Hello All!
We are hatching 21 australorp eggs for our first time hatch. We had three groups of seven, two groups under two broody hens and one group in a borrowed LG incubator with fan and egg turner. The first group placed under our first hen hatched out 100% and we were thrilled (Sunday). The next day our second broody was up to hatch and LG incubator eggs the next day. (So, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday...today). Monday many of the eggs under Silkie number 2 hatched except one. Then one pipped in the incubator. I quickly took that pip egg and put it under hen number two so it could have a mama, too. That egg hatched with the other 6 under the hen. Then late Monday, one more pipped and I took it out to put under the mama hen, too (she still had some eggs zipping). Today that second egg had started to zip, I took it out quickly to show my girls and put it right back under the hen. I went to work after lunch. Tonight, I got home and the egg was zipped, almost fully, but the chick was dead.
AND...we are at the end of day 21 and none of the other eggs (5 left) in the LG have even pipped. Two I was not sure of when I candled, but I did hope the rest would make it. Temp has bounced a few times, high and low, but not for long amounts of time, I check it very often and will not leave for work unless it has been constant for a few hours. I check it when we are back at home. I did open it a few times during lock down to listen to the eggs and put the pips under the still hatching hen. I tried to be quick. We are way up in the high desert plains of Texas by Big Bend National park...but I kept humidity at least at 60-65% during lockdown.
Now, I am feeling so awful because I just "had a feeling" about that zipped egg at lunch and almost assisted in removing the shell. Then I thought, no, no, and off to work so I cannot mess with it. I am not sure when the poor baby died.
So...what should I do...just leave those eggs in the incubator be...and there is one more egg under mama hen number two (I have picked it up and hear nothing).
Should I listen to the eggs left in the LG? Just leave it running?
Thanks for your advice, I am learning...and so appreciate help.
We are hatching 21 australorp eggs for our first time hatch. We had three groups of seven, two groups under two broody hens and one group in a borrowed LG incubator with fan and egg turner. The first group placed under our first hen hatched out 100% and we were thrilled (Sunday). The next day our second broody was up to hatch and LG incubator eggs the next day. (So, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday...today). Monday many of the eggs under Silkie number 2 hatched except one. Then one pipped in the incubator. I quickly took that pip egg and put it under hen number two so it could have a mama, too. That egg hatched with the other 6 under the hen. Then late Monday, one more pipped and I took it out to put under the mama hen, too (she still had some eggs zipping). Today that second egg had started to zip, I took it out quickly to show my girls and put it right back under the hen. I went to work after lunch. Tonight, I got home and the egg was zipped, almost fully, but the chick was dead.
AND...we are at the end of day 21 and none of the other eggs (5 left) in the LG have even pipped. Two I was not sure of when I candled, but I did hope the rest would make it. Temp has bounced a few times, high and low, but not for long amounts of time, I check it very often and will not leave for work unless it has been constant for a few hours. I check it when we are back at home. I did open it a few times during lock down to listen to the eggs and put the pips under the still hatching hen. I tried to be quick. We are way up in the high desert plains of Texas by Big Bend National park...but I kept humidity at least at 60-65% during lockdown.
Now, I am feeling so awful because I just "had a feeling" about that zipped egg at lunch and almost assisted in removing the shell. Then I thought, no, no, and off to work so I cannot mess with it. I am not sure when the poor baby died.
So...what should I do...just leave those eggs in the incubator be...and there is one more egg under mama hen number two (I have picked it up and hear nothing).
Should I listen to the eggs left in the LG? Just leave it running?
Thanks for your advice, I am learning...and so appreciate help.
