incubator up and removing the hatched chicks that were mostly dried up and walking and move them directly to brooder with heat lamp to finish drying up. The danger in opening the incubator during lockdown is the humidity dropping and the eggs that are currently hatching could dry up and the membrane drying around the hatching chick essentially “shrink wrapping” them. Just make sure your humidity doesn’t drop and you should be okay to remove as they hatch. Maybe try to build a paper towel barrier wall inbetween the eggs that need more time and the eggs about to hatch. So the hatched chicks don’t play soccer with the other eggs that need more time

[@AhmadHassan-el8xg]

Hi im from pakistan my name is ahmad i have a question and question is my roosters chest bone start moving on right side why is this happening and how i can treat

[@BockBockBouquet]

Are you sure it is bone? Feel if it feels like a water balloon maybe it is a full crop which hangs to one side that is where they store thier food to digest and will be full during the day and empty in the morning. If this is the case there is nothing to worry about and perfectly normal. If it is bone I’m sorry I’m not sure what the cause of that is and can’t be of much help. Hope your bird is okay ❤️

[@RealiztRhiannon-iz3hf]

i just pulled mine out from when i was a kid. Lost thermometer, have my own. No buttons a Knob that says lower or higher. ?! i hatched two chicks as a kid, sooo not been used for a little over a decade. tho i am just expeirmenting.

[@jamessutton5199]

Been a many chicks hatched with styrofoam incubators

[@BockBockBouquet]

Yup! We hatched many duckling in this now too

[@khurrammayo498]

Hi madam how r u I m from pakistan plz tell me something about polish chicks and ayam cimani

[@BockBockBouquet]

Hello we do have a video on sexing Polish chickens on our channel

[@flower4727]

I cant keep it at 99.5 goes to a 102. Have 2 other thermometer all read same

[@bobfuhr4520]

Does a hen go into lockdown on day 18. I don't believe they do?

[@BockBockBouquet]

Hen is essentially always in lockdown. Lockdown is so once eggs pip and zip humidity doesn’t drop to dry out the membranes, harden and make chicks shrink wrap or become too stiff that they can’t break through to hatch. A hen is the perfect incubator and always leaves the perfect humidity and warmth levels for chicks to hatch. Once her chicks start to hatch she doesn’t leave the nest until they all hatch to take them out to forage for the first time. This is why the egg has the yolk as it is the chicks food, vitamins and immune system reserves. The chicks do not need feed/water for about a couple days as they are nourished by the yolk. They absorb it right before hatching. Chicks don’t usually hatch all at the same time and this is insurance or survival while they hen waits for all the babies to hatch before taking them out to learn to feed and drink foraging for the first time

[@bobfuhr4520]

@@BockBockBouquet thanks for the perfect answer.

[@bobfuhr4520]

@@BockBockBouquet does the hen keep turning the eggs for 21 days. Why stop turning?

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@bobfuhr4520 I can’t say if she stops turning as I never pay close attention and give the broody hens their space, especially on final days as you don’t want to stress her. She could very well possibly never stop turning. What I do know is that turning is not needed and a useless task after 18 days so why bother wasting time. The purpose is so the embryo doesn’t stick to one side of the egg, it’s already developed and ready for hatch so this fear is over. If hand turning there is no danger but if you have an automatic turner it could harm a baby chick if it was still in use could break a leg or cause some harm to the fragile chicks

[@susanathiessen3566]

I have the same incubator and none of the eggs hatch

[@mefolse]

Hi. Will you be selling any of the eggs by chance? We’d love to purchase a few if not too expensive. Thank you and have a blessed day. South Louisiana here 🐊⚜️

[@mefolse]

Also where did you purchase incase you don’t want me to purchase from you. I love your video and I’m trying to build enough courage to video the eggs thanksgiving we are fixing to incubate. 🐊⚜️

[@BockBockBouquet]

We bought these Tolbunt frizzle Polish eggs off of EBay 😊 we only have females and don’t breed as we are not NPIP certified at this time, maybe a future endeavor. You should! Incubating is fun, happy hatching!

