Anyone hatching Dec 14th? Looking for hatching buddies for 1st hatch!

[Rin]

Well, I came home for lunch. The humidity was up to 75% and temp is staying stable at 101. But no more replies to my chirping. I got off work just now, still silent, humidity is down to 68% but temp is still stable. I realized though that that the thermometer was going to make it harder for them to hatch (it was sprawled across the tops of the eggs) so veerrrryyy carefully used a paintbrust stuck through a vent hole to nudge it off. My temp readings will no longer be properly accurate but better than a large flat plastic thing blocking the chicks from hatching. It's tough enough getting out of that shell. I'm hoping the peeper from earlier is just sleeping.

 

[ZooMummzy]

My eggs went into LD tonight - hatch due Saturday. Silkiechicken confirmed that I have 5 viable ones out of 17 (original number was 44). I'm happy with that number though since we just hatched out 7 babies 4 weeks ago and I have 20+ silkie eggs going in on Sunday or Monday. These were also the last fertilized eggs from my rooster I had to rehome. I am thrilled that 3 of the 5 are from my banty cochin rooster and EE hen. I got one in the last hatch (a rooster unfortunately)...they come out looking like EE's with feathered legs, halfway between a banty size and a standard

The other two are Japanese or Sebright and cochin crosses.

I can't tell you what the humidity and temp is....we don't monitor it in her incubator. We just set them and let them go. I turn them and keep the water full and make sure the lights are blinking and the fan is running. It worked great last time - 100% hatch - so I completely trust her workmanship on this homemade bator! Good luck everyone! This is my first hatch that I'm doing at my home...so my fingers are crossed it goes smoothly.

 

[Suechick]

Hi everyone, I'm pulling the night shift at the bator...

One hatched this evening boy can she sing! I think she's lonely and wants to know where her mommy is. Another has pipped. I'm not sure how late I can stay up but oh the suspense is killing me.

Rin, so happy for your chirping egg

Come on chickies!

Crazy girl I agree with MTtrout about the air cell. Some of mine had huge air cells by the end and they came in all kinds of weird shapes. I think some of the shapes were a result of turning. Anyway, I don't think you need to worry about it. As long as you kept an average humidity over 35% or so you should be fine.

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
Thanks for this Sue! I was going to ask the same thing! I have some with huge air cells, and some that look like large figure 8's. I thought my humidity was too high the first week. Now I think it might have been too low. I honestly have no idea what to trust! I have one of those $40 digital temp/humidity things that hubby bought around day 5. Before that I had a normal petco thermometer and reptile humidity gauge.......which I trusted until I got the digital one. Now they're all in there but everything reads different! ugh! I've got 3 more days till lockdown so time will tell I suppose.

 

[CoopCrazy]

2 days til LD on my 4 Buttons .. I'm going to candle tonight and see what Ive got .. I can say the eggs feel heavier this time and are harder to keep from rolling around when I turn , so I hope this is a good sign ... Congrats on all the babies you guys are getting.. Fingers crossed it works this time for me... No I just have to find some more bantie eggs..Payday is next friday so have to wait til then

.... Since im getting a showgirl roo soon and he will need some girls to take of...

For me I really want to hear lil peeps soon... I already have a invite to bring them into my DS class at preschool...

 

[4CrazyGirlz]

Ok, good. I am glad to hear I am not the only one who has had a couple of funky shaped air cells. I thought it was odd that this happened to the only two white eggs left in the bator. (Golden Lakenvelder and Silver Spangled Hamberg) Mine go into LD tomorrow.

So not much longer! I have already been browsing the ads for more hatching eggs over the last week. LOL!! Not sure if I will do more marans or blue orps like my daughter is requesting. Of course the youngest wants some EEs. Decisions, decisions!!

 

[Rin]

... hmm... how long after piping the air sack does the chick have to pip the shell before running out of air? I whistle as hard and loud as I can - no more replies. They're completely silent this morning again and I'm worried. I figured last night was just the chick(s) sleeping since I only got to check at 6:30pm and 9pm and originally heard peeping at 1 in the afternoon. But they're just flat out stone cold silent again.

 

[4CrazyGirlz]

Quote:
I am sorry Rin. I am sure it is nerve racking.

Can't they sometimes take 24 hours to start zipping after they pip? This is my first hatch, so I can only tell you what I have read. Keep me posted!

 

[Eggcellent]

They can take as long as 48 hours to zip. I have had some that pipped and didn't move or make any progress for 30+ hours. Then all of a sudden they hatched in like 15 mins. It is VERY nerve racking, especially your first time.

 

[Eggcellent]

I am putting my legs on LD tonight. I have 14 mille fleur d'uccles and 12 EEers that have made it to LD. Not too bad when I started with 16 and 12. Hopefully the hatch rate will be good. This is my first time using my LG still air.

Edit: I just realized this post moved me up to "Chillin' with my peeps"