4 eggs pipping, humidity down to 58, should I open bator or ???

[Sherriekim]

Speckledhen, thanks again. I'll be sure to post what's going on in the morning, if not throughout the night!

Countrygirlcleelum, I'm hatching six cochin/sl wynodotte crosses and one banty cross that I was able to pick up locally. I wanted to see how the Brinsea was going to work before I spent more money having eggs shipped to me. I lost thirty eggs in a Little Giant before I got the Brinsea. I love the Brinsea so far. Are you hatching some of speckledhen's eggs? .

 

[Sherriekim]

Well, I did fall asleep, woke up and ran to the incubator to see my chicks and no chicks. The one that was pipped the farthest last night has maybe doubled the opening and a fifth egg has now pipped and that's it. No other movement or noises. I thought for sure that at least one chick would have made it out over night. Ohhhh, the waiting game!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I think the waiting game the last 3 days is the hardest part of this addiction!....I have an older round Lyons that I use and I keep a kitchen towel on the bottom of where I place my bator and keep adding warm water to it too to help keep my humidity up...a straw or even a eye dropper works well too thru the little holes on the bottom...

 

[Sherriekim]

Tuffoldhen, do you mean you put a towel underneath the bator on the outside or do you mean you put it in the bottom of the bator on the inside? Your post made me go "hummnh, I never thought about trying to raise the humidity in the immediate area outside of the incubator, but that might be a good idea!" As far as progress, the one egg that is farthest along is zipped halfway around the egg and somebody is peeping occasionally. Still playing the waiting game.

 

[Sherriekim]

Well, to have popped out, but the first one that pipped last night at 8ish and was half way or so zipped at 9:30 this morning is not making any progress and not seeing any movement, although its a little harder to tell with the two other chicks playing pinball in there! One of the little stinkers has now decided the best place to settle was on the digital read out of the accurite so I may have to open the bator to move him. At what point do you decide to help them out of there shells? The one has been pipped for 16 hours, halfway zipped for close to three with no ativity for two. I'm not ready to help him yet, just wondering at what point should I be concerned.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

My old Lyons doesn't have what you consider a bottom to it...it's metal and called a Transparent Hen...old 60s job probably...so I can put a dish towel down and then set the bator on top of it, then it has a mesh wire bottom....thats just another way I can keep my humidity up the last 3 days

you probably have a bottom so you could cut a sponge and keep it near one of your openings inside your bator and keep it moist like that with a straw....

Have they made an progress yet?...I've had some take up to 24 hrs. seems they rest and then just zip out...

 

[Sherriekim]

Well, the two chiks that hathed out at noon are doing great, but that one egg that pipped last night is still working on it. One more little piece of shell has come out and that is it. The chick is still alive, but seems to be slowing down. Going on 24 hours here real soon and just trying to decide if I should help it or not. Two others that pipped this morning haven't done anything. Still waiting. *sigh*

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Its up to you but patience is what it takes to hatch eggs....I've never had to help one.....

 

[silkiechicken]

Give them another 24 hours before trying anything. They could have just pipped "early".

 

[Sherriekim]

Tuffoldhen, I'm so glad to hear you say that! I was not very anxious to try to help one at on first go around, but would have felt guilty if I didn't do something I was "supposed to" so you've helped me decide. I will just wait this out and what will be will be. Thanks so much!