Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[Doug Hodges]

Quote: I was thinking miracle. It wont be long and I wont know how to tell it from the rest.

For now you can put a dot of food coloring on it's head.

Hmmmm. If only I had some. I separated the weak little chicks from the bigger ones. I had this hatch with the others. Now I have them in different brooders. Its eating on its on now. I simply cant believe it. Its still weak but it stands and walks from place to place. I have sav a chick water in this area.

The other chick stands and walks some but mostly spends most if its life so far on its side. If it don't figure it out, then it will spend its life scooting LOL It is as fat as a tick. It eats constantly.

 

[chicksooner]

What happens if the eggs get wet?

You risk drowning pipped chicks if you spray the eggs.

 

[Doug Hodges]

Quote: Does it hurt if the eggs aren't pipped?

 

[chicksooner]

Does it hurt if the eggs aren't pipped?

I think early on in incubation you run the risk of the eggs getting bacteria from the protective coating getting washed off but late in incubation like during hatch it shouldn't matter much. I have splattered a few with water here and there and everything has been fine.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hi everyone! I just set 14 eggs (from Wisher1000) on Mother's Day! 10 BCM, 2 EE, and 2 SC. They are in my LG still air incubator. So far the temperature has been very stable. It is staying from 99 degrees to 100 degrees. When I open the lid to turn the eggs, it will go down to 97 degrees for less then 10 minuets. I have not been really worried about the humidity since I am doing a dry hatch, so as long as it is over 25% I don't mess with it. I am only on day 3 so I don't get to candle for a few more days. Does everything sound okay? Sally Sunshine told me about this thread and I am hoping to hang out with all you smart and experienced hatchers while I am waiting for these babies to hatch!

Marissa

YAY!!!!

I am sure I will read that the others have told you all ready but I don't want to not answer and forget if it has not been!

And remember that Dry incubation doesn't imply no water at all, you are to use humidity as a tool to achieve the correct air cell growth/egg weight/water loss... see humidity section in the article too.

Still air should be 102 at the top of the eggs see this paste below from the Hatching 101 article
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

TEMPERATURE
Never trust the thermometer that comes with the incubator, always check it.
The thermometer that came with my incubator was off by 5 degrees.
That could mean life or death for your babies.
With a Forced Air Incubator (fan model) you can get the best hatch rate by keeping the temperature at 99.5º F. throughout the entire incubation period. HOWEVER, when using a Still Air incubator (no fan) at 102º F. The reason for different temperatures is that with a fan model the circulating air warms all around the egg while still air temperatures are warmer at the top of the egg than at the bottom. The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg). A high temperature tends to produce early hatches. A consistently cooler temperature tends to increase incubation times and produce weakened chicks. In both cases the total chicks hatched will be reduced. Prepare your incubator and run it for several days before adding eggs, to be positive you are maintaining correct incubation temperature. NOTE: It is common that when adding eggs the temperature will drop but should come back up to correct temperature within an hour or two. Don’t rest the thermometer's bulb touching the eggs or the incubator. Incorrect readings will result. Did you know that 10/13 day old embryos begin to produce excess heat in the incubator? Most large commercial incubators will spend more time cooling than heating!


CALIBRATION! YES! It’s IMPORTANT!
Calibrate the thermometer/s you are using for your Incubator. I use 3 thermometers! You need to make sure your thermometer is reading correctly, Even one degree may cause serious problems with your hatch! A simple method without specialized instruments and knowledge is to compare your thermometer/hygrometer with other devices.
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[Sally Sunshine]

Thank you very much! Sorry I haven't been on here to update everyone more often, this is always the busiest time of year for me, I'm trying to keep my garden under control from weeds, trying to fix fence and pens, and all of life's other daily tasks. Out of the eight eggs I put under my broody hen seven hatched and they are doing great. I have 4 chicken, 6 guinea, 9 duck, and 12 turkey eggs that made it to lockdown, and 5 turkeys have hatched so far with 5 more that have pipped. 6 duck eggs and one guinea egg have also pipped, but no chickens so far. I also purchased a dozen two week old game chickens a week ago. I only put them in the brooder for about a day because they were already pretty much fully feathered and could already fly. They are doing great also.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: yup what she said!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Ton of chicks/ens left my house today, even my silkie roo Romeo since his replacement is now up to par it was time for Romeo to find a new home.
I think there was over 20, its pretty quiet in the grow out pens! did I mention that I have gotten red silkies? ummm yeah, I forget how long ago, but I got 5 and depending on their personalities I may sell off my current flock and breed reds alone. Or maybe add the white hens to the spitzs pens, because that would be cool SpitznSilkies! shhhhh don't tell!

 

[chicksooner]

Ton of chicks/ens left my house today, even my silkie roo Romeo since his replacement is now up to par it was time for Romeo to find a new home.
I think there was over 20, its pretty quiet in the grow out pens! did I mention that I have gotten red silkies? ummm yeah, I forget how long ago, but I got 5 and depending on their personalities I may sell off my current flock and breed reds alone. Or maybe add the white hens to the spitzs pens, because that would be cool SpitznSilkies! shhhhh don't tell!

I would love a pic of the red silkies. Bet they are beautiful.

 

[Doug Hodges]

About time for some of these to be put With the flock.