Attempt No 2

[Shaun89174]

So as some of you may have read our first attempt incubating eggs was a complete disaster. We put it down to a complete novice approach. However not to give up we are trying again.

So now armed with the river systems egg tech 24 and 12 eggs set we are waiting for day 7 to come as its an automatic turner in order for us to do our 1st candling.

We weighed all the eggs aswell and numbered all eggs accordingly.

The wait begins.....

 

[Shaun89174]

Day 7 update...

We bought a automatic incubator after our first attempt disaster and other then top the water up for humidity were pretty much sitting ducks until candling days. Anyway day 7 had finally came after what had seemed like a very very long 7 days.

Of the 12 eggs we set on day one we were very hopeful of at least 8 strong embryos. Upon setting the eggs we noticed that one egg had a slight chip out of the shell. Propably 1mm square. However, we set it anyway and gave it every chance.

So candling finally arrived last night at the relief of my wife who I might add has been pacing back and forth more that a dog would whos desperate for a walk. Anyway we set upon candling and as perviously said were hopefully at least 8 were good.

After our first attempt disaster we didn't have a solution as to why we failed, so in order to try not to fail again the eggs came out carefully placed on the candler and back in the incubator. All within a 10second period. We're delighted that from our 12 eggs 11 were fertile eggs and have a healthy black blob blobbing about.

As you have probably guessed what happened to number 12.....well as we thought the one with a chip in didn't progress. We gave it a chance and nothing. Out of curiosity after removing it from the rest we decided to crack it open to see if anything had developed at all. Well to our surprise this was nothing more then a egg fit for a perfect fried egg sandwich. The yolk was the biggest and best I've seen without out any bullseye.

So in a coincidence out of the 12, 11 were fertile and the one which wasn't was the one with the chip.

Our first thoughts on the incubator over the last 7 days are very good (River Systems ET24) highly recommended.

So the wait continues.

We arnt sure now wether to candle again before day 18 or leave them be and wait.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Shaun89174]

Day 20 - Time is coming fast and the wife's pacing back and forth wearing a hole in the living room carpet..... Sit down nature will take its course and hopefully in 3 or 4 days all 9 of the eggs that's made it to lockdown will have hatched and be lovely little fluff balls. To say she's excited is an understatement, she's wanted chickens all her life but when she lived at home the answer was a firm NO!! To say I'm excited is somewhat of a surprise to me. The wait goes on.....

 

[Shaun89174]

Another update.... Returned home from work and we have 2 wobblers but no pippers just yet. We have noticed one with a yellowish ring around the bottom of the egg. See other thread.

 

[Shaun89174]

So.... What an experience this has been. We've getting 4 chicks out of the 9 that went to lockdown. Unfortunately only 1 hen. Theres a 5th chick that we have had a huge problem with. The little fells hatched with the yolk sac still exposed and attached to the umbilical cord. We covered it with moist paper towel and put it in the incubator in hope that it would absorb it. We went to bed last night after helping the best we could at 23.30 and at 5.45 this morning when I checked. Still alive and still attached to the egg although some of the yolk sac was absorbed. I re applied moist tissue and put the lid back on. 8.45 I checked again and its free from the egg however, lay in the centre of the bator breathing what looks rapidly. I read somewhere that sugar water might keep hopes alive so I've dunked his beak and hoped he took some on board. I feel its just lay there dying painfully and I haven't a clue what to do. Do I just let nature fun it's cause?!!!

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry, no one was able to help, how did your hatch go?