Chicks won't pip?

[red horse ranch]

Yes it is discouraging but I will not give up and look forward to my new air circulated Genesis Hova incubator verses the cheap still air one that I have. I also read where while using a egg turner I should have transferred the eggs to a egg carton cut from the top to allow zip and bottom to allow air flow verses laying them on their side during lockdown, I think will help it only makes sense that the egg should stay vertical as they were the first 18 days. I do still have 5 eggs left that are still alive and two of my lavender ameracauna's hatched and are doing well! Got 24 more variety of eggs being shipped along with the new incubator!

I think you will love your new Genesis Hovabator. I have 2 of them that are in almost constant use thru the hatching season. I wouldn't trash the old incubator too soon. I still have 2 of the old Little Giants and there are times when I'm forced to use the still air one for hatching since I often have staggered hatches.

I have tried the egg carton way with the eggs standing up. I wasn't too impressed with it. Baby guineas will pop right out when hatched this way but chicks seem to have a harder time pushing out. I also had the egg pip where it was touching the cardboard and it would stick, sometimes making the top of the shell impossible for the chick to push off the top. When a hen is hatching her eggs they are laying on their side and I feel this is a more natural way for the eggs to hatch. I've often thought that it would be better if the hatcher had a bowl shaped area for eggs to lay in. One positive note about the egg cartons is that the eggs aren't rolled around by early hatchers.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[PoppysChickens]

I made a small hole but not big enough to see their beaks should I make it bigger to see in there?

 

[Lilmissesmom]

Ye

I made a small hole but not big enough to see their beaks should I make it bigger to see in there?

s just go slow. If you see any blood stop. You can use tweezers to chip the shell.

 

[Lilmissesmom]

Ye
s just go slow. If you see any blood stop. You can use tweezers to chip the shell.

Also tap the shell and listen for chirping

 

[Lilmissesmom]

Also tap the shell and listen for chirping

They may be malpositioned so if you do not see a beak, slowly take more shell off with tweezers.

 

[junebuggena]

100 is a bit too low for a still air incubator. Could be why the hatch is so delayed. As far as humidity, are you certain that your gauges are accurate? Did you mark air cells periodically, throughout incubation?

 

[PoppysChickens]

Yes I think the jury is still out on the egg carton idea I know that it said to trim the carton high so it doesn't effect the zip line and on the bottom to allow for air flow. I will see what more people say about what to do with the eggs in the turner after day 18. Do some people just unplug it and leave the eggs alone sitting upright or take the turner out and place the eggs on their sides?

 

[red horse ranch]

The air cell should be dipped down on one side of the egg. That's where the beak should be and where the air hole should be. Can you use a flashlight to check for that?

 

[PoppysChickens]

So we took off more shell and see the chick moving but upside down and alive.

 

[Lilmissesmom]

So we took off more shell and see the chick moving but upside down and alive.

Great news! Is it able to breath? If so you can leave it in the bator to see if it will hatch the rest on its own. Put a bit of bacitracin or vaseline on the edge so the membrane stays moist.