Day 21. What Next?

[Cockalorum]

OK, It's been 21 full days since starting incubation, we are halfway through day 22. I thought I followed all the parameters correctly, but have learned a lot for next time. Now I need to figure out when to throw in the towel.

We started with 39 eggs, they candled and lost mass as expected early and at day 18. Only 4 showed no signs of development. I think that is what I mean, what we see now when candling is air sacks and a dark indiscernible mass in 35 of them. Also they feel different, can't explain, but the mass of the egg seems more like a hard boiled egg, not fluid like, but heavy in the large end. What I mean is the mass seems fixed, like if you would spin it on end it would spin like a top rather than just roll over (this is how I tell hard boiled from raw eggs when needed). Yes - I know this would be a horrible idea & would never spin them.

The first one came out of the shell about 50 hours ago, followed by one about 15 hours ago, then the last one about 6 hours ago. I was seeing some rocking in a few of the eggs a day or so ago, but this seems to have about stopped. I'm OK leaving them for another day or two - nothing lost I guess, but I would like to know if there is any way to see if there is still life. I have been reading about placing the eggs in warm water (non-pipped of course) to see if there is any movement. Sounds like a good idea, but my little Scientists are certain "Daddy is going to drown the baby chicks!" I don't need this spread around the playground - play dates are hard enough to get without PETA Parents jumping to conclusions.

Not really proud of 3 for 39 (7.7% - Ugh). This was started as a science fair experiment. So much for the MIT scholarships, but it was a great learning experience anyway. I am willing to go on, but need to show the kids we did everything possible. I guess my plan now is give it a few more days and try the water thing after bed time. If anybody has any other suggestions, I would certainly appreciate them.

- Thanks

 

[ekalbach]

I'm following your thread as I have 28 in lockdown. We are at day 18. I did have the same as you with the mass at the end.

 

[Cockalorum]

I laughed when first read. I thought you meant mass as in funeral mass, but never mind - I got it. Guess we wait - Good luck to your batch.

 

[ekalbach]

Lol! Sorry for the confusion. My daughter is waiting for ours to hatch as well.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

OK, It's been 21 full days since starting incubation, we are halfway through day 22. I thought I followed all the parameters correctly, but have learned a lot for next time. Now I need to figure out when to throw in the towel.

We started with 39 eggs, they candled and lost mass as expected early and at day 18. Only 4 showed no signs of development. I think that is what I mean, what we see now when candling is air sacks and a dark indiscernible mass in 35 of them. Also they feel different, can't explain, but the mass of the egg seems more like a hard boiled egg, not fluid like, but heavy in the large end. What I mean is the mass seems fixed, like if you would spin it on end it would spin like a top rather than just roll over (this is how I tell hard boiled from raw eggs when needed). Yes - I know this would be a horrible idea & would never spin them.

The first one came out of the shell about 50 hours ago, followed by one about 15 hours ago, then the last one about 6 hours ago. I was seeing some rocking in a few of the eggs a day or so ago, but this seems to have about stopped. I'm OK leaving them for another day or two - nothing lost I guess, but I would like to know if there is any way to see if there is still life. I have been reading about placing the eggs in warm water (non-pipped of course) to see if there is any movement. Sounds like a good idea, but my little Scientists are certain "Daddy is going to drown the baby chicks!" I don't need this spread around the playground - play dates are hard enough to get without PETA Parents jumping to conclusions.

Not really proud of 3 for 39 (7.7% - Ugh). This was started as a science fair experiment. So much for the MIT scholarships, but it was a great learning experience anyway. I am willing to go on, but need to show the kids we did everything possible. I guess my plan now is give it a few more days and try the water thing after bed time. If anybody has any other suggestions, I would certainly appreciate them.

- Thanks

I'm not a big fan of the float test as it can be misleading. If you've candled and there are not even internal pips, I would not give them much hope at this point with the hatch having started over 2 days ago. Usually you can still make out some kind of movement or life if there is any.

I might be able to help you trouble shoot if you tell me:
1)What kind of incubator you are using
2)Have you checked your thermometer and hygrometer for accuracy
3)What your temps have been
4)What your humidity was the first 1 days
5)Did you monitor your air cells during hatch

 

[Cockalorum]

I am using a Farm Innovations 4250, (circulating air & egg rotator). For the first 18 days I kept the humidity around 40%-45% and the temperature at 100.5 deg per incubator (and I had a glass bulb at egg level reading 99 to 100 deg. I did not calibrate the hygrometer. At day 18 I increased the humidity to 60%-65% per indication. I understand the internal air cell from only a basic perspective. I grew throughout the hatch period and the eggs were losing mass as expected. I do not understand what you mean by monitor the air cell during hatch. What am I supposed to do with or about it? I read something about an internal pip (I am assuming this is the chick popping the air cell to make room to move), but don't really know what actions I should have taken.

 

[Cockalorum]

How do I see the internal pip? Does the air cell disappear?

 

[FridayYet]

I am using a Farm Innovations 4250, (circulating air & egg rotator). For the first 18 days I kept the humidity around 40%-45% and the temperature at 100.5 deg per incubator (and I had a glass bulb at egg level reading 99 to 100 deg. I did not calibrate the hygrometer. At day 18 I increased the humidity to 60%-65% per indication. I understand the internal air cell from only a basic perspective. I grew throughout the hatch period and the eggs were losing mass as expected. I do not understand what you mean by monitor the air cell during hatch. What am I supposed to do with or about it? I read something about an internal pip (I am assuming this is the chick popping the air cell to make room to move), but don't really know what actions I should have taken.

For many people, using 40-45% humidity for the first 18 days may not result in enough growth of the air cell at the end. When you candle on days 7, 14 and 18, the cells should look like this:

If your air cells are smaller than the line above on day 7, you should lower the humidity. If they are bigger, you should raise it. When you check again the next week, you do the same thing. That's what is usually meant by monitoring.

If the air cell is too small on day 18, the chick may not be able to reach the air cell (internally pip), and can drown at the end. they need to have enough air to breathe for a day before they break through the shell.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I am using a Farm Innovations 4250, (circulating air & egg rotator). For the first 18 days I kept the humidity around 40%-45% and the temperature at 100.5 deg per incubator (and I had a glass bulb at egg level reading 99 to 100 deg. I did not calibrate the hygrometer. At day 18 I increased the humidity to 60%-65% per indication. I understand the internal air cell from only a basic perspective. I grew throughout the hatch period and the eggs were losing mass as expected. I do not understand what you mean by monitor the air cell during hatch. What am I supposed to do with or about it? I read something about an internal pip (I am assuming this is the chick popping the air cell to make room to move), but don't really know what actions I should have taken.

You're temps look good, that's not awful for humidity, but you might do well with a lower humidity level. Yes, internal pip when you candle shows a shadow up in the air cell usually resembles a triangular shape (ish). So you can tell if the beak is up in the air cell. Friday said almost what I would have and gave you the graph, I'm going to give you a link to understand the air cells and low humidity incubation a little better: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

How do I see the internal pip? Does the air cell disappear?

The air cell actually gets larger. Candling is the only way to see the internal pip.

For many people, using 40-45% humidity for the first 18 days may not result in enough growth of the air cell at the end. When you candle on days 7, 14 and 18, the cells should look like this:

If your air cells are smaller than the line above on day 7, you should lower the humidity. If they are bigger, you should raise it. When you check again the next week, you do the same thing. That's what is usually meant by monitoring.

If the air cell is too small on day 18, the chick may not be able to reach the air cell (internally pip), and can drown at the end. they need to have enough air to breathe for a day before they break through the shell.