Beginner's Hatch-A-Long

[Stevens21]

We had one hatch like this. Was the umbilical cord still attached? Was the hatch bloodier than the others? It looks like the intestines. We attempted to push them in but they were too far out. We had to put the chick down to end her suffering. It was so heartbreaking.

It was bloodier. This was our first time so we didn't know what we are doing! We took the others out so it could rest, which it was doing great today. Then this evening it passed, I have to say it put up a good fight though.Sad to see that happen though.

 

[birdman450]

If I could give one piece of advice witch probably was already said.if possible stay away from little giant incubators they are affordable but if u can't watch them constantly u will pay with eggs.they are very temperamental incubators

 

[pinkyglory123]

I did not have luck my first couple of times but third was the charm. Go to the LG tips-that did the trick. I think the biggest tip is how to maintain the humidity.

 

[birdman450]

For sure and get the egg Turner's so u dont have to open that seemed to always spin my incs out it only took one year for me to take the leap to bigger better but I have a bird prob lol good luck to all

 

[My peeps]

It was bloodier. This was our first time so we didn't know what we are doing! We took the others out so it could rest, which it was doing great today. Then this evening it passed, I have to say it put up a good fight though.Sad to see that happen though.

Sorry about your chick

 

[ivyrash]

I lock down another batch this evening when I get home from work. This is my second round and I have learned so much. I'm hoping for an easier hatch this time.

Not sure on all the numbers in the incubator right now but the eggs are Golden Laced Wyandott, Bantam Cochins, and Silkies. The first two are for a friend who had a fox get into her chickens and kill her rooster, were trying to build her flock back up.

 

[vtguania]

First time hatcher here. I set my 9 RO eggs in the incubator Friday night. I have a Litle Giant fronm TSC. The temperature seems to be very stable so far as I ran it for 2 days before hand to calibrate it. Humidity has been steady between 31-38% average of about 35. The thermometer that came with the bator is at 99.5 the hygrometer/thermometer is at 100 so I guess this is good. I let my shipped eggs sit for 48 hrs to make sure the air sac reattacheds after shipping, only had two which where still floating around though. Will be doing the first candling on Friday after I get home from work.

 

[vtguania]

Just saw that 1 of my eggs appears to have a crack & was leaking to the point where it's stuck to the turner. I tried taking it out but had no luck unless I break it. I didn't notice any cracked when I received them so don't really know what happened there. It's one of my mixed RO so we'll see if the other hatches good.

 

[ivyrash]

Just saw that 1 of my eggs appears to have a crack & was leaking to the point where it's stuck to the turner. I tried taking it out but had no luck unless I break it. I didn't notice any cracked when I received them so don't really know what happened there. It's one of my mixed RO so we'll see if the other hatches good.

I have heard of people that hatch in the turner, they just shut it off and leave the eggs sitting upright. I guess you could try it and see what happens. Other than that, not sure what to tell you.

 

[luvmychixandducks]

Third time is a charm with this hatch-a-long participant.
My first attempt at hatching eggs led to two drowned chicks and a 'bator full of unfertiles - I think the eggs were handled incorrectly prior to pickup. Plus I had the humidity too high.
I ordered four dozen shipped purebred eggs for attempt number two, and a faulty thermometer led to eggs getting too hot, and none hatched.
So I bought a dozen eating eggs from a local flock, and augmented those 12 with some eggs from two hens I bought that had been with a rooster, and put 18 into the incubator with two old fashioned glass thermometers, that agreed on the temp so I felt comfortable with the heat issue.
I went with a mostly dry hatch, adding a squirt of water from a baster every few days or so, and at lockdown put paper towels in under the wire mesh to hold moisture for the final few days.
Well, I now have a half dozen live babies in the brooder, and ten eggs still doing nothing in the 'bator.
I'll give these 10 another day, as this is still just day 22 and they may still be viable, but then I'll recandle and do an egg-topsy to determine when they quit.
Most were brown eggs but I really wanted the two green eggs to hatch, and eventually add some variety to my egg basket. No luck.
Maybe the Americaunas will be fashionably late and hatch today.
After two disastrous attempts, it was great to wake up on Sunday to the sound of the hatching chicks moving around on the wire, and chirping to their hatchmates to join them outside the egg. Even a less than 50% result is good, compared to the previous two total failures.
Now we wait to see if therre are a proportionate number of hens in this little hatch. Can't keep the roosters as town ordinance and neighbors have had their say earlier this spring, and my roos had to go.
I wish I had a broody hen out in the coop - I'd slip these babies under her at night and let her do the rest.