First, apologies for the long post -- there's a backstory to my question.
So, I messed up big time with my first incubation experience. I did everything by the book, and went so far as to monitor and record the temperature 8-10 times per day (through the viewing window using a flashlight), and each time it was between 99 - 99.5 degrees (except during turning where it dropped a degree or so for a few minutes). However, after candling last night I wasn't comfortable with the lack of progression of the embryos and thought that maybe there might be something wonky with the humidity. So, today I purchased a digital thermometer/hygrometer combination so I could get an exact reading. I got a baseline by leaving it in my family room for 30 minutes and the display showed exactly what my thermostat read, so I knew it was accurate. After setting it in the incubator for 30 minutes, and to my absolute horror, the display never rose higher than 90.5 degrees. After many deep breaths and a few not-so-pleasant word choices, I determined that I was reading the mercury thermometer incorrectly and was off by 9-10 degrees. The thermometer is, in fact, accurate, but the lines are not very clearly defined and I was reading the line BELOW where I needed to be. I have accepted (okay, not really but trying to) my error and I am heartbroken. It is day 11 and I feel a tremendous amount of loss over this.
I am now at at point where I have resigned myself to the fact that I have to dispose of this batch of eggs because a) the chances of survival at this point are probably nil, and b) even if one of the chicks were to survive, there is a high potential for defects. I haven't been able to bring myself to to this yet, but will get there eventually.
This is where things get a little confusing, so please bear with me. We had this batch timed so that the "hatchlings" could enjoy the brooder space on their own for 5 weeks (there are 25 eggs, so potential for 25 chicks, most likely less tho). At the 5 week mark (around June 9-10), I have a new batch of day olds arriving and the 5-week-olds were going to be upgraded to the coop. But now the timing is all messed up. I plan on starting a new incubation (with the reliable and readable digital thermometer!) tomorrow or Saturday, which means a new hatch date of May 15-18 (ish). That means that the hatchlings will be approximately 3.5 - 4 weeks old when the day olds arrive. To me, this feels a little too soon to move the hatchlings to the coop as it will still be chilly at night and I do not have a heat source in the coop. I am in Ontario, Canada, and the temperatures can still dip to the low 50's at night in the early weeks of June.
The last time I introduced chicks to the older girls, I waited until they were 5-6 weeks old, but that was much later in the summer and there were no worries about temperatures as they were fully feathered.
Okay, backstory finished. So, to get to my question. My brooder is large enough to hold 50 chicks at 4 weeks old, and I have exactly 51 day olds arriving. Would it be better for me to combine the hatchlings with the day-olds for a week or two and THEN move the older ones to the coop, leaving the young ones with enough room to grow? Or should I move the hatchlings to the coop 10-12 days earlier than planned when they are 3.5 - 4 weeks old, and not combine the two batches at all?
As always, any experience stories and advice is greatly appreciated!
So, I messed up big time with my first incubation experience. I did everything by the book, and went so far as to monitor and record the temperature 8-10 times per day (through the viewing window using a flashlight), and each time it was between 99 - 99.5 degrees (except during turning where it dropped a degree or so for a few minutes). However, after candling last night I wasn't comfortable with the lack of progression of the embryos and thought that maybe there might be something wonky with the humidity. So, today I purchased a digital thermometer/hygrometer combination so I could get an exact reading. I got a baseline by leaving it in my family room for 30 minutes and the display showed exactly what my thermostat read, so I knew it was accurate. After setting it in the incubator for 30 minutes, and to my absolute horror, the display never rose higher than 90.5 degrees. After many deep breaths and a few not-so-pleasant word choices, I determined that I was reading the mercury thermometer incorrectly and was off by 9-10 degrees. The thermometer is, in fact, accurate, but the lines are not very clearly defined and I was reading the line BELOW where I needed to be. I have accepted (okay, not really but trying to) my error and I am heartbroken. It is day 11 and I feel a tremendous amount of loss over this.
I am now at at point where I have resigned myself to the fact that I have to dispose of this batch of eggs because a) the chances of survival at this point are probably nil, and b) even if one of the chicks were to survive, there is a high potential for defects. I haven't been able to bring myself to to this yet, but will get there eventually.
This is where things get a little confusing, so please bear with me. We had this batch timed so that the "hatchlings" could enjoy the brooder space on their own for 5 weeks (there are 25 eggs, so potential for 25 chicks, most likely less tho). At the 5 week mark (around June 9-10), I have a new batch of day olds arriving and the 5-week-olds were going to be upgraded to the coop. But now the timing is all messed up. I plan on starting a new incubation (with the reliable and readable digital thermometer!) tomorrow or Saturday, which means a new hatch date of May 15-18 (ish). That means that the hatchlings will be approximately 3.5 - 4 weeks old when the day olds arrive. To me, this feels a little too soon to move the hatchlings to the coop as it will still be chilly at night and I do not have a heat source in the coop. I am in Ontario, Canada, and the temperatures can still dip to the low 50's at night in the early weeks of June.
The last time I introduced chicks to the older girls, I waited until they were 5-6 weeks old, but that was much later in the summer and there were no worries about temperatures as they were fully feathered.
Okay, backstory finished. So, to get to my question. My brooder is large enough to hold 50 chicks at 4 weeks old, and I have exactly 51 day olds arriving. Would it be better for me to combine the hatchlings with the day-olds for a week or two and THEN move the older ones to the coop, leaving the young ones with enough room to grow? Or should I move the hatchlings to the coop 10-12 days earlier than planned when they are 3.5 - 4 weeks old, and not combine the two batches at all?
As always, any experience stories and advice is greatly appreciated!
... I've never looked into the heating pad option. I've got a 
