Colorado

[trsturself]

Still no pips in the last 8 eggs. Very disappointing if we only get 7 out of 27 eggs! Not a very good hatch rate for local eggs.
My morning temps averaged 100.2, my afternoon temps 99.6, and my evening temps were 99.9. I had a standard deviation of 1deg over all temps. There was a spike of 102.4 on day 8 and a low of 98.1 on day 12. The humidity averaged 21 in the mornings, 30.7 in the afternoon and 32.2 in the evenings (before lockdown of course, then it was between 52-61%). I'm reading my temp from an egg filled with water placed in one of the cartons. I calibrated my temp twice. Both times it read less than a degree high.
My air cells look good. I saw movement in some of the eggs on day 18 that still haven't pipped. Fingers crossed more hatch or at least pip tonight!

If they don't, I need to figure out what to do differently. Any ideas? I've got my next batch of eggs ready.
Oh, I don't think I mentioned that 1 fan died around day 10 and the second one around day 14. I have a replacement ready to go.

I think maybe I'll tape the window down to seal off the edges so heat doesn't get lost. Maybe my temps are fluctuating too much? I read a late death usually means humidity isn't right. Either too high and the chick drowns on pipping or too low and the chick is saran wrapped. I think my humidity is good. Actually I just remembered that it is 7% higher than what I was reading according to my calibration. So the averages would really by 28, 37, and 39 <lockdown and 56-68 after. Is 68 too high? It was only up that high twice.

I'm leaning more towards fluctuating temps or maybe a late hatch due to low temps. Who knows! I know they were all developing and looked good at lock down. Argh!

After reading more I think my problem may be not enough ventilation. Especially since both fans eventually died. Before setting the next eggs I'm going to drill some more ventilation holes and put a couple closer to the fans. It also said hot and cold spots will produce an uneven hatch. That could've happened once the fans went out. I tried to rotate the eggs front to back after candling but I didn't do middle to outside. Maybe I should do that next time too.

 

[Pozees]

Still no pips in the last 8 eggs. Very disappointing if we only get 7 out of 27 eggs! Not a very good hatch rate for local eggs.
My morning temps averaged 100.2, my afternoon temps 99.6, and my evening temps were 99.9. I had a standard deviation of 1deg over all temps. There was a spike of 102.4 on day 8 and a low of 98.1 on day 12. The humidity averaged 21 in the mornings, 30.7 in the afternoon and 32.2 in the evenings (before lockdown of course, then it was between 52-61%). I'm reading my temp from an egg filled with water placed in one of the cartons. I calibrated my temp twice. Both times it read less than a degree high.
My air cells look good. I saw movement in some of the eggs on day 18 that still haven't pipped. Fingers crossed more hatch or at least pip tonight!

If they don't, I need to figure out what to do differently. Any ideas? I've got my next batch of eggs ready.
Oh, I don't think I mentioned that 1 fan died around day 10 and the second one around day 14. I have a replacement ready to go.

I think maybe I'll tape the window down to seal off the edges so heat doesn't get lost. Maybe my temps are fluctuating too much? I read a late death usually means humidity isn't right. Either too high and the chick drowns on pipping or too low and the chick is saran wrapped. I think my humidity is good. Actually I just remembered that it is 7% higher than what I was reading according to my calibration. So the averages would really by 28, 37, and 39 <lockdown and 56-68 after. Is 68 too high? It was only up that high twice.

I'm leaning more towards fluctuating temps or maybe a late hatch due to low temps. Who knows! I know they were all developing and looked good at lock down. Argh!

Your numbers sound right, the only thing that would concern me is the temp spike and drop, which may have impacted hatch rate. The spike would be of greater concern than the drop, unless the low temp was sustained, then it could mean later or no hatch. Were the eggs in a turner or were you turning by hand? Also the temp may have varied by location in the incubator, some people move the eggs around in the incubator every week or even every few days to overcome the effect of that possibility.

