Come Join Me On My First Adventure! 100% HATCH (MORE PICS)!!!!!!!!

[mrbstephens]

Such great information! Thanks so much! I think I'll be moving the incubator to my closet, because keeping it in the garage is unsettling.

 

[mrbstephens]

I just set the eggs! Plus, I added 4 more from my other hens just for the heck of it! I'm SO NERVOUS!!!

 

[mrbstephens]

 

[mrbstephens]

I can't stop looking at them!

How will I survive this?!

 

[babsbag]

You take a deep breath and pray alot.

I tend to be a follow the directions kind of person and I think that really helps. Also, I like to understand WHY something happens and WHY people give the advice that they do. I got lucky on the ventilation part of my incubator as I didn't read that until I had it built and loaded. I had vents in it because other people did, I didn't realize until later how important that was. So I was following the temp and humidity closely, but the ventilation was just luck. Now I try and tell as many other hatchers as I can because I think it is something that is over looked and maybe the reason for some lousy hatches.

I also have a broody hen that just hatched out 9 chicks. She left 2 eggs in her nest, one was pipped, and one was ready to explode. They were cold when I found them. She already had 8 chicks. I took the egg and wrapped it in a warm wet cloth and finished the hatch. Since it was cold I figured it was a do or die kind of thing. The chick was still peeping at me. The yolk was absorbed, and no blood. I warmed up my incubator and put the baby in there with one of those disposable hand warmers wrapped in a rag. I thought for sure it would die. After a few hours it was trying to walk. I held it a bit and gave it some sugar water. Then took it to its mom. Every few hours I would check on it and make sure it got a turn at the food and water as it was getting pushed around and didn't walk as well as the other. Now, 2 weeks later I can't even tell which one it is.

So, they say not to help. But sometimes I will, it is just me. Nothing ventrued nothing gained.

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I would totally do the same! Glad your little one made it!

I made three ventilation holes and they are all open. I also have a pc fan running in there. I think it's all good! I also like to read the directions. I don't like to do anything half a**ed.

 

[mrbstephens]

Well, it's day 4 and everything seems to be going very well. The temps are staying between 98.5 - 101 and the humidity is 40-45%. I'm turning the eggs three times a day. I can't believe I made this thing and it's really working well! I think I may actually get some chicks!

 

[mrbstephens]

Today is day 7 and I candled for the first time! There are 6 eggs total. 2 look clear. The other four have air sacs, but one looks like it has a blood ring. The other three look good and one of those I could see movement clearly. So, looks like 3 out of 6 are developing!!!

 

[mrbstephens]

It's day 13 and I candled for the second time. The one I thought had a blood ring and died is developing VERY well!

So I have 4 chicks developing including BOTH from my EE who had passed away!!!!!!!

 

[mrbstephens]

Day 16. Yesterday the temps spiked to 102.4 and was still going that high when I woke up this morning. I lowered the thermostat and it went down to 97 and eventually leveled out to between 98.6 - 100.6. I hope everything will be OK!