Air sacs look ok for Day 16??

[oregonkat]

At this point, just dont raise it if it is in the 30 - 40's range. Does your incubator have a fan?

 

[whoa_nelly96]

At this point, just dont raise it if it is in the 30 - 40's range. Does your incubator have a fan?

Ok. Yes it does.

 

[oregonkat]

Good, then temperature is good at about 100degs. Now just wait for your first pip! But.... do yourself a favor and get an independent set of a thermometer/hygrometer and I noticed in your original post that you have 2 bators going, are the eggs in both?

 

[whoa_nelly96]

Good, then temperature is good at about 100degs. Now just wait for your first pip! But.... do yourself a favor and get an independent set of a thermometer/hygrometer and I noticed in your original post that you have 2 bators going, are the eggs in both?

Yes, I have two incubators because we originally got 20 eggs...they did not all fit in one. Now...we only have 7 eggs left...4 in one and 3 in the other. I was thinking of just moving them all in one during lockdown...but wasn't sure if that would mess anything up lol. Thoughts??

I did buy two "Digital mini instant temperature and humidity readers" - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MXEA3X0?ref=em_1p_0_ti&ref_=pe_212990_351907840 - I have been going off those reads on the humidity part since my incubator only shows temp.

 

[oregonkat]

OK, yes during lockdown you could use one for the waiting eggs and the other as a hatcher. The advantage of this is that once you have an external pip, or pips hopefully, you could move those to the 'hatcher' bator that is already at temp. and prepared with the higher humidity without having to 'goose' the humidity for the ones in the waiting bator. Just a thought!

 

[aart]

If eggs are all on same day, and air cells look the same,
you could put them all in one bator....why run/watch two bators?

Agree with @WVduckchick ... air cells look a tad small, just don't add any more water until the first pip, then crank it up to 70-80%. Great pics BTW.

Before your next hatch, test/calibrate your thermometers and hygrometers.
This how I do mine:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[whoa_nelly96]

Thank you all for your information and advice!
I will cradle again tomorrow at Day 18 and see how the air cells are doing and decide from there if I should consider waiting another day, and perhaps having a Hatcher set up as well just in case. If I set up a Hatcher though...wouldn’t I be risking a shrink wrapped egg if I move the pipped one to the Hatcher??

 

[WVduckchick]

The other thing you could do is use one incubator for the ones that the air cells look about right, and good full development, and go ahead and lock those day on day 18. Then use the other bator for ones that may need another day or so at lower humidity, and wait till Sunday or Monday, or first pip to increase the humidity.

If it were me, I’d put them all in the one I trust the most, and bump the humidity on Sunday.
The second bator could also be used if one happens to need assistance, or if you have a weak one that may need extra ”icu” time.

 

[whoa_nelly96]

I just wanted to follow up to say that tonight will be day 20. No eggs rocking yet; however, air cells have almost doubled in most eggs (I had checked them before lockdown.) BUT a couple of eggs only increased by a little...still an increase though.

Only problem now during lockdown is that I can't get temp up at 100. It's at 99. (I even wrapped a towel around my Janoel 12 to get that number because it started off at 95 and wouldn't budge.) Does this mean they may hatch later??

I did end up separating the eggs that had smaller air cells in one incubator and kept those humidity levels low...and the ones with low (good) air cells in the other and cranked up the humidity.

 

[WVduckchick]

I just wanted to follow up to say that tonight will be day 20. No eggs rocking yet; however, air cells have almost doubled in most eggs (I had checked them before lockdown.) BUT a couple of eggs only increased by a little...still an increase though.

Only problem now during lockdown is that I can't get temp up at 100. It's at 99. (I even wrapped a towel around my Janoel 12 to get that number because it started off at 95 and wouldn't budge.) Does this mean they may hatch later??

I did end up separating the eggs that had smaller air cells in one incubator and kept those humidity levels low...and the ones with low (good) air cells in the other and cranked up the humidity.

99 is fine. Good luck! Hope you see some pips today!