Big Dessert-Themed Hatch-Along

[TwoCrows]

I’m trying to, for the life of me, figure out how these sweet eggs keep quitting around week 1-2. </3

Popsicle, Bread Pudding, Mint Chocolate Chip, Eclair/Flan, Cheesecake, and Marshmallow are all still developing, so 6 potentially for lockdown.

It looks like all the Turken crosses stopped shortly after the last candling. I am quite meticulous about washing my hands after each candling and not over-handling, and we don’t have wild humidity jumps and temp always has been 99.5. I also make sure my hands are bone dry after washing before handling for the candling. I wonder if there’s temp. surges I’m just not seeing, or if it’s shipped eggs possibly quitting more commonly than gathered eggs. Heck.

I am really excited for them though, and really hope all 6 make it out.

Do you keep a thermometer/hydrometer inside the machine as well? Incubators can come out of calibration and may not be reading correctly. It nice to able to compare the machine to a secondary meter along the way.

Lets go all you dessert Eggies, you need to stop snacking and continue growing!!

 

[newchickychick]

Do you keep a thermometer/hydrometer inside the machine as well? Incubators can come out of calibration and may not be reading correctly. It nice to able to compare the machine to a secondary meter along the way.

Lets go all you dessert Eggies, you need to stop snacking and continue growing!!

I normally do! I only have one (govee hygrometer/thermometer) but my mistake was probably making sure the incubators matched the calibrated hygrometer/thermometer and then taking it out for space purposes. It’s rather large and sits on the floor (doesn’t stick to the wall or anything) so it was a bit inconvenient for larger batches.

Should I get 1 more and make sure the machines are accurate every time I go to candle/several times throughout incubation?

 

[TwoCrows]

I normally do! I only have one (govee hygrometer/thermometer) but my mistake was probably making sure the incubators matched the calibrated hygrometer/thermometer and then taking it out for space purposes. It’s rather large and sits on the floor (doesn’t stick to the wall or anything) so it was a bit inconvenient for larger batches.

Should I get 1 more and make sure the machines are accurate every time I go to candle/several times throughout incubation?

If both are calibrated at egg setting and I'd believe the govee over the machine, then the machine shouldn't come out of calibration during the cycle. Incubators lose calibration over time, usually not so quickly. But this said, I'd always, always keep the govee inside the machine from start to finish. Your bator could be temp fluctuating which could be causing the early deaths. Usually humidity fluctuations during the cycle aren't fatal but high or low temperature spikes for hours on end could definitely cause death to embryos.

 

[newchickychick]

If both are calibrated at egg setting and I'd believe the govee over the machine, then the machine shouldn't come out of calibration during the cycle. Incubators lose calibration over time, usually not so quickly. But this said, I'd always, always keep the govee inside the machine from start to finish. Your bator could be temp fluctuating which could be causing the early deaths. Usually humidity fluctuations during the cycle aren't fatal but high or low temperature spikes for hours on end could definitely cause death to embryos.

Thanks so much! I’ll figure out a way to be able to keep it in there. That’s what I was thinking too, that it shouldn’t be so off so soon, but I definitely want to be sure there’s no fluctuations. I’ll be sure to get one for each incubator, calibrate them, and get them set up well. I want to be sure we’re doing right by our hatches. Thankfully the nature eggies still seem to be doing so well, but it’s still only week 1 and some. I’m going to put the govee in there first and get the others set up with one as soon as they come in.

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh and are you seeing many blood rings early on? Those are definitely caused by cold spikes in temp.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks so much! I’ll figure out a way to be able to keep it in there. That’s what I was thinking too, that it shouldn’t be so off so soon, but I definitely want to be sure there’s no fluctuations. I’ll be sure to get one for each incubator, calibrate them, and get them set up well. I want to be sure we’re doing right by our hatches. Thankfully the nature eggies still seem to be doing so well, but it’s still only week 1 and some. I’m going to put the govee in there first and get the others set up with one as soon as they come in.

Also too, if these are shipped eggs, they can be a crapshoot what with shipping and genetics. You just never know what's up with eggs that aren't yours.

 

[newchickychick]

Oh and are you seeing many blood rings early on? Those are definitely caused by cold spikes in temp.

Not early on no. But the Turken x Houdan cross eggs we lost all ended in a blood ring, and I was worried it was germs, but I’ll admit I’m a bit over-cautious if anything with washing before I handle eggs. My son is the same but he never opens the incubator. (It’s in my gaming room I share with hubby so we would know if kiddo was fiddling with it) I always use antibacterial soap and warm water, scrub for a good 30-45 seconds, then make sure my hands are totally dry before handling the eggs. Though I will say just one of the cross eggs was a little dirty? But I didn’t think nearly dirty enough to cause any bacterial issues, especially considering eggs’ bloom, so I was puzzled!

 

[newchickychick]

Also too, if these are shipped eggs, they can be a crapshoot what with shipping and genetics. You just never know what's up with eggs that aren't yours.

Can it be happening at any time during the process from shipping? I think my fear is I must be doing something wrong somehow if they quit at all after developing, but is that more likely/possible for shipped eggs? These have all been shipped - we plan to only hatch our own backyard mixes next year on out!

 

[GreenJay]

Sorry you had so many quit!

I would think shipped eggs are always the biggest gamble with incubating. No matter how well they're packed, the poor things have still been bounced around by the postal system.

 

[GreenJay]

Let's keep growing dessert chicks, no more quitters!
Go Popsicle!