 

[trsturself]

Your numbers sound right, the only thing that would concern me is the temp spike and drop, which may have impacted hatch rate. The spike would be of greater concern than the drop, unless the low temp was sustained, then it could mean later or no hatch. Were the eggs in a turner or were you turning by hand? Also the temp may have varied by location in the incubator, some people move the eggs around in the incubator every week or even every few days to overcome the effect of that possibility.

I don't know how long the temp spiked or if it even really did. I think I found that the water in the egg had partially evaporated. I filled it back with water without touching my thermostat and it went down. So it could be a measurement problem. The lows were not sustained. It read that temp 2 nights in a row but the morning and day temps were good.
The eggs are in a manual turner. I turned them 3x a day.
The hot/cold spots is something I'm concerned with. Although at one point I did put 3 thermometers in there in different spots and the 2 that measured the air temp read the same. I rotated them front to back after candling them but didn't do middle to outside. I think I'll do that next time.

 

[suncatcher]

Trst, I also think the temp spike is of more concern than the temp drop, hens get off the nest, so the eggs can cool down some, the hen would not have a temp spike.

Vents are important, and at our altitude I have read where many people leave them all open, most table top bators have two vents, I left mine open the whole time.

I don;t think your humidity was too high at lock down, they need the extra moisture when hatching, also, when they hatch, they add to it, I would think that is fine.

Since I have never used a still air, I have no advice on if the fans going out were part of the problem.

Hope you get a few more that hatch later tonight!!!

 

[trsturself]

I have 4 small ventilation holes around the top of the bator that I never closed. I'm going to try to add a few more before the next set of eggs.
Oh, and I said 7 have hatched but it's really 8. 4 silkies and 4 of the mixed birds (including the MF cochin).

I'll update you in the morning if we have any more development.

 

[BrotherJosh]

So how long will the hens be mad at me for the Monday group roundup for leg scrubbing, vaseline applying, DE dunking, and while-I-was-there gentle vent cleaning of their white stains?

They've decided to produce no eggs. I guess that means they were stressed.

I was nice, too. warm water, worked quickly, didn't hurt them,

I just thought with those few lifted scales, I should get a handle on anything brewing.

At least they've stopped running in circles when I enter the coop run and they're in there. They did that Tuesday even tho' I bribed them with mealworms.

Just trying to catch up and wish I saw this post about a week earlier than today. Went out to do my normal weekend clean out chores and one of my Australorps never came out for treats. Final step was to check the nest boxes and there she was all curled up and cold. First loss that I've had in my short stint as a chicken owner and it is tough for me since I feel like maybe if I'd done something different like cleaned more or paid more attention that she'd still be around. Everything seemed fine yesterday evening when I brought them treats and scraps and today I've lost one of my girls. I think tomorrow will be a 'spend more time checking everyone out' day so that I don't miss something and have another one gone. I think the hot-cold-hot-cold that we've been getting has left my girls more susceptible to infection or just being stressed and it was too much for her. She was almost 2yrs old now was all, well before what I would have expected for her lifespan. Not looking forward to this happening more down the road!

Thanks for letting me share - sorry for the downer post.

Peace,
Josh

 

[Pozees]

Josh, it is just as likely there was nothing you could have done, sorry to say. If she died in the nesting box she may have been egg bound, which is not impossible, but difficult, to spot in time to treat, and which often recurs. I agree the weather has been tough on our flocks. I suppose it's an excuse to get a chick or two this spring ...

 

[Mtn Margie]

Josh, sorry for your loss.

It does sound more like something unexpected, whether due to egg laying or heart issues. When they are all comfy looking, please know that she was probably not in any distress. Just passed in her "rocking chair."

 

[maggiemo]

Josh, sorry for your loss.

It does sound more like something unexpected, whether due to egg laying or heart issues. When they are all comfy looking, please know that she was probably not in any distress. Just passed in her "rocking chair."

well said Margie. Sorry for your loss Josh.

 

[Pozees]

well said Margie. Sorry for your loss Josh.

X2