I have had a hard time with this batch. I have 18 eggs that i set on April 14th Had several temp spikes--possibly to 106, but that is what the cheapo thermometer said--the candy therm that I had in there said 103--still high. Most of the time it ran at 99-101. I had lots of trouble keeping it steady. Two things I did differently than last time, where 2 out of 22 hatched. I took the red plugs out at the beginning of setting the eggs, and I put almost no water in, and didn't replenish what was in there. (I have a Hovabator 1602 still air)
Put the bator into lockdown Saturday, although I wasn't expecting much. So I was pleasantly surprised to see three--and maybe 4 pips yesterday. One of the eggs, a bantam, had a large pip opening. I might have seen some movement, but it was faint. No peeping, no rocking, nothing else. As of this morning, I'm thinking it quit somewhere--there is no progress at all. From what I have been reading, it either shrink wrapped, or drowned--and I have no idea which, since I don't know how much humidity is in there. I had the thought of helping it yesterday when I saw the faint moving, but then that would have jeopadized the other eggs which might wait til day 21. But if that was the only egg that lived through the spikes, and then it died right at pip time-- ARRRRGGGGHHHH!
The other eggs that pipped are at the really early pip--where there's no hole yet, just the tiny amount of lifting of the shell. I kinda think they quit, too, because no progress at all since yesterday afternoon. Again, no peeps, no rocking, nothing.
My eggs are in egg cartons cut down, I filled the water reservoirs at lockdown, and put the little red plugs back in. I don't know if I can do anything to salvage this batch or not.
Put the bator into lockdown Saturday, although I wasn't expecting much. So I was pleasantly surprised to see three--and maybe 4 pips yesterday. One of the eggs, a bantam, had a large pip opening. I might have seen some movement, but it was faint. No peeping, no rocking, nothing else. As of this morning, I'm thinking it quit somewhere--there is no progress at all. From what I have been reading, it either shrink wrapped, or drowned--and I have no idea which, since I don't know how much humidity is in there. I had the thought of helping it yesterday when I saw the faint moving, but then that would have jeopadized the other eggs which might wait til day 21. But if that was the only egg that lived through the spikes, and then it died right at pip time-- ARRRRGGGGHHHH!
The other eggs that pipped are at the really early pip--where there's no hole yet, just the tiny amount of lifting of the shell. I kinda think they quit, too, because no progress at all since yesterday afternoon. Again, no peeps, no rocking, nothing.
My eggs are in egg cartons cut down, I filled the water reservoirs at lockdown, and put the little red plugs back in. I don't know if I can do anything to salvage this batch or not.
