DAY 14. How are my air sacks?

[WalnutHill]

Well, I had no other hatches. The last one that did hatch, didn't make it. It was very disturbing to open the eggs. 4 pipped internally and the rest I didn't dig around to find out. I basically opened the air cells looking for life.
I've come to the conclusion my air cells were too small and temps were too low.
I'm thoroughly enjoying my 6 that did hatched. They are so super sweet and healthy. 3 bielefelders, 2 RIR & a speckled sussex.
I'm tossing around the idea of doing one more hatch and hopefully plan it a little better when the boys will be home. My youngest (9) is the one that seems the most bummed.
For me the experience was mixed. There was lots of highs and lots of lows.
Seeing all the deceased chicks was very upsetting for me. I've had really bad dreams about them and having a hard time shaking the images.
I probably shouldn't have done that. It really didn't tell me anything other than that I killed a bunch of fully developed chicks.

Take faith in the fact that you did NOT kill them. Incubation is part art, part science, and even broody hens who use their preprogrammed instincts often fail to hatch all the eggs.

There are so many things that can go wrong, just work on increasing hatch percentages with each hatch by documenting temps and humidity and whether they are on the floor, in a turner, in a carton...and find what works best.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well, I had no other hatches. The last one that did hatch, didn't make it. It was very disturbing to open the eggs. 4 pipped internally and the rest I didn't dig around to find out. I basically opened the air cells looking for life.
I've come to the conclusion my air cells were too small and temps were too low.
I'm thoroughly enjoying my 6 that did hatched. They are so super sweet and healthy. 3 bielefelders, 2 RIR & a speckled sussex.
I'm tossing around the idea of doing one more hatch and hopefully plan it a little better when the boys will be home. My youngest (9) is the one that seems the most bummed.
For me the experience was mixed. There was lots of highs and lots of lows.
Seeing all the deceased chicks was very upsetting for me. I've had really bad dreams about them and having a hard time shaking the images.
I probably shouldn't have done that. It really didn't tell me anything other than that I killed a bunch of fully developed chicks.

Eggtopsies can be very informative if you have an idea of what you are looking for. But, if doing them disturbs you, then, no, you shouldn't do them. You did better than me. My first hatch had one that lived and one died about 12 hours after hatching. Consider the first hatch the trial and error hatch. You get a better understanding of the process and when you do the second you are better prepared.

You didn't kill the chicks, the circumstances for them just weren't in their favor this time. Next time, you'll have them popping all over the place. I did give you the link to the method I use for hatching, didn't I? Not saying my way is the only way, but it has served me well so far. It'd be great to do one that is set for a Friday that you have the boys, then you'll have all weekend to ooh and ahhh together over the little guys. I would (if you didn't before) look around locally to see what you could get for eggs, and don't rule out the barnyard mixes (especially if there are silkie/polish in there) because it's really fun not knowing what you are going to get and anticipating what colors and mixes they are going to be. And make sure you start a new thread from day one so I can follow too!!!