Chirping eggs

[docmauney]

My 9 y/o son, a self proclaimed "chicken shepherd" has been trying to hatch eggs in a hovabator still air since Christmas with no hatches yet. We're hatching out of a mix of eggs our big chickens lay (multiple breeds, mostly red/black sex links). When we went on lock down, I got the humidity up to 60%, but a day later it dropped to around 45% where its staying. Temp is holding around 100-101. We are on day 22 today (I think) and started hear chirps this morning. No pips yet. Everyone in our house is anxiously awaiting SOMETHING to happen. I really hope they hatch. on lock down day on last candle all 10 were moving. My little chicken shepherd will be devastated if they don't hatch.

 

[CocoPopz]

If you've heard chirping I'm sure you'll get something out, it's at the worst part-,- but on my first hatch I was not willing to give up because I kept candling and seeing a chick but not hearing anything, so I waited and waited, then on day 26 and 27 they hatched! I was so happy I didn't throw them! So don't give up, and try not to take the lid off, keep everything right and you should be okay, wish you luck x

 

[CocoPopz]

Anything?

 

[Spongegirl]

well, I thought the temperature of incubation is supposed to be at 99.5. That's a big difference. at walmart right now since summer is approaching, they have those tiny little plastic battery operated hand fans...really small for like $2. try one of those inside your incubator next time maybe. I haven't done it yet, but it sounds like a great idea to me. I hope your shepherd hatches something.

 

[blucoondawg]

99.5 is for forced air units the op has a still air

 

[Spongegirl]

oh ok...I see. really? why? temperature is temperature. hmmmm

 

[Ridgerunner]

In a forced air the fan stirs the air so it is the same temperature everywhere inside. It doesn't matter where you take it and 99.5 is the recommended temperature.

In a still air, hot air rises. Where you take the temperature is very important. The normal recommendation is 101.5 at the top of the eggs.

 

[docmauney]

So he ended up with one chick. the others just didn't hatch. Did a couple "eggtopsies" and all had fully developed chicks inside. I'm wondering if the humidity had anything to do with it. Another thing is the one chick (named BBQ) will only put weight on one leg. When the other leg comes down to the ground, it kinda sprawls out to the side. Its 3-4 days onld now. I guess we'll see what happens with this one. Gonna put a few more in the incubator tomorrow or next day and start over.

 

[Spongegirl]

My guess...not enough humidity. If you have been trying to hatch since December, I do think you should definitely tweek his technique. In a small incubator like that one that is no more than a foot tall, is there really a difference in the temp at the top than the bottom...also the eggs in that style really should be laying down, shouldn't they?

also, what is the substrate at the bottom of your brooder? sounds like it can get footing and need traction.

 

[docmauney]

At first I thought Bob (5yo rooster) just wasn't doing the deal. So I traded eggs with a neighbor n got same results. Not even veins. At that time he was turning eggs by hand. Once I got him an automatic egg tuner we started seeing progress. And he was only putting 4-6 eggs in, so wasn't a big dent from our 20 hens production. Never had a problem with humidity before (Tennessee has plenty lol) but this time after lockdown it dropped to 45% n wouldn't come up. Even changed the hygrometer. Funny side note, he took a break for a month to let a broody game hen sit to see how that went. After he walked back in with multiple contusions about the hands and arms he decided he wanted to try the incubator again. Mean little chicken and she got him several times pretty good. He reads every chicken magazine he can get his hands on and really wants to succeed at this. I appreciate all the replies. Growing up we had chickens (Mississippi) and every year new chicks just appeared. I had no idea this much went into hatch in an incubator.