April Hatch Thread--Come Join Us!

I'm starting some breda and isbar eggs tomorrow. I'm thinking of using sand as an incubator substrate. Has anyone used sand in their incubator before? Do you recommend it? What are other substrate options? I read someone rec'd spagnum moss. Thing is I can get the sand free.
 
Even in the muffin wrappers? I have lost chicks after being kicked around, so if you can find a way to prevent that definitely do so.


Yes, she was scampering around and even climbed up on some of the eggs so we had to quick move her back. She seems to have settled a little and is mostly napping now.
 
Just wondering do you all do eggtopsy's in the case of an egg that hasn't made it?

What kind of hatch rate do you expect? I set 14 eggs, 1 didn't start to develop and 3 have stopped developing at different times. One just yesterday on day 16. I am assuming its normal to lose eggs for no apparant reason along the way but I'm not sure how many. Is getting 10 eggs to lockdown out of 13 a good amount or am I doing something wrong?

Also is there a definate % for humidity. I am a little worried about my humidity. I've had it around 40% for the first 17 days. Tomorrow is lockdown and I'm not sure what to do. Different places say different things for humidity so I'm not sure what to put it up to. I'm not even sure if having it at 40% was ok.
 
How do you know when a chick needs to be helped out of its egg? My only egg that has started hatching has been hatching for somewhere between 27 and 28hrs. It frequently peeps and makes noise. And if i stare at the egg closly i can see it trying to push out. But with this being my first hatch i dont really know how long it takes for a chick to hatch. I figured it took a while, but how long is too long?
Depends on how far it has progressed, if only piped leave it be, if fully or mostly zipped for 12-24 hours and if it's still not out I would see is it's stuck to the membrane or in an odd position. I assisted 1 chick by wrapping a warm paper towel around it and placing it back into the incubator. I let it sit for about 30 min (to avoid chilling due to moisture) then removed paper towel, and gently started to open the "lid" created by zipping. then placed her back into the incubator. My chick was stuck to the lid and had not fully zipped, I think it being under the fan dried it out too quick and it got stuck while turning to finish zipping. I also made the mistake of removing chicks to place them in the brooder too often, thus lowering humidity. Good luck!
 
Just wondering do you all do eggtopsy's in the case of an egg that hasn't made it?

What kind of hatch rate do you expect? I set 14 eggs, 1 didn't start to develop and 3 have stopped developing at different times. One just yesterday on day 16. I am assuming its normal to lose eggs for no apparant reason along the way but I'm not sure how many. Is getting 10 eggs to lockdown out of 13 a good amount or am I doing something wrong?

Also is there a definate % for humidity. I am a little worried about my humidity. I've had it around 40% for the first 17 days. Tomorrow is lockdown and I'm not sure what to do. Different places say different things for humidity so I'm not sure what to put it up to. I'm not even sure if having it at 40% was ok.
40% should have been good, when you candled how did the air cells look? This is your best indicator for humidity requirements. If the are small you need less humidity, if the are overly large you need more. There are a ton of diagrams but really if the air cells are approximately 20% of total egg you are on the right track. If you have eggs with small air cells and you raise it too high, 75-80%, then you increase the chance of those cells holing water that can drown your chicks. From my reading this would be the time to keep moisture closer 55% as the eggs themselves will contribute the rest of the needed moisture. And vice versa, if the air cells are over 30% of the egg you need to get that moisture closer to 75% and hold it there. Any experts feel free to correct me, this is only my understanding of the process, and it worked well for me.
 
I had two external pips this morning. No real progress all day. I can hear cheeping and see some movement in one egg. No movement in the other. 7 haven't shown any signs of hatching. The two with pips are EE's The BR eggs aren't doing anything. How long should I wait we are on Day 22 now.
 
I had two external pips this morning. No real progress all day. I can hear cheeping and see some movement in one egg. No movement in the other. 7 haven't shown any signs of hatching. The two with pips are EE's The BR eggs aren't doing anything. How long should I wait we are on Day 22 now.

Mine pipped and didnt start zipping for 20 hrs. Hatched and was healthy. I wait 24hrs after a pip before I try and assist.
 
You usually want to wait until a broody has been on the nest for at least 2 weeks before giving her chicks (or eggs about to be chicks). Closer to 3 weeks is best. Hope if works out for you though.
 
I had two external pips this morning. No real progress all day. I can hear cheeping and see some movement in one egg. No movement in the other. 7 haven't shown any signs of hatching. The two with pips are EE's The BR eggs aren't doing anything. How long should I wait we are on Day 22 now.
Several people have said wait till day 25 but be vigilant about smells/oozing so you do not have anything explode in there. If temp.s ran low they can take longer to hatch.
 

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