Day 6 and haven't turned...

[mlahodik]

Hi everyone, I am new and this is my first time incubating. I have the nurture right 360 and just realized that the turner wasn't plugged in.
What should I do? Is this batch pretty much doomed?
Also, what happens if humidity drops below the 50% while I'm at work? I've gotten home to find it down into the 40's.

Also, when should I candle them? I'm worried I messed this batch up and messed them up. Please advise.

Thank you in advance!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

While it's not ideal for the eggs to have remained stationary for the first 6 days of incubation, they can still hatch (and some people claim to not turn their incubated eggs at all but still have good hatches). I'd get the turner going ASAP.

I wouldn't worry too much about a dip in humidity for a short period - I tend to dry hatch and aim for humidity around 20-40% until external pipping, and it works for the chicken and waterfowl eggs I incubate. That said, your ambient humidity, equipment, type of eggs, etc., may need different conditions.

For chicken eggs, I candle at 7 days, 14 days, and sometimes right before lockdown if there are "iffy" eggs. At 7 days, you should be able tell if an egg is developing or not.

Best of luck with your hatch!

 

[mlahodik]

While it's not ideal for the eggs to have remained stationary for the first 6 days of incubation, they can still hatch (and some people claim to not turn their incubated eggs at all but still have good hatches). I'd get the turner going ASAP.

I wouldn't worry too much about a dip in humidity for a short period - I tend to dry hatch and aim for humidity around 20-40% until external pipping, and it works for the chicken and waterfowl eggs I incubate. That said, your ambient humidity, equipment, type of eggs, etc., may need different conditions.

For chicken eggs, I candle at 7 days, 14 days, and sometimes right before lockdown if there are "iffy" eggs. At 7 days, you should be able tell if an egg is developing or not.

Best of luck with your hatch!

Thanks so much! I live in hot humid Florida and I just realized the 360 can handle more water than I thought, also figured out how to adjust with the little window, so humidity should be good from here on out. I turned the turner on and I candled one of the eggs. Looks like a good embryo. I'm going to try candling tonight and remove any that may be duds or blood ring.

Is there a way to see if it has stuck to the sides? I'd hate to hatch chicks with deformities if I can help it. IL be more careful next time.

Thank you again!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

You're very welcome! Hmm...I'm afraid that I don't know of a practical way to tell if an embryo is stuck to the side of the shell when using an autoturner. With eggs I hand turn, I would know if the embryo failed to move to the side facing down after being turned (checked at next turning). I'm guessing the risk isn't too high of "sticking" after 6 days occurring, though.

 

[mlahodik]

You're very welcome! Hmm...I'm afraid that I don't know of a practical way to tell if an embryo is stuck to the side of the shell when using an autoturner. With eggs I hand turn, I would know if the embryo failed to move to the side facing down after being turned (checked at next turning). I'm guessing the risk isn't too high of "sticking" after 6 days occurring, though.

I candles and some are definitely consistent with growth I've seen in charts. I pulled out a couple I didn't see any activity. The side that's down was definitely darker. I marked them and will check again in few days.

Does blood ring form vertically as well as horizontal?

I opened the couple I took out and they were definitely not fertilized.

A few I saw dark circles but no dark spot. Thank you for your input.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I think pics would be helpful, if you could post them. Glad you're seeing development!