[@edge7074]

It is made in the USA, Bonus! 😉😁🇺🇸

[@BockBockBouquet]

Yes! 😄😄

[@timcastle6996]

Bought this incubator. It was 150.00 one month ago

[@TopHatCaroline]

Yeah this is not a cheap incubator. After I bought the automatic egg turner for it. It was $150 for me over a year ago.

[@nicelydone9776]

I currently have 36 eggs in this incubator on day 18-19. Not my first time though. I had an egg turner, and fan, I fill the water trays only on day 18. That is best for my area.

[@BockBockBouquet]

We should have mentioned we live in the desert with no humidity. Dry hatching works very well. We try to keep the humidity low now for first 18 days as well now and have had good success. Develops good air cell size

[@nicelydone9776]

@@BockBockBouquet 34/36 hatched they were from a store but local eggs. We also live in a high desert.

[@Try2-Imagine]

100% hatch rate with foam cooler, light bulb, and a cup with 1/2 oz of water for humidity.

[@danielamendoza5471]

I don't know what I did wrong , I just checked my eggs and most of them are died. I have been checking them and just three days before hatching they are died.

[@BockBockBouquet]

Sorry to hear that, this isn’t the easiest or forgiving incubator. And I would recommend investing in a better one or buying the forced air fan kit for it. There are so many reasons that could have happened to you. It’s a practice, trial and error and learning process. Some possible reasons are the chicks could have drowned from too small of an air cell from humidity too high during first 18 days, dirty eggs can let bacteria in and cause late stage embryo death. Or shipping damage from shipped eggs. Also are you sure they died?? Maybe don’t give up on them

[@danielamendoza5471]

Well, I guess because the embryo it's not moving and I can't see the veins. Definitely i will get the air fan kit, this was my very first time with an incubator, thanks you so much for your advice I will let them a extra day if not, well, I'll try again. I love your channel.

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@danielamendoza5471 Aw thank you, yes don’t give up. Each hatch you will keep learning. We have had hard times with this incubator before too, came home from a day trip and lost half the hatch because the eggs got too cold. This one does have good bang for its buck but investing a little more money does get you a little more in the incubator world. More recently we have been using the nurture right 360 with a more set it and forget it usage. This little giant takes a lot of fiddling and messing with it

[@bobfuhr4520]

It sometimes takes a long time for movement in 18 day eggs.

[@karlmanukan6970]

i love you

[@VictorRuiz-tz1sq]

103.5

[@BockBockBouquet]

?

[@maxsanchez2339]

Had numerous bad hatches with this incubator. Even updated to the forced air and still bad. Get the nurture right 360 and save yourself time and stress.

[@BockBockBouquet]

That’s the one we’ve been using this whole year 😂 definitely a plug and play & set and forget

[@debrawooding9842]

@@BockBockBouquet Did you have any splayed legs with the nurture right? I did, but never with the little giant. I placed 16 eggs in my little giant tonight. Mine is older and doesn't have a thermometer. I have two that I use. Happy hatching!

[@ashleighwest7494]

So I wanna have it “preheated” to 99.9 and what percentage of humidity?

[@BockBockBouquet]

40-50% for the first 18 days then around 75% for final days and hatch. The higher humidity for hatch will help the membranes stay wet so they don’t dry out and “shrink wrap” so the chick can properly come out of the eggshell easily

[@ashleighwest7494]

I’m having the hardest time keeping the heat up with this incubator (I have this same cheap one) and I took your advice and got another thermometer that reads the heat and humidity, my humidity is great! But I literally have the incubator up to 104 right now and the thermometer I bought is saying it’s only 99 degrees.

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@ashleighwest7494 yes trust your external thermometer, you want it to stay at 99 degrees so try to monitor it often and adjust as needed. We had our incubator by a window and one night when it was really cold outside, I had to bring the temperature up to 108 just for my other thermometer to read 99

[@ashleighwest7494]

Did you wake up even at night to turn them every hour?

[@BockBockBouquet]

@@ashleighwest7494 I would take nights off and just turn before bed and then first thing in the morning. In my most recent hatches I started getting more comfortable with it and was turning less at about 6 times per day

[@417plasma6]

its about 129.00 